As Megadeth prepares to retire, Dave Mustaine is looking back on the band’s journey. In a new interview with the Los Angeles Times, he opened up about Megadeth’s career and his complicated history with Metallica.
Reflecting on those tensions, Mustaine claimed that Metallica stood in Megadeth’s way.
“Think of it. Where would I be right now if I didn’t have one of the biggest bands in the world spending their time trying to hold me back?” Mustaine said. “They don’t do it anymore, but most of the time when they did, it just made me shake my head.”
“And it wasn’t just Metallica, it was everybody,” he added. “For a long time, it very much was me against the world. It was like, OK, if you’re not with me, you’re against me.”
Megadeth’s just released final studio album includes a cover of Metallica’s song “Ride the Lightning,” which Mustaine co-wrote during his time with the band.
While he insists the cover was intended to bring his career full circle and serve as an olive branch to his former Metallica bandmates, he also makes it clear that he’s not concerned with what they think of his rendition.
“There may not be a chance to ever say hello to [Metallica members] James [Hetfield] or Lars [Ulrich] again,” Mustaine explained. “I knew some people would have a hard time with me doing the song, but that’s OK because I wanted to pay tribute and show my respect. If they like it, fine. If they don’t like it, fine. If they listen to it, fine. If they don’t, fine.”
