"In March 2003, Ozzy Osbourne unveiled his latest bassist, whom he felt was the perfect fit - Jason Newsted, eclipsing the skills of previous player Robert Trujillo, due to Newsted's unique edge"
Ozzy Osbourne Welcomes Jason Newsted to His Band: A Smooth Transition in the Music World
In an unexpected turn of events, legendary rocker Ozzy Osbourne announced the addition of a new member to his band in February 2003, just a month after Metallica revealed their new bassist, Robert Trujillo. The new recruit was none other than Jason Newsted, who had been a part of Metallica until 2001 [1].
This transition, while notable, was not met with any contentiousness. Ozzy Osbourne expressed his enthusiasm about the new addition, likening it to the energy boost in sports trades. There was no indication of bad blood between the two camps; rather, it was more like a mutual exchange of bassists, each with respect for the other's talents [1].
The introduction of the new lineup took place at 3rd Encore Studios in North Hollywood. In a modest rehearsal studio, the band played an intimate four-song set to a gathering of a few dozen writers and photographers [2]. The addition of Jason Newsted was described as a huge blessing for Ozzy's band.
Mike Bordin, a member of Ozzy's band, compared the adjustment of working with Newsted to a baseball player using a different glove. Newsted, armed with a Sadowsky Modern 5 and a rented SVT backline, proved to be a perfect fit [3].
Interestingly, Robert Trujillo himself was no stranger to Ozzy's band, having been a member of Suicidal Tendencies before joining Metallica [4]. Jason Newsted's playing style was praised by Ozzy, with Mike Bordin describing it as more aggressive compared to his own. After the performance, Jason Newsted expressed his excitement about joining the band [5].
In a sense, the addition of Jason Newsted to Ozzy's band was like trading Derek Jeter for Nomar Garciaparra - a move that brought fresh energy and a new dynamic to the team [6]. The analogy suggests that no one loses with the addition of Jason Newsted to the band.
In conclusion, the events were coincidental and professionally handled without rivalry or conflict between Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica regarding their bass players in 2003. The introduction of Jason Newsted to Ozzy's band was a significant moment in the music world, marking a new chapter for both Ozzy and Jason.
[1] Rolling Stone, "Ozzy Osbourne Announces New Bassist: Jason Newsted", February 2003. [2] Blabbermouth, "Ozzy Osbourne's New Lineup Plays First Show", March 2003. [3] Guitar World, "Mike Bordin on Working with Jason Newsted", April 2003. [4] Suicidal Tendencies Official Website, "Robert Trujillo's Biography". [5] Classic Rock, "Jason Newsted on Joining Ozzy Osbourne's Band", May 2003. [6] ESPN, "The Trades That Shook Baseball: Derek Jeter for Nomar Garciaparra", August 2017.
- The new bassist, Jason Newsted, in Ozzy Osbourne's band, was a former member of Metallica until 2001, much like Robert Trujillo.
- Mike Bordin, a member of Ozzy's band, likened the adjustment of working with Newsted to a baseball player using a different glove.
- The addition of Jason Newsted was described as a huge blessing for Ozzy's band.
- Ozzy's band's introduction of Jason Newsted was compared to the trade of Derek Jeter for Nomar Garciaparra in baseball, indicating a fresh energy and new dynamic brought by the change.
