Dave Mustaine: 'I Am No Longer The Easiest Boy To Hate In Heavy Metal'

Peter Hodgson of I Heart Guitar recently conducted an interview with Megadeth mainman Dave Mustaine. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

I Heart Guitar: "Endgame" is really energetic and angry. Where did that come from?

Mustaine: I don't really know what spurred this on other than just being in a good place right now. I'm happy. I still have some of the things that have wounded me — the scars are never going to go away, but it's just the way I'm dealing with things now. And I think that's probably the key to everything. If I look at my circumstances, it's like looking at scores from yesterday's football matches. In the beginning, even though it's zero to zero, at some point that time's already designated and it's already been exposed, expired, lapsed and it happened. And for me, I've just got to accept those things and just do the absolute very best I can to work up to those moments. My career right now is better than it's ever been. I've got a brand new contract I just signed with Clear Channel radio over here for three years, my book's coming out next year, my record's coming out next month. I believe I've written the best record of my career and I love the way that the fans are reacting to it. And even more importantly than anyone's reaction to it, it just seems like people have forgiven me for whatever it was they were mad at me about, and my heart is just so, just leaping with gladness. Because I am no longer the easiest boy to hate in heavy metal.

It seems like with "United Abominations" you were really confident going in, but with this one it seemed like you weren't really giving anything away until it was finished.

I think probably one of the reasons why the timing was different with that was, with the last record there were so many times where we would post about stuff and people would get excited, but I wasn't really finding myself being able to experience the record as much as I wanted to, and the reason for that was I was too caught up in what people were thinking. And I don't make music to react to people's thinking, I write music 'cause I like music. And I don't know why, but God made me good at this. Why me? I don't know! I certainly haven't done anything that stands out to reason why I would be blessed with this talent. I just know I want to try my best to use it, and I want to have fun while I'm doing it. Man, I love watching people have fun while I'm out there doing my job.

How did having your own studio impact the sessions?

I think having the studio was beneficial for us because it gave us the license to be able to come and go at our leisure. If we wanted to start early we could, and if we wanted to start late we could. I think that's something that really makes the band feel respected as individuals. It's those little things that make all the difference in the world. I've been around the block a few times so those things are second nature to me, but it's not to Chris [Broderick, guitar] or to Shawn [Drover, drums] because even though they're relatively new, they've had their experiences with doing things at the proper level, and I would like, myself, I would love to get Megadeth back to the proper level.

Here's a question from the Megadeth forum: Are you planning anything to mark the 20th anniversary of "Rust In Peace"?

Well if they're asking about me playing with those guys again I think I've made it pretty clear.

Well even something like a special commemorative release, or playing the album start-to-finish live.

Yeah, I've heard that, but my answer is pretty simple: If it was gonna happen, it would have. I don't think it'll ever happen. I don't dislike any of those guys. We did have some very difficult periods together but I was just as difficult to be around as they were. And all I want to do right now is just bless them and just let them know I'm a fan of theirs. Even the ones I had a hard time with, I'm a fan of theirs. They were part of my life and I look to those times together with great fondness.

Also with an album as strong as "Endgame", I dunno why you'd wanna look back 20 years?

Yeah, why? People are saying, "Can you get together and do a reunion thing?" and it's like, "Yeah, but you have to suck both my eyes out first." No disrespect to those guys, but it's like that old saying when you marry your girlfriend, "Why buy the cow when the milk is free?" I'm sure there's something nasty like that. But I love where we're at right now and I wouldn't change anything for anything. There's no reason to make any changes to anything. Period.

Read the entire interview from I Heart Guitar.

Comments

[maidenfan15]

I don't get how he can bury the hatchet with Metallica, but not with his own band members. Sorry Dave, I love you but you're still a huge ass.

[Vicryl 2.0]

"Why buy the cow when the milk is free?"...

if i tell my girlfriend "Why buy the cow when the milk is free?"...i dunno what will happen next. either i get the milk or i get slaughtered like a cow...

[jimmyled]

The album sounds great from what I heard, but Dave is a bit of an ******* (sorry!).

[aocrkid]

he's not a boy anymore. he's still a douche.

[Metal_Rich]

maidenfan15 wrote:

I don't get how he can bury the hatchet with Metallica, but not with his own band members. Sorry Dave, I love you but you're still a huge ass.

+1

[Duffman123]

He's in the news all the fu*king time at the minute saying about how great he is. This makes him an ass

[kud666]

love megadeth and think dave is a great guy n guitarist but to say some of the things he does makes you just wanna grab him n tape his mouth shut.

[Trickle7052]

Metal_Rich wrote:

maidenfan15 wrote:

I don't get how he can bury the hatchet with Metallica, but not with his own band members. Sorry Dave, I love you but you're still a huge ass.

