Which bassist received co-writing credit on Metallica’s “My Friend of Misery”?

Jason Newsted received co-writing credit on Metallica’s “My Friend of Misery.”

The song was developed from an instrumental idea associated with Newsted, who joined Metallica in 1986 after the death of bassist Cliff Burton. James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, and Newsted are credited as the songwriters on the album version.

“My Friend of Misery” appears near the end of The Black Album. Its lyrics describe isolation, resentment, and a troubled relationship between people who share unhappiness. The song’s slower, spacious arrangement differs from the faster thrash-metal style that defined much of Metallica’s earlier work.

Newsted’s contribution is an important part of the album’s history because he was often less prominently represented in the band’s songwriting credits than Hetfield and Ulrich. He performed bass on The Black Album, but the album’s final credits gave him a writing share specifically on “My Friend of Misery.” Robert Trujillo joined Metallica much later, in 2003, and was not involved in recording the 1991 album.