In a series of recent interviews with outlets such as SPIN.com and Rolling Stone , Dave Mustaine opened his heart about his current relationship with the members of Metallica . More than just respecting the past, the Megadeth categorically stated that he harbors deep feelings for his former bandmates.
“We are constantly working to improve our relationship, me, James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich . I really love these guys,” revealed Dave. According to the musician, the intense fights that marked the last four decades had an unexpected reason: “The reason we fought so much was because I missed them. The idea of having to leave the band was something difficult to process at the time.”
Tribute on Megadeth's new album
This new phase of peace is reflected in the group's upcoming release, an album simply titled Megadeth , which will be released this Friday, the 23rd. The album features a version of "Ride The Lightning," the title track from Metallica's 1984 album, for which Mustaine has songwriting credits.
For Dave, recording this song wasn't just a regular cover, but a way to honor the creation he shared with James. “I wanted to close the circle and show my respect. James is an exceptional guitarist and Lars is a fantastic arranger and composer,” he told Guitar World . In the new version, Megadeth sped up the tempo and brought a more modern sound, with solos shared between Mustaine and guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari .
Dave Mustaine and the search for historical truth
Despite the affectionate tone, Mustaine didn't shy away from controversial topics. He recalled that reconciliation involves aligning memories of the past. In conversations with Hetfield, Dave suggested that, between each person's version, there is "the truth." This dialogue seeks to resolve old impasses, such as the release of the demo "No Life 'Til Leather," which remains shelved due to publishing credit disputes involving Lars Ulrich.
Dave explained that, although excessive alcohol consumption earned the band the nickname "Alcoholica" in the 80s, his dismissal in 1983 was motivated by episodes of violence. He recalled the famous punch he gave James after the vocalist kicked his dog during a rehearsal, as well as fights in bars where he acted as the "champion of justice".
Destiny and Legacy in Metal
Looking back at the beginning, Dave recounted how he joined the group after seeing an advertisement in The Recycler . He remembered with admiration the moment he saw James Hetfield go from being just a singer to becoming a "monster" on the guitar.
“When we started playing, James [Hetfield] only sang. But one day we decided to hire a second guitarist and we did a show at the Whisky a Go Go [in Los Angeles] — [after] we had done several shows with just me, James, Ron and Lars [Ulrich on drums],” he says.
“We did a show with this [new] guy, and he was wearing this huge feather earring. I looked at him and thought, ‘Whoa, someone’s not going to stick around for long.’ Then, at the next rehearsal, he wasn’t there and James was playing guitar, and he was playing as well as he does now. And I thought, ‘Where did that come from?’ I was really happy for the band, because he was great.”
Even though he claims to have written parts of classics like "Metal Militia," "Phantom Lord," and riffs for "Leper Messiah" (from the album Master of Puppets ) without receiving full credit, Mustaine prefers to focus on the impact they had. "The way we played guitar in Metallica changed the world. I want my days now to be marked by respectable acts," he concluded.
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