Which musician played bass on Metallica’s 1991 album, The Black Album?

Jason Newsted played bass on Metallica’s 1991 album, The Black Album. He was the band’s bassist during the recording and release of its fifth studio album.

Newsted joined Metallica in 1986 after the death of original bassist Cliff Burton. The Black Album was Newsted’s third studio album with the band, following ...And Justice for All and the group’s earlier releases featuring him in the lineup.

The album’s personnel credits list James Hetfield on guitars and vocals, Lars Ulrich on drums, Kirk Hammett on lead guitar, and Jason Newsted on bass. Newsted also wrote the main riff for “My Friend of Misery,” which was initially conceived as an instrumental.

A common mix-up comes from the unusual bass presentation on ...And Justice for All, where Newsted’s contribution was famously very low in the mix. The Black Album gave the bass a much more audible role within Bob Rock’s fuller production, making Newsted’s playing an important part of its sound.