Jason Newsted wrote the original bass-riff idea for “My Friend of Misery” on The Black Album.
Newsted intended the piece to become an instrumental, continuing a tradition of instrumental Metallica tracks such as “Anesthesia—Pulling Teeth,” “The Call of Ktulu,” “Orion,” and “To Live Is to Die.” The band ultimately developed it into a song with lyrics for the 1991 album.
The finished recording credits James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, and Jason Newsted as songwriters. Kirk Hammett performs lead guitar, while Newsted contributes bass and backing vocals. This makes the track an important example of Newsted’s creative contribution during his time in Metallica.
Listeners sometimes assume every major Metallica riff originated with Hetfield or Ulrich because the pair wrote much of the band’s material. “My Friend of Misery” is a notable exception: its central early idea came from Newsted, even though the completed track was shaped collectively in the studio.