Who wrote the original bass riff for Metallica's “My Friend of Misery”?

Jason Newsted wrote the original bass riff for Metallica's “My Friend of Misery.”

Newsted developed the song's opening bass idea during the writing of The Black Album. He initially intended the piece to become an instrumental, which would have made it another instrumental in Metallica's catalog alongside earlier works such as “Anesthesia—Pulling Teeth,” “The Call of Ktulu,” “Orion,” and “To Live Is to Die.”

The song eventually received lyrics and became the eleventh track on the album. James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich were also credited as writers, while Kirk Hammett contributed to the finished arrangement.

A common mix-up is to treat Newsted's contribution as only a performance credit. He did play bass on the album, but this particular song also stands out because its introductory bass material originated with him. The final recording combines that bass-led opening with guitars, drums, and Hetfield's vocals.