DAVE MUSTAINE: 'It Wasn't Easy Escaping From METALLICA's Shadow'

April 26, 2018

Dave Mustaine is the focus of the "My Guide To Life" feature in the latest issue of Planet Rock magazine. In the article, the MEGADETH leader sounds off on "faith, love, charity and the benefits of not murdering your best friend," according to the publication.

Speaking about how getting kicked out of one great metal group ultimately inspired him to start another one, Mustaine said: "It wasn't easy escaping from METALLICA's shadow. It takes effort and energy to get a band off the ground, never mind when you have an enormous band stepping on top of your head every time you get above water."

Mustaine was a member of METALLICA for less than two years, from 1981 to 1983, before being dismissed and replaced by Kirk Hammett.

The members of METALLICA have been mostly respectful while discussing their onetime bandmate, with guitarist Kirk Hammett saying on a 2016 podcast: "I've always seen Dave as someone who was just really, really sad, really angry, really frustrated about his situation with METALLICA, and he never could let that go. And, you know, I've always shown a lot of empathy for him, understanding that he was just pissed off. It's the equivalent of the woman of your life leaving you."

Mustaine was not inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame with METALLICA during the April 2009 ceremony at Cleveland, Ohio's Public Auditorium. Drummer Lars Ulrich later explained to The Plain Dealer that Mustaine "never played on any METALLICA records. No disrespect to him. But there [were] half a dozen other people that were in the lineup in the early days. We thought... the fair thing to do would be to include anybody that played on a METALLICA record." He added: "Dave Mustaine was in the band for eleven months, predominantly in 1982... I'm not trying to play it down. I have nothing but respect and admiration for his accomplishments since."

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