Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine: “Retirement Is A Concern.”
We spoke to Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine about Sonisphere, The Big Four and continuing problems with his neck – which could possibly lead to his retirement.
Just when Mustaine and company have come back with a vengeance and would seemly be on a mission to keep in that direction, could a near future retirement be a part of Dave’s reality?
“Yeah, retirement is a concern. It has to do with the limitations of my body. I’ve got stuff going on with my neck. I try not to make it obvious but the range of motion in my neck is becoming very limited. I don’t think it has as much to do with wear and tear, as it does with the lack of preparation. There were so many years where I would go out there and just start headbanging. I didn’t think about… OK Dave… you’re an elite athlete… you do metal callisthenics with your left hand… so why don’t you limber up the rest of your body? Over the last two years I’ve really started to take a different approach to my health, my fitness… my life. For the last year I’ve been on a really strict regiment and I try to take really good care of myself so I can play better. My monitor guy – Steven Tyler from Areosmith’s old monitor guy before they fell apart – told me, I don’t see how you can do four [gigs] in a row. I was thinking, dude! I used to do five in a row what are you talking about? I just had to put my foot down and say no more fives.”
I had to ask if he believes Chris Broderick may very well be his musical soul-mate. Mustaine looks at me and drops his head and cocks it sideways. “Hmmm, interesting term… very suggestive but interesting term, but I follow ya. When I met Chris he came across as a very affable and easy-going guy and I really liked him, not to mention that he’s a great player but I wanted to SEE him do it though. He came to my house and played some stuff and I said ‘OK, now I’m going to do something totally random’. I said, ‘I’ve got something in my garage I need to put together, would you help me?’ He said ‘sure’. So we proceeded to assemble my gym. We sat there for about four hours putting together two thousand pounds of raw steel and by the time it was done I realized, that a) we get along really well together, b) we are both wired in a very similar way because there were no extra parts when we were finished, and c) neither one of us stopped until the job was done. It showcased our work ethics as well as our ability to work together and get along at the same time. Chris was pretty much a blank canvas that had enormous talent and I was able to let him run wild.”
Read the news on the Big Four rumours here
“When we did the first single ‘1,320’ it was in Manchester, Andy [Sneap, producer/mixer] came to the hotel and we were going to start working on the album as we travelled, we really needed to get a single out, you know? Chris did a solo, and I said just let me do my stuff first. There was only one other time on the entire record, that I said something about his playing. It was a trill thing he did on his tremolo bar [whammy bar] that reminded me of Night Ranger, so I didn’t like it!”
At this I burst out laughing.
“Well if it made you laugh, maybe it’ll make other people laugh… it made me cringe.”
Says Dave chuckling the whole time
“But that was the extent of it man. He is such an electrifying player! He has some pretty interesting stories about his time in other bands. Some of them are rock n’ roll, some of them are pretty sad because of some of the insecurities he had to deal with from other personnel. When people tell me some of the stuff they went through like, they duct-taped you to a tree?!? Crazy stuff like that. When you are one of the best in the band, hazing shouldn’t be a part of it. For me, I don’t get hazed… you know, I’ve never been hazed” [For our British readers, ‘hazing’ is like the ritualistic abuse/trials of an initiation].
Now pause for a moment and try to imagine how difficult it was for me not to say: What about Metallica? I have to much respect for Dave to bait him.]
Read how Dave Mustaine turned down the Big Four!
“I look at what Chris has brought to Megadeth and it’s a sense of honour because his guitar playing has really made me proud of my playing again, because he’s so good and so humble it’s made me feel more proud of what we’re doing. I’m pretty shy and quiet believe it or not… unless I get provoked. If I’m left to myself I hardly talk to anyone and Chris is like that too, but when we get up on stage the chemistry between the two guitars is incredible. I can’t wait to see what comes out of him next!”
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I think I speak on behalf of the entire world when I say “Dave Mustaine, please find a way to continue forever”. He’s just too fucking good!!!
please retire dick head
pleaseee pleaseee retireee metallica and all the others are so much better then a ginger twat like him.
Love or hate him, Dave Mustaine = fucking legend
Disagree and you = fucking twat!
Wow, actual metallica fan boys have arrived
Hammer, why not just include all these part interviews as a whole in next months fucking magazine??
Dave is such a cocky twat
YOU MASHITTICA FANS ARE IDIOTS, DAVE SHREDS THEM ALL. YOU WILL SEE ON THE BIG 4 TOUR GOING TO KILL THEM RIGHT OFF STAGE. SO STICK YOUR HEAD IN YOUR ASS AND GO TO SLEEP, IT’S WHAT U MAFAGICA FANS DO BEST.
