DAVE MUSTAINE Ranks His Favorite MEGADETH Guitarists

Dave Mustaine recently ranked his favorite MEGADETH guitarists in descending order, with the last one being his least favorite.

The MEGADETH leader's list — which he tweeted in late April — does not include the band original second guitarist Greg Handevidt — who was in the band only in 1983 — nor SLAYER's Kerry King, who was only in MEGADETH as a touring guitarist for several gigs in 1984, but it does include Mike Albert, who toured with the group as a temporary replacement for Chris Poland in 1985.

Mustaine's list:

1. Kiko Loureiro

Has been in MEGADETH since early 2015. He performed on the band's latest album, 2016's "Dystopia".

2. Marty Friedman

Was in the band from 1990 to 2000. He performed on 1990's "Rust In Peace", 1992's "Countdown To Extinction", 1994's "Youthanasia", 1995's "Hidden Treasures", 1997's "Cryptic Writings" and 1999's "Risk" albums.

3. Glen Drover

Was in the band from 2004 to 2008. He performed on 2007's "United Abominations" album.

4. Chris Poland

Was in the band from 1984 to 1987, and then again as session musician in 2004. He performed on 1985's "Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!", 1986's "Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?" and 2004's "The System Has Failed" albums.

5. Al Pitrelli

Was in the band from 2000 to 2002. He performed on 2001's "The World Needs A Hero" album.

6. Mike Albert

Was in the band as a touring member only, having temporarily replaced Chris Poland on a 1985 tour. He does not appear on any of the MEGADETH albums.

7. Chris Broderick

Was in the band from 2008 to 2014. He can be heard on 2009's "Endgame", 2011's "Th1rt3en" and 2013's "Super Collider" albums.

8. Jeff Young

Was in MEGADETH from 1987 to 1989. He performed on 1988's "So Far, So Good... So What!" album.

A short time after Kiko Loureiro joined MEGADETH, Mustaine praised the Brazilian musician, calling him "definitely the best guitarist we've ever had."

Mustaine's comments echoed those he made about Broderick during the latter's tenure in the band. In a March 2013 tweet posted during the making of MEGADETH's "Super Collider" album, Mustaine wrote: "Chris has finished 'Super Collider' ... All I can say is he is without a doubt the best guitarist I've ever played with."

In a 2015 interview with Rolling Stone, Mustaine defended his comments, saying: "You know, that's something that has been kind of a go-to statement for me whenever I get a new player. I usually say, 'Oh, they're great, they're great,' right? Because of the enthusiasm and stuff. It's like, you get a new car, you have that new-car smell. But there's a difference between a guy that has talent, and a guy that has talent and personality, or a guy that has talent, personality and a sense of humor. And, you know, I wasn't really close to Chris [Broderick]. Going from Chris to Kiko, we have a bond right now where we laugh and we joke and we do stuff together."

Back in 2009, Mustaine praised Broderick, saying in an online post: "I am going on record and I am saying unequivocally that Chris is THE BEST GUITARIST MEGADETH has ever had. And the real talented musicians in MEGADETH's alumni will agree, he is an absolute monster. I mean, he plays the catalog better than anyone did. Jeff Young never wanted to do Chris Poland's stuff, and so on, and so on, until the last guitarist we had before we disbanded over my arm injury."

Mustaine added: "It's funny, because just when I think [Broderick] can get no more outrageous, or any more thrilling with the guitar solos, he comes up with something really beautiful like Marty Friedman would do (he has Marty pretty well down pat),and then goes into the GIT styles that Jeff Young did, yet, there is still such a freshness to his playing and he is so raw, it's like having a new prize bull. And even though he ain't a such a young bull, he's definitely an old bull like me."