MEGADETH's DAVE MUSTAINE: 'I Think A Person Would Be Nuts Not To Want To Be With Me'

The December 2009 issue of Guitar World magazine (featuring Jerry Cantrell on the cover; see cover image below) includes an interview with MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Guitar World: You've stated that Chris Broderick is the best guitarist you've had in MEGADETH. Taking into account the caliber of the guys who have come before him, that's no small compliment.

Mustaine: There's a difference between a great guitar player and having that little extra something, that flair. And Chris has it. I've been saying that he reminds me of Randy [Rhoads], because finding Chris makes me feel like I know what Ozzy [Osbourne] must have felt when he discovered Randy. So we get along great. You know, people have heard me say that I "sang" solos to [former guitarist] Marty [Friedman] in the studio, and I did. I did it to [former guitarists] Jeff [Young], Chris [Poland] and Al [Pitrelli], too. But Chris Broderick? I only did it two times, and there are literally hundreds of thousands of notes on [MEGADETH's new album] "Endgame". Now that it a testimony to a guy who has studied his partner.

Guitar World: Do you ever talk to any of the former members? In particular, do you have a relationship with Dave Ellefson [former MEGADETH bassist], with whom you had a pretty public falling out after almost 20 years of playing together?

Mustaine: You know, Dave sued me for 18-and-a-half million dollars. [In 2004, Ellefson filed suit against Mustaine claiming, among other things, breach of fiduciary obligation, libel and emotional distress. — Ed.] And he lost. That had to have hurt. And the fans — a lot of them turned on him. That had to have hurt. He lost one of his oldest friends. That had to have hurt. There probably were a lot of changes, financial and otherwise, he had to make in his life after MEGADETH. That had to have hurt, too. And I'm not the kind of guy to sit back and watch that happen to somebody who, at one point, I loved. So I met with Dave a while ago and we had dinner, and he said, "You know, [suing you] was the stupidest thing I've ever done. I wish I never did it." So I forgave him. Bottom line for me is there's this one little thing I'll always be curious about: I just keep thinking, if he had won the lawsuit, what would he have done? Would he have taken 18-and-a-half million dollars from me? Or would he have just said, "You know what? I was just trying to prove a point. Let's get back together and you behave yourself."

Guitar World: Do you think he wants to be back in MEGADETH?

Mustaine: I don't know. I think a person would be nuts not to want to be with me. I have a successful enterprise here. The band is better now than we've ever been. And I think our success right now is probably more obvious than it's ever been.

Guitar World: Does it surprise you that you're still standing?

Mustaine: Yes, but here's the thing that I love — the way the story is coming to a climax. Retirement is looming, and I'm actually okay with it. It's a lot different when you surrender the baton as opposed to having someone take it out of your hand. And I'm ready to pass the baton because there are so many guitar players that are better than me right now, and there have been all along. I think there's a new generation out there that needs to have its shot.

Guitar World: When you say "retirement is looming" — just how close is it?

Mustaine: I've got one more record on my contract. Then I'm done.

Guitar World: What will you do after that?

Mustaine: I'll probably move off into the private sector. I have a studio going [Vic's Garage, in San Marcos, California] that I'm handling with my son, and we're trying to do a little "metal academy"-type thing there. Just something cool to give back to the community, because, man, I'm so overpaid and underworked. I have to give something back.

Guitar World: When that day comes, will you leave feeling you accomplished everything you set out to do?

Mustaine: I feel that way right now. So I very much could walk away. And I'm actually leaning more toward leaving than staying because of my own pride and concern for wanting to go out on top. It's important for me to do the right thing, and I think it would be great, if I was going to stop, to do it on the right level. Especially in this business, because people are always clamoring for more and more. But like I said, it's time for me to start getting into some philanthropy.

The December 2009 issue of Guitar World magazine is available on newsstands now.

For more information, visit GuitarWorld.com.