Jason Newsted wrote the opening bass riff for “My Friend of Misery” on Metallica’s The Black Album.
Newsted joined Metallica in 1986 after the death of bassist Cliff Burton, and he played bass on the band’s first studio album with him, ...And Justice for All. During the Black Album sessions, Newsted contributed the main idea for “My Friend of Misery,” including its distinctive bass-led opening.
The piece was originally intended to remain instrumental. It would have continued Metallica’s earlier tradition of including an instrumental track on each studio album, following pieces such as “Anesthesia—Pulling Teeth,” “The Call of Ktulu,” “Orion,” and “To Live Is to Die.”
Producer Bob Rock encouraged the band to add lyrics so the song could connect more directly with the album’s broader audience. The finished track became the eleventh song on the original album, retaining Newsted’s prominent opening contribution.