Bob Rock Names Surprising Key Ingredient to Newsted’s Sound on Metallica’s ‘Black Album,’ Recalls How ALS-Stricken Jason Becker Played on David Lee Roth Album

“It was hard to see him being unhealthy, it was a bummer,” the producer said.

During an appearance on Tone Talks, producer Bob Rock talked about working with Metallica on his studio debut with the band, 1991’s “Black Album.”

Bob also touched on his work with David Lee Roth on 1991’s “A Little Ain’t Enough,” which featured Jason Becker on guitar, just before he lost the ability to play due to ALS.

Discussing how Jason Newsted’s bass tracks were recorded for the “Black Album,” Rock said (transcribed by UG):

“What we did with Jason, with his sound – he had a very bright, almost guitar sound during the pre-production. And we got into getting him to play more with the drums and augmenting the bottom as a bass player, as a rhythm section, rather than just doubling the guitar sound.

“So we tried every amp and bass that was ever made, and we got a lot of stuff, and guess what we ended up with…? An SVT and a Precision bass.

“But the amazing thing is that Jason embraced it, and then he went, ‘Whoah!’ And of course, he’s got a collection of those things.

“It’s interesting that the thing that’s actually the standard – we tried everything, and then he got about the fact that with the ‘Black Album,’ it wasn’t just him doubling the guitar, but a lot of times he did.

“But he ended up being a bass player, and he became like one with the drums, so it was pretty cool, and it filled in the sound – there’s bass on that album.”

Were there any particular stomp-boxes used with Metallica or were they all rack effects?

“I don’t recall, they used tubes on the solos; Kirk used the Tube Screamer, and obviously a wah-wah, but they also, I believe I know that they used Tube Screamers on the rhythm sounds on some of the earlier albums.

“For instance, all the clean guitars – it was Roland Jazz Chorus, and that’s the sound on the ‘Black Album’ – that would be just chorus and James’ guitar, the EMGs, that’s the sound.

“Very, very clean. But actually, we used the direct too, so it’s a combination of the direct, the Jazz chorus, and EMS and everything – just to get that sound, the sound that he wanted.”

Another question I had was regarding David Lee Roth and your time working on the album with Jason Becker. Can you talk about that album and how was working with Jason [on David Lee Roth’s 1991 album ‘A Little Ain’t Enough’]?

“Well, it was [guitarist] Steve Hunter and Jason, and Jason was struggling with his health so it was tough on him. But he played really great.

“I’m pretty sure he used a Marshall, and he used, I believe, an Ibanez, but he had a different sound. He was definitely influenced by the whole Eddie [Van Halen] sound, so we used a phaser, and of course, there was a lot of guitar work with Steve Hunter.

“I was a huge fan of his because of stuff with Lou Reed especially, and just his sound and his playing, so I loved doing that record. Both guitar players were just great, and Jason obviously was a super-huge talent.

“But it was hard to see him being unhealthy, it was a bummer. But he played his heart out – a great guy too, just a sweetheart.”