Metallica are to reunite with their former bassist Jason Newsted, the band's guitarist Kirk Hammett has revealed.

Newsted will join the band when they are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland on April 4th.

The bassist, who was left out of the recent video game Guitar Hero: Metallica, quit the group in 2000.

Hammett said the band wanted Newsted to join them to avoid a possible repeat of an incident at the 2006 induction when two former bandmates of Blondie asked to perform with the group after they were honoured.

The request by Frank Infante and Nigel Harrison was denied by singer Debbie Harry.

Hammett told the Pulse of Radio: "It puts a really bad, sour note on the whole celebration itself.

"There was so many politics and so much drama that, you know, we collectively said to each other, 'We don't want any of that.'

"Jason Newsted will be there, and he will be playing with us at one point.”

Newsted joined Metallica in the late 80s following the death of their original bassist Cliff Burton.

Run-DMC, Jeff Beck, Little Anthony and the Imperials and Bobby Womack will also be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next month.

(by Jason Gregory)