+1

+2 He is a F**kn pussy i read other interviews with him an he acts like a baby but the guy can play i'll give him that

[kud666]

i just found this on youtube and it really does make him out to be a complete tw*t
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irIgroRyIPI&NR=1

[Firewind Raging]

kud666 wrote:i just found this on youtube and it really does make him out to be a complete tw*t http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irIgroRyIPI&NR=1

I thought that was really funny, the guy deserved what he got :P

Dave rules, he's really calmed down in the last few years. I met him last year, real nice guy

[saladforkspear]

well it had taken him forever to bury the hatchet with metallica, so I'm guessing in a few more years, everything'll smooth over... after all Dave, what would Jesus do?

[TheLeagacy543]

Mustaine rulezz!!!!! true guitar god

[koikomoru]

Mustaine is the best. More talent than Metallica. Clearly what metallica did to him still bugs him, but he came out on top in the end. Can't wait for the new record.

[joshua029]

maidenfan15 wrote:

I don't get how he can bury the hatchet with Metallica, but not with his own band members. Sorry Dave, I love you but you're still a huge ass.

+ another

[joshua029]

^ mustaine didn't come out on top either. didn't you see "some kind of monster" movie? the best part was him crying like a little girl...

haha...

[\m/(-_-)\m/]

joshua029 wrote:

^ mustaine didn't come out on top either. didn't you see "some kind of monster" movie? the best part was him crying like a little girl...

haha...

You know Lars was with him and he was tearing up to. You dumbass. Crying is human emotion. It's normal. Who the hell are you to say shit like that? If you've been through all the stuff that Dave has been through(rejected by band members, drugs, alchohal, saturday night palsy) you'd probably understand.
Megadeth did come on top, btw. They may not have a steady line up but at least they can put out decent music every album. Didn't YOU see "Some Kind Of Monster"? They've had a steady line-up but too bad they can't stand each other and they're all arrogant as shit.

[wyldeshredder]

dave def. has some christian attitude going now, but he's still got a certain arrogance about it him in his diction. he just seems to be a little focussed on Dave. great player, does some great things. but (judging on interview and video footage only)if someone told me i could go hang out with either Mustaine and Hetfield, i'd go with hetfield. it seems as though he'd be easier to be around.

[lynx636]

i love how the first comment mentions metallica lol, anything to do with megadeth and you always get that person bringing it up. but endgame is awesome, never been a megadeth fan until now

[ReaperWaits]

Metal_Rich wrote:

maidenfan15 wrote:

I don't get how he can bury the hatchet with Metallica, but not with his own band members. Sorry Dave, I love you but you're still a huge ass.

+1

'cause they happened a long time apart?

[cal1]

joshua029 wrote:

^ mustaine didn't come out on top either. didn't you see "some kind of monster" movie? the best part was him crying like a little girl...

haha...

A quote from Zakk Wylde: "If a man doesn't ****in' bleed and he doesn't cry, you don't trust him. He ain't a ****in' man."

Unless you've been lobotomized, you too have emotions. Don't even start any "I haven't cried since I was 10!" stuff either, because sadness and depression are part of how a human mind works, and cry is a reaction to that.

[Sam Wotrey]

maidenfan15 wrote:

I don't get how he can bury the hatchet with Metallica, but not with his own band members. Sorry Dave, I love you but you're still a huge ass.

"On Blabbermouth.net, Mustaine claims to have had dinner with Ellefson at Christmas in 2005 to talk things through; they are on good terms today as Mustaine states they have spoken on the phone numerous times. [3] It should also be noted that as of late, Ellefson has stated (also on Blabbermouth.net) that if Mustaine were to call him tomorrow and ask him to rejoin the band, he would say yes."

Also, Chris Poland sold band equipment for heroin, that's messed up, AND THEY'RE ON GOOD TERMS.

Kudos on the Zakk Wylde quote, cal1, well used.

[JakoSnako]

koikomoru wrote:

Mustaine is the best. More talent than Metallica. Clearly what metallica did to him still bugs him, but he came out on top in the end. Can't wait for the new record.

sorry, dave is a great guitarist, but i think metallica's 5 #1 albums and over 40 singles came out on top

[cukd7x-a2-]

maidenfan15 wrote:

I don't get how he can bury the hatchet with Metallica, but not with his own band members. Sorry Dave, I love you but you're still a huge ass.

those were the guys from his drug years and the low point of megadeth... gee i dont know why he wouldnt want to look back. Menzsa got injured and they were never very cohesive, marty quit and went to japan, and Jr. called dave a pussie for faking the injury that made them disband

you have no idea what youre talking about

[Phil.]

I don't know how some of you guys can criticize him for just saying what he means. If he feels no pull to get back with the old guys then thats how he feels, he was asked a question and he gave a straight answer. At least he didn't give some kind of half assed open ended crap, he's just being honest.
And as for being arrogant, I think you'll find he is just confident, and with good reason. His band Kicks ass and he is one of the sickest guitarist ever!

[mr. ...]

"We did have some very difficult periods together but I was just as difficult to be around as they were."

HAHAHAHAHAHA im sure they were dave, im sure they were. dave and his incredible people skills.
ENDGAME KICKS ASS

[Eddie's'Waitor]

He's a ****, end of :P

[1320polaris]

Dave is the king. Hands down. he knows he's the man and if some one disagrees he lets them know it