In 1992, one of rock’s most ill-fated tours took off as Guns N’ Roses and Metallica embarked on a string of stadium dates. Plagued by riots, late begin times from GN’R and a hellish accident that left James Hetfield with second and third-degree burns, the tour left a huge impression on then-Metallica bassist Jason Newsted.
In the 25 years since the chaotic tour, followers have heard all of the tales, however Jason Newsted mentioned he learned an excellent lesson after the tour. After Jason Newsted took us on a personal tour of his ‘RAWK’ art exhibition in New York City, he sat down to recall how Guns N’ Roses taught Metallica “what not to do.”
“We chose to play first, in fact, because we wanted to play on time,” Newsted remembers. “If we are going on at 8:01, we’re on at 8:01. That’s the way it’s always been. That’s why Metallica’s still touring now and crushing everyone and selling more records.”
“[Guns N’ Roses] showed me what I don’t ever wish to become,” Newsted adds. “Antics, pissing away of money, disrespecting people that work for you… Looking down on individuals who look up to you — worst thing you are able to do, especially on this business. I saw them do that a lot and I didn’t like it.”
Summing up Guns N’ Roses’ career, Jason Newsted claims, “As a band, they were powerful for about three and a half years and really had their sharp teeth and after that all the things fell apart.”
Watch what Jason Newsted had to say for yourself within the exclusive video above.
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