Dave Mustaine Reflects on His Historic METALLICA Reunion
In a recent raw and revealing chat on Dean Delray's "Let There Be Talk" podcast, the legendary Dave Mustaine, once the axe-slinger for METALLICA and now the relentless force behind MEGADETH, opened up about his poignant reunion with his former bandmates during their exclusive 30th-anniversary celebration at the Fillmore in San Francisco back in December 2011. When asked about his initial feelings upon being invited to share the stage once more with the band that fired him in 1983, Mustaine’s response was a whirlwind of nostalgia and contemplation: "I don't remember clearly, but probably a little bit of 'no', a little bit of 'yes', and a whole lot of 'why'd you take so long?"
This moment wasn’t just another gig for Mustaine; it was a bittersweet reconciliation that stirred the memories of fans and musicians alike. He lamented, "Think about all the kids that wish they could have seen me play with METALLICA. That part's sad." The complexity of Mustaine's emotions is palpable, as he navigates the choppy waters of his past while steering MEGADETH into their current pinnacle of success.
He also took a moment to reflect on the fallout from his departure from MEGADETH. Mustaine recounted the narrative that painted him as “the bad guy” after Marty Friedman’s exit, stating, "If you get two guys to say the same thing, it starts to sound true. But look where MEGADETH is now, after almost 45 years—we're thriving, and the band members are happier than ever." The resilience and evolution of his career serve as a testament to his unwavering dedication to heavy metal, even when the odds were stacked against him.
Mustaine’s return to the METALLICA fold was not without its own set of challenges. He recalled the uncertainty leading up to the Fillmore show, contrasting the approach of METALLICA with that of MEGADETH. "Those guys play pretty loose from the hip, which is cool, but I had to figure out what solos to play—my own or Kirk's?" He humorously described the moment when Kirk suggested he play all the solos, leading to a spontaneous dive into the nostalgia of his METALLICA days. "I had to quickly go through my bag of tricks," he chuckled, proving that even legends can feel the pressure of live performance.
In a reflective moment, Mustaine confessed to his complicated feelings about listening to METALLICA's music post-departure. "I had to do a lot of coming to terms with myself in order to listen to METALLICA. Before, it triggered me to rant about my past. But now, I realize I’m lucky to be in two great bands." This candid admission reinforces Mustaine's status not just as a guitarist but as a survivor in the unforgiving world of metal.