Last month, Mushok spoke with New Jersey radio station WDHA 105.5 FM about the status of Newsted, (according to this report). The guitarist said, "The [Newsted] thing really kind of � [Jason] kind of shut it down after we did that run, we did that record. So he's just kind of taking a little break now."

He said that Newsted stopped the project after their world tour in support of their "Metal" EP and debut album, "Heavy Metal Music". "I think it was� You know, we went out, we did the record, and we did, like, 75 dates around the world in, like� I don't even know� in a really, really quick time, that whole thing did. And it was really just kind of such a whirlwind," he said.

"And, you know, things have changed since� from back in the day, and I think [Jason] was just� he was happy to get that record out. I know he's still writing music and we still talk, but there's not really any plans as far as that goes today."