Former Metallica bassist Ron McGovney recently addressed claims regarding Dave Mustaine wanting to re-record Metallica’s ‘No Life ‘Til Leather’ demo. He responded to fan questions on X.
The discussion revolved around allegations that Mustaine had wanted to re-record the classic Metallica demo with Megadeth. David Ellefson’s refusal reportedly contributed to the deterioration of their relationship.
A fan had asked McGovney about David Ellefson’s 2018 statement regarding the re-recording controversy. The fan also inquired about its impact on the Mustaine-Ellefson partnership.
“This may be old news, but it’s the first time that I have heard this,” McGovney responded. “That makes no sense. Dave is smart. He wouldn’t really try it.”
McGovney’s defense of Mustaine implies doubt about the validity of the re-recording claims. He expressed that such an attempt seems unlikely, given Mustaine’s intelligence and business savvy.
The controversy surrounding these re-recording claims becomes even more significant when we consider the historical importance of the original ‘No Life ‘Til Leather’ demo in metal history.
Recorded on July 6, 1982, the original ‘No Life ‘Til Leather’ demo featured the lineup of James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Dave Mustaine, and Ron McGovney. This seven-track recording laid much of the groundwork for Metallica’s debut album, ‘Kill ‘Em All’, establishing its crucial role in the band’s early development.
Over the decades, the demo has achieved legendary status in thrash metal circles. In 2015, Metallica officially released the demo commercially for the first time as a limited edition cassette. This release marked a significant anniversary celebration and reflected the band’s underground metal roots.
Tensions surrounding the ownership and legacy of No Life ’Til Leather also tie into the much larger story of Dave Mustaine’s decades-long feud with Metallica. Few rivalries in heavy music have been as infamous or as deeply intertwined with the rise of thrash metal.
Mustaine’s firing from Metallica in April 1983 — just months before the band recorded Kill ’Em All — became a defining moment not only for his career, but for the genre itself. At the time, Metallica cited his volatile behavior, drinking, and clashes with other members as reasons for his dismissal. The young guitarist, who had already contributed riffs and songwriting to early Metallica staples like “The Four Horsemen,” “Jump in the Fire,” and “Ride the Lightning,” suddenly found himself out of the band he helped shape.
Rather than retreat, Mustaine immediately formed Megadeth, a project fueled in part by his anger and desire to outdo his former bandmates. The rivalry between Metallica and Megadeth became one of the cornerstones of 1980s thrash, with fans and media often framing it as a competition for supremacy. Metallica’s Master of Puppets and Megadeth’s Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying? are still viewed as genre-defining albums, and both acts pushed each other to greater heights.
For years, Mustaine spoke openly about his resentment, often reminding fans of his role in Metallica’s formative years. The bitterness softened somewhat in the 2000s when Metallica and Megadeth shared stages during the “Big Four” concerts, but lingering disputes — such as publishing credits on No Life ’Til Leather — have kept the tension alive.
Ultimately, Mustaine’s fallout with Metallica is inseparable from his legacy. It birthed Megadeth, gave thrash two of its greatest bands, and ensured that the drama behind No Life ’Til Leather still sparks debate more than forty years later.
