Former METALLICA bassist Jason Newsted was knocked off stage by an overzealous fan during NEWSTED's May 21 concert at New York City's Highline Ballroom.

According to Metal Insider, Newsted's new band was halfway through a rendition of METALLICA's "Whiplash" when "the fan leapt onstage, appeared to attempt a stage dive into the middle of the audience and instead ran into Newsted from behind, knocking them both off the stage and into the audience. With the crowd stopping the fan in the mosh pit while others yelled at him, a security guard immediately escorted the fan from the venue with one forearm wrapped around his neck, pursued by other members of the venue's security detail.

"Visibly disoriented from a roughly five-foot fall that could have caused serious damage with a slightly different angle, Newsted returned to the stage with the help of security, replacing an in-ear monitor knocked out by the fall and addressing the crowd: 'You know, no matter how many shows I've done, that just happened for the first time. …I trust my brothers here to take care of it. Anyone get a good look at that motherfucker? Don't kill him, just bruise him up a bit.'"

A fan who attended the concert, Ryan D, filmed the incident and posted the clip on YouTube (see below, starting at around 3:08 mark). He tells BLABBERMOUTH.NET: "I caught up with Jason after the show and showed him the video. He was feeling sore a little bit but was still OK. He even said to me, 'Put it on YouTube."

NEWSTED has been confirmed for this year's edition of Gigantour, the critically acclaimed package festival founded in 2005 by MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine. Also scheduled to appear on the bill are headliners MEGADETH, along with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, DEVICE, HELLYEAH and DEATH DIVISION.

NEWSTED kicked off its first-ever U.S. tour on April 19 at Red House in Walnut Creek, California. The 14-date trek will conclude on May 23 in Asbury Park, New Jersey and will lead into a number of European festival appearances for the band, which is rouded out by STAIND guitarist Mike Mushok, drummer Jesus Mendez Jr. and guitarist Jessie Farnsworth.

NEWSTED has just completed recording its first full-length album, to be released later this year. NEWSTED began mixing the effort last month, with more details to be announced soon.

NEWSTED's debut EP, "Metal", sold around 6,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 62 on The Billboard 200 chart.

NEWSTED is:

Jason Newsted - Bass, Lead Vocals

Jesus Mendez Jr. (THE NAPOLEON BLOWNAPARTS) - Drums

Jessie Farnsworth - Guitar, Backing Voice

Mike Mushok (STAIND) – Guitar

The incident in question can be seen below starting at around 3:08 mark.