Which song on Metallica’s 1991 album began as Jason Newsted’s intended bass instrumental?

“My Friend of Misery” began as Jason Newsted’s intended bass instrumental on Metallica’s 1991 album.

Newsted had proposed an instrumental built around a prominent bass part, but the idea was developed into a full song with contributions from the other members. The finished track retains a distinctive bass-centered character while adding vocals and layered guitars.

This history matters because Newsted’s writing role on Metallica was often overshadowed by the band’s established Hetfield–Ulrich songwriting partnership. “My Friend of Misery” is one of the clearest examples of an idea originating with the bassist becoming part of the finished album.

The song appears near the end of the standard sequence as track 11, immediately before “The Struggle Within.” It was not released as one of the album’s main commercial singles.