Former METALLICA bassist Jason Newsted has shown a softer side. The 63-year-old musician visited the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary in Jupiter, Florida, to perform a calming acoustic set specifically designed for the facility's resident animals.
The sanctuary described the performance as "designed to stimulate curiosity, reduce stress, and encourage natural behaviors," noting that each animal responded uniquely to Newsted's music. The facility expressed gratitude to Newsted and his wife Nicole, calling them "passionate supporters" and praising their "thoughtful and creative idea to help enhance the quality of care" at South Florida's largest wildlife rehabilitation center — a facility that admits over 5,000 injured, sick, or orphaned animals annually.
The visit is a far cry from the thundering bass lines that defined Newsted's legendary run with METALLICA from 1986 to 2001. After leaving the band, he formed NEWSTED and has continued performing and recording. Most recently he made headlines unboxing METALLICA's massive remastered "ReLoad" deluxe box set.
His next musical chapter kicks off this summer: Newsted and The Chophouse Band launch their first North American headlining tour on July 1 at Northampton's Iron Horse Music Hall, concluding with two nights at Nashville's legendary Ryman Auditorium on July 24-25. Tickets are available now.