Jason Newsted replaced Cliff Burton as Metallica’s bassist after Burton’s death in 1986.
Burton died on September 27, 1986, when Metallica’s tour bus crashed in Sweden during the European leg of the Damage, Inc. Tour. The band subsequently auditioned more than 50 musicians while searching for a replacement. Newsted, then known for his work with Flotsam and Jetsam, ultimately won the position.
He joined Metallica in October 1986 and made his first studio appearance with the band on ...And Justice for All, released in 1988. He also performed on the self-titled Metallica album, commonly called The Black Album, as well as Load, Reload, and Garage Inc. His tenure lasted until 2001.
The question can prompt a second common mix-up: Robert Trujillo also became a Metallica bassist, but he joined in 2003, more than a decade after Newsted’s arrival. Dave Mustaine was an early Metallica guitarist, not Burton’s replacement, while David Ellefson was associated with Megadeth.