Newsted's self-titled outfit has released their first EP after he announced the end of a self-imposed semi-retirement last year. And he's credited fans for bringing him back when he found it difficult to keep going after quitting Metallica in 2001, despite work with Echobrain, Ozzy Osbourne, Voivod and others.

He insists it was important to give the new band his own name, telling Geeks Of Doom: "I wanted to make it very clear what was happening this time: that this was a fan-driven, enlightened, happening, offering. It was absolutely fuelled by the fans.

"When I played with Metallica at The Fillmore for the 30th anniversary shows I thought it was going to be fun. I had no idea the outcome was going to be like it was.