Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine: Interview Leftovers III
Posted by Chris Harris on July 27, 2010 in Leftovers, News, Rad
Dave Mustaine
Not anymore. We here at Gunshyassassin.com will regularly feature Interview Leftovers — quotable pearls of common knowledge from some of your heros. It just so happens that I’ve had the chance to talk to Dave a lot lately, which means I have a lot of leftovers. So now, ladies and germs, I bring you our third installment in the Dave Mustaine Interview Leftovers series, in which we find out why Endgame is a paradox, what Dave saw during the last of the Big Four shows in Europe, and the important men in his life.
Enjoy.
Me: So, Endgame. It’s been received well, so are you getting ready to start working on the follow-up?
Mustaine: The funny thing, Chris, is when I was writing that record, I felt like I was having a good time making that record, but I didn’t really feel like we were making something that people were going to start comparing to our masterpiece [1990’s Rust In Peace], and I still scratch my head. It’s just that paradox…you surrender, and you win. I ceased fighting this whole thing and I totally won, which was the coolest thing in the world.
Me: What moment do you remember most from those Big Four shows overseas? I mean, I know reconciling with James and Lars was probably up there, but beyond that?
Mustaine: I remember the black sea of T-shirts started changing color when the rain came. One by one, they’re putting on slickers and rain coats. They’re blue, bright orange, bright yellow, bright yellow, another bright blue one next to it and all of a sudden, you look out there, and it’s like a rainbow in the audience. And my guitar tech — for Dave and Chris — goes, “Man, its like there was a promise made, man, and that God was telling you its over dude, and its like a whole new beginning,’ and I was looking out there and it was really symbolic, because there were no more black T-shirts and it was really like a rainbow out there. And ever since that day, its been like a whole new world for me. I feel like I’ve had this straight-jacket taken off of me, and its the most unbelievable feeling.
Me: You have your bassist back, you’ve mended fences with Metallica…it’s been one hell of a year…
Mustaine: Me and Dave [Ellefson] had our ups and downs in our past from some stuff that had happened, and everybody had a part in it and we got back together after we parted. “I forgive you, let’s just be friends again.” And we started being friends again and the discussion came up of having him come back and play again and it felt so right, and ever since then, we’ve had this new relationship. David and James and Lars; these are three of the most important men in my life, from my career’s point of view — three of the guys that had a huge part in my life and to be able to have gone back and make things right with all of them, even with the guys in Slayer..man, either I have to live a peaceful life and be bored as shit or this is really going to pay off and I’m going to be happy for a long time.
Me: Do you ever get tired of playing certain songs? Are there any you would eradicate from your sets?
Mustaine: Well, there’s certain stuff — because I am getting older now and my vocal chords aren’t what they used to be — the higher-pitched stuff a little more exasperating for me. I know it will be harder for me to sing and I want my performances to be the best they can be and when I have a squeak or something like that, it really messes with me. Back then, when you did that kind of stuff, you could sing real high cause you were. I remember talking to Ellefson when we were just young bucks that we wouldn’t get passed our 30s. We were out of control. I am just so grateful for this life I have right now. I wouldn’t change a thing to be where I’m at right…eh, you know what? Maybe I’d change a couple of the arrests.
