Metallica were one of the major drawcards at this year’s Soundwave Festival and now it looks like their former bassist is the latest act to leak as part of the Soundwave 2014 lineup, which according to festival organisers is due in a matter of days.
Jason Newsted, who departed Metallica’s ranks back in 2001, has confirmed that his titular metal outfit, Newsted, are a lock for the Soundwave 2014 lineup following the release of their latest album Heavy Metal Music. The 50-year-old bassist let slip of the news in an interview with May The Rock Be With You, telling the website that the four-piece’s Australian tour plans included “looking at the third week of February 2014 for Newsted’s debut in Australia.”
When pressed about the dates lining up particularly well with Soundwave’s regular February showing, Newsted replied, “It sure does…” By the close of the interview the bassist is no longer playing coy. “[I’m] hoping the record (Heavy Metal Music) does even better and then I get a little leverage for offers for the band for live performances, obviously the Soundwave one was appropriate and we’ve already agreed to that.”
As the man himself points out, this will be the first time Newsted will play Down Under with his latest band, though he has toured the country since walking from Metallica, having since played in a number of side-projects – including Echobrain and spots with Voivod and Ozzy Osbourne. He also took part in reality TV show Rock Star, forming a heavy rock group with Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee and Gun N’ Roses member Gilby Clarke.
Meanwhile, Soundwave festival promoter AJ Maddah says to “lock in” this Friday for the full lineup reveal, the first of his many festival lineup announcements that are due in the next 30 days.
Lock it in folks. Soundwave 2014 Line up will be revealed Friday. As always, watch this space for more details as they come to hand #SW14
— Soundwave Festival (@soundwavefest) August 18, 2013
Bands that are likely to crop up on the Soundwave 2014 lineup announcement include Danish act Volbeat, (“almost confirmed,” as Maddah has said previously), American heavy metal outfit Godsmack (“they were in at 1 point, but had to pull out. SW14″), and Swedish glam metal outfit Crashdiet, who openly acknowledged their part in doing some ‘Soundwave promotion’ earlier in the year around the release of their new album.
There’s also the introduction of a a new Japanese metal stage, with around nine bands, with Maximum The Hormone likely to appear. There’ll also be some ska bands and the promise that the “Metal stages will be back with a vengeance next year!”
The rumour mill has also been going strong, with reports that the newly revitalised Nine Inch Nails are pegged as potential headliners, while other acts tossed about include Slash, Alter Bridge, Deftones, Alice In Chains, Kylesa, Papa Roach, and Skunk Anansie. Other industry whispers have name checked Iron Maiden, pop punks Zebrahead and Bowling For Soup, Florida hard rock act Shinedown, British hardcore act Lower Than Atlantis, fellow English alt-rock outfit Don Broco, and Swedish metallers Dead By April. While tickets to Soundwave 2014 are likely “$160 + GST + BF. So around $180 to $185 I reckon,” says Maddah.
The final lineup will contain around 63 bands, according to Maddah, who has already conceded that it’s going to be difficult to top the 10th anniversary lineup of Soundwave 2013, which brought huge attendance numbers from its 70+ strong bill featuring Metallica, Blink 182, Garbage, Linkin Park, The Offspring, Slayer, Anthrax and many more.
Soundwave 2014 Dates
venues TBA
Saturday 22nd February – Brisbane
Sunday 23rd February – Sydney
Friday 28th February – Melbourne
Saturday 1st March – Adelaide
Monday 3rd March – Perth
