Jason Newsted has left Metallica [ tickets ] after 14 years as the group’s bassist. The band plans to continue without him.

"Due to private and personal reasons, and the physical damage that I have done to myself over the years while playing the music that I love, I must step away from the band,” Newsted said in a statement the group issued on Wednesday (1/17). “This is the most difficult decision of my life, made in the best interest of my family, myself, and the continued growth of Metallica. I extend my love, thanks, and best wishes to my brothers: James, Lars, and Kirk and the rest of the Metallica family, friends, and fans whom have made these years so unforgettable."

Remarks from Metallica’s three remaining members--singer James Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich and guitarist Kirk Hammett--indicate that the split is amicable.

"Playing with someone who has such unbridled passion for music will forever be a huge inspiration,” said Hetfield in the group’s statement. “On stage every night, he was a driving force to us all, fans and band alike. His connection will never be broken."

"We part ways with Jason with more love, more mutual respect, and more understanding of each other than at any other point in the past,” said Ulrich. “James, Kirk and I look forward to embracing the next chapter of Metallica [ tickets ] with both a huge amount of appreciation for the last 14 years with Jason and the excitement of rising to the challenges that lay ahead to make Metallica shine brighter than ever."

Hammett added, "Jason is our brother. He will be missed."

Newsted replaced the group’s original bassist, Cliff Burton, in 1986 after Burton was killed when the group’s tour bus crashed during a European tour. Prior to joining Metallica, Newsted was a member of the rock group Flotsam and Jetsam.

The exiting bassist participated in the recording of six Metallica albums--“… And Justice For All,” “Metallica,” “Load,” “Re-Load,” “Garage Inc.,” and “S&M”--that have sold over 55 million copies worldwide to date, according to the group’s statement.

Metallica’s most recent release is 1999’s “S&M” (Elektra), a live, 2-CD set that features the Bay Area group performing its songs with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. The album was released in November 1999, and has been certified quadruple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipping 4 million copies.

Hetfield, Ulrich and Hammett will begin writing and recording a new studio album in the spring that will be released sometime in late 2001 or early 2002, according to the group’s statement. The band has not announced a replacement for Newsted.