Hetfield offers olive branch to Newsted

James Hetfield has said that he wants every musician who has appeared on a Metallica LP to come together should the band be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

He told Rolling Stone that his invitation is extended to bassist Jason Newsted, who left the group in 2001 after a rift with the singer.

Hetfield said: "Everyone that played on a record should be there. You're considered for the Hall 25 years after your first recording, not after you formed.

"Jason Newsted should be up there - he was in the band for 14 years and played on quite a few records. And so should Robert [Trujillo]."

Hetfield added that there was "no reason for it to be weird" with Newsted.

Nominees will find out this month if they have been selected for induction in 2009, with a ceremony scheduled for Cleveland, USA, in the spring.