In a new interview with Greg Prato for Songfacts, Megadeth leader Dave Mustaine discusses trying to reunite the Big 4, the most misunderstood Megadeth song, the last time he threw his guitar at someone, and more. In the following excerpt, Mustaine talks about what he believes to be the hidden gem in the Megadeth catalog?
"I think one of the best songs I've ever written - as far as drama is concerned, like a picture within a song - is 'Wanderlust', says Dave. "I always thought 'Wanderlust' was one of the best songs that we had recorded, with the lyrics, the singing, the climax to the song. It just came out at a time when the music populous were liking a different kind of music.
"Back when that came out it was 1999, and we had a lot of really great songs on that album [Risk]. But Marty [Friedman, Megadeth's then-other guitarist] wanted us to be more alternative sounding. I kept trying to say, "But we can't go from writing 'Black Friday' to playing songs like Dishwalla. We just can't." Because he really liked Dishwalla. I liked one of their songs too, but I wasn't willing to become an alternative-sounding band. And that's not a dig on those guys at all, because I liked their song they used to play on the radio all the time ["Counting Blue Cars"].
"But when that record came out after Cryptic Writings, we were still continuing to make concessions to Marty's desire to be more melodic and more alternative sounding. Therefore, the tempos went down and a lot of the right-hand action became subdued. It was stuff I never intended doing on a guitar in the beginning, laying back and holding chords and stuff. I was always thinking, "Stand back motherfucker! You're going to eat this guitar!"
"I know that's a terrible mentality to have, but that's how I rolled when I was younger. I don't do that very much anymore - somebody's really got to get me mad for me to want to clock them with my guitar. I did throw a guitar recently, in probably the last decade or so. I was in Toronto. I can't remember exactly when it was, but some guy went over to our monitor console and started messing with it. I have in-ear speakers, so in my in-ears, that's what I hear.
"We don't have wedges on the ground, so if it goes squeeeeee onto the speakers, I can't walk away from the speakers because it's in my ears. I have to claw at my face and try and get that thing out of my ear, and it's like a corkscrew. You have to put them in your ears because they go into your ear canal, and your ear canals are not just straight holes. They have to match up, and sometimes it takes corkscrewing them into your ears. So they fit snuggly on me, and if I have something like that happen, I'm pissed.
"So, this guy did this, and I grabbed my V. I thought, Fortunately for me and fucked for you, this Flying V is just like a dart, and I threw it across the stage. I almost made it all the way to the console, but didn't make it. You can probably see it online somewhere. It's a famous incident in Toronto."
Read the complete interview at Songfacts.com.
Megadeth cap off 2022 with their 13th Grammy nomination for "Best Metal Performance" for the song “We’ll Be Back” from their new album, The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead! (UMe).
“I am so happy to be nominated again,” says Dave Mustaine. “I am still on a high from our last win, and this is just surreal. After all the hard work put in by my team, this moment is for them to share in the celebration as well!”
Megadeth kicked off 2022 with the release of their 16th studio album The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead! to both fan and critical acclaim. The album debuted at the top of the charts during its first week of sales, taking the #3 spot on the Billboard 200 as well as number ones on Top Album Sales, Top Current Albums Sales, Top Rock & Alternative Album, Top Rock Albums, and Top Hard Rock Albums. The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead! is the highest charting Megadeth album of all time around the world, also notching #1 in Finland, #2 in Australia, Poland, Switzerland, and Scotland, #3 in the UK, and more.
The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead! consolidates a furious return to form that began with the Grammy winning- Dystopia, while pushing forward musically and marking Mustaine’s recent triumph over throat cancer. Reuniting visionary Megadeth leader and sonic architect Dave Mustaine with co-producer Chris Rakestraw (Danzig, Parkway Drive), who together helmed 2016’s Dystopia, the album was recorded at Mustaine’s home studio in Nashville, Tennessee, with guitarist Kiko Loureiro and drummer Dirk Verbeuren. Bassist Steve DiGiorgio temporarily stepped in to record the album–with the kick off of Megadeth’s recent tour, Megadeth-alumni James LoMenzo rejoined the Megadeth family as permanent bass player.
The 2023 Grammy's, officially known as the 65th Grammy Awards, will air live on Sunday, February 5, from Los Angeles' Crypto.com Arena, and it will broadcast live on the CBS Television Network and stream live and on-demand on Paramount+ at 8 - 11:30 PM, ET / 5 - 8:30 PM, PT+. The special ceremony's broadcast time, hosts, presenters, and performers will be announced soon.
Find the complete list of nominees here.
