Ex-MEGADETH Guitarist CHRIS POLAND: 'DAVE MUSTAINE Is A Troubled Person'

Blasting-Zone.com recently conducted an in-depth interview with former MEGADETH guitarist Chris Poland. Several excerpts follow:

Blasting-Zone.com: How did you become involved with the recording of "The System Has Failed"? I had always been under the impression that, all things considered, you and Dave would never work together again.

Chris: "Even after all of the stuff that happened, I still don't hate Dave because Dave is a troubled person and that's why he writes and plays the way he does…the way he writes his lyrics. That's why he is who he is. He's got problems, man…but that's what makes him who he is. Even after what happened, I still don't hate him. Stuff happens, attorneys get involved and that's what it's all about."

Blasting-Zone.com: Once the record was completed, were you surprised that you didn't end up touring with the group?

Chris: "Not at all. Dave knew I wasn't gonna tour. He kinda hinted around about it here and there during the sessions. He'd be like 'Come on, I know you miss me.' But I've got way too much going on right now. I've got my own band that for the last four years I've sweated blood for. I didn't go back and rejoin the band because if I had, it would only have been for the money. Granted, the money would have been good, but I don't know… Plus, working with Dave… we've both gone through the throes of the worst times of our lives together. I could see us looking at each other and saying, 'Oh, the hell with it… let's go down to Alphabet City and score some junk…' Know what I mean? It would happen just because that's how it works."

Blasting-Zone.com: It's a shame Dave has gotten such a bad reputation as being a control freak.

Chris: "When you all of sudden find yourself making a lot of money with your fourth record, headlining shows, you start to listen to your record company. It makes sense to me, but if you look at the bands from that era that didn't do that, like SLAYER — they didn't go there…ever. That's the thing I think Dave should have done. I don't think he should have caved in to the pressure. It's there money, ya know? They're trying to make money by planting that pop music seed… There were a lot of rumors that (former MEGADETH guitarist) Marty Friedman wanted to play pop music…and if you listen to what he's doing now, he's playing with a pop artist from Japan…it's totally pop. But at the same time, it's not easy to write a pop song, either. I'm not saying that what he does is any less of a challenge — that's just where he finds himself the most comfortable."

Blasting-Zone.com: To me, it seems as if the entire MEGADETH sound changed after Dave returned from being injured. In retrospect, that entire situation seem a little odd…

Chris: "Yeah…suddenly there was this perfect time to fire everyone (laughs)."

Blasting-Zone.com: There were so many rumors about the exact nature of his injury. I think a lot of people thought he had a relapse with his drug addictions.

Chris: "That may be what happened. I remember reading somewhere that he had gotten injured and had to take some kind of opiate-based pain medication and had a relapse."

Blasting-Zone.com: Is it possible that you and Dave are co-dependent of each other?

Chris: "Yes…that is what I was trying to say. I would never want to have him or myself go through ever again."

Read the entire interview at Blasting-Zone.com.