It will be a sad day in metal if mustaine decides to call it a day sooner instead of later due to his neck problems.
Dave is a bonafide legend in the metal world and as a rythum guitar player and songwriter is untouchable and uncomparable in the metal world.
Here we go again yet another metallica vs megadeth arguement * yawn*
Metallica continues to show (3rd album in a row) that they have forgotten how to write a good f’n metal song and their best is quite definately behind them. WTF?
Lars’ father should have told them to delete the last three albums ! What a load and re-load of crap. I suspect Death Magnetic may be quite prophetic but I still hope for something better. Megadeath continues to show that they still can write but perhaps their best is behind them also…but show promise to equal it at least. There seams to be life here and a little consistancy which is great. Their exists promise.
Metallica simply needs to stop trying to re-invent the wheel cuz it aint workin’. What happened to we’ll never stop, we’ll never quit ? Hollow words today.
To compare, Motorhead has recently completed one of their best albums ever in Motorizer and lead one to wonder if their best is still yet to come !?! A new album is in the works in early 2010 once again so we shall see. Motorizer is special and ought to be considered a Motorhead classic….one of many recent albums that blast you right in the face, from the neck on down and out the other side. Exceptional.
When Metallica dies, no one worth any salt will miss them based on their recent resume but many will wish they could be reincarnated as a true thrash band once again. They have written definate classics. Those that believe they are the end-all in metal today, obviously missed the last 30 years and must ride in the short bus.
When Megadeth dies, perhaps a few will miss them and long for a rebirth. They remain consistant at least and have not been a dissapointment to any great degree. Long live Dave Mustaine.
When Motorhead dies, everybody’s lawn will die along with them and the rock’n'roll world will have lost a Monster and Inspiration that few bands will ever recognize again. Long Live Lemmy, Mikkey and Phil.
Long Live Motorhead !!!!!!
Just seen Megadeth in Vegas last sunday, all I can say is the love for them is still there and they certainly blow away most of the competition.
wether people like to admit it or not megadeth are thousands times better than metallica, singing about monsters under your bed, thats nt very fuckin metal now is it? dave mustaine rules, i hope he goes on making music untill he dies because he is an amazing guitar player and singer and the metal world will not be the same without him.
Dave is genius, yeah. Jeff Young is saying other things at the moment cos in 20 years he made a record, real crap.
But Dave Mustaine is now in an infinitely precarious position. Nothing can help. This is called born posthumously.He is rather too late or too early. May be when he is dead and gone some other generation will give him the recognition.
Pity!
What an awesome set of interviews. Nice to see someone not baiting him for once. Hammer once again retain professionalism on all levels. I’d love him to continue forever however all good things come to an end. It’s a shame bad things, like fanboy dickheads, just seem to keep fucking going…
The whole Megadeth versus Metallica issue is so f’ing old and the only one’s keeping it going are the little pussy Metallica boy’s that think the black album is pure metal. Watch the documentary Get Thrashed and you will see that the guys in Slayer, Exodus, Anthrax and a bunch of others all agree that Mustaine was the true talent in Metallica. Mustaine’s riff’s were what made Metallica.
i really hope he won’t retire soon , he is a metal genius !, a legend in the metal world and my favorite musician ever …. it’ll be a sad day for metal when he’ll retire ….
I have been listening to Dave and his various band incarnations for 25 years. In all that time there is one common thread: one man and some of the best heavy metal ever recorded.
Mustaine is unquestionably a force to be reckoned with!
Dave Mustaine rule. And the new album is fucking great!!!
Hope the big 4 come to Norway!!!
This is for all metallica lovers-Megadeth fight hard to make there name in 80’s.but from 90’s till now this has been the megadeth era.old metallica are long gone.And megadeth never became commercial thats why they didnt become as famous as metallica. Mustaine=whole metallica
I like both MEtallica and Megadeth, and I respect both bands, but Dave shreads like a bastard. He’s a miles better guitar player than Kirk Hamemt, or anyone else for that matter.
Dave!
please!!!
Metal well be destroyed without you!
Please! Please! Please!
You can Dave! You can!!!
U are the King of Metal! U can!!!
dave = legend
now a band that should retire is metallica.. been going downhill for a while! lets see death magnetic or endgame haha
I heart Dave Mustaine.