Former  Metallica  bassist Jason Newsted has revealed he has recently been declared “free and clear” after a battle against throat cancer. READ MORE:   Metallica live in Amsterdam: still the greatest heavy metal band around Newsted succeeded the late Cliff Burton on bass for the metal icons in 1986, playing on many of their most successful records until walking away from the band in 2001. During a recent appearance on the  Let There Be Talk  podcast, Newsted opened up for the first time in public about his diagnosis, confirming that doctors were able to catch it early and that he has now been declared cancer-free.…