MEGADETH's DAVE MUSTAINE: 'If You Criticize Me And You're Wrong, That Ain't Cool'

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine has recorded a new audio message for TheLiveLine, a service he launched that enables musicians to connect to their audience over the phone. A couple of excerpts from his message follow below.

"I am so stoked to be back home after [completing the 'Canadian Carnage' four-date tour with SLAYER, MACHINE HEAD and SUICIDE SILENCE] — it was so much fun. And I'm so grateful for the messages you guys have been leaving us, especially about the new song we put up — 'Headcrusher', our new song from the new record, 'Endgame'. I really dig the things you guys have been saying — it's been very supportive. Even the constructive criticism... I mean, if you criticize me and you're wrong, that ain't cool, but I can chalk that up to being a democracy and giving assholes a chance to speak too. But if the constructive criticism is right... you know what?! I could take that, and I appreciate it.

"I've gotta tell you, the tour with SLAYER was really, really cool. I saw Kerry [King, SLAYER guitarist]. Kerry was out watching us last night on two separate occasions, and although I didn't get a chance to see them [SLAYER], it was really good to know that the ice is melting. I sent them over a couple of peace offerings on the way from Edmonton to Calgary and those guys had a nice trip on the way down in the bus — we flew.

"We just had a great, great time playing with these guys. The audience was over the top — so loud, it was unbelievable. My soundman, Doug Short, who lives up there in Vancouver, said that he's got something on the side of the console called a spectrum analyzer, and that measures the sound and the EQ in the house at all times. So that's we're always constantly trying to improve our sound. Sometimes we have a bad night sound-wise — usually the first night of any tour, because you're just getting your hands on the PA for the first time and you're flying by the seat of your pants because you've got the same new PA in a building, and now all of a sudden, it's full of people. Well, we haven't had a building full of people to play with these systems yet, so usually the first concert is a struggle for them. But Doug had said, while he was wrangling with all of this stuff — and I thought he did a great job — he said, 'The audience was over 106 dB.' And I said, 'That's crazy — that's almost louder than a jet airplane.' And he told me that the last night, when we were in Winnipeg, was even louder. So I'm really excited to be able to have been on this tour with SLAYER. They said it couldn't be done, and the power of heavy metal brought us back together."

MEGADETH's twelfth studio album, "Endgame", is due on September 15 through Roadrunner Records. The CD was recorded at the band's brand new, self-built studio in San Marcos, California — Vic's Garage — which was named after the legendary and iconic Vic Rattlehead character.

MEGADETH's brand new track entitled "Headcrusher" will be made available for free download on Tuesday, July 7 at 11:00 a.m. EDT at the Roadrunner Recordsweb site.

As previously reported, the studio version of "Headcrusher" is available for listening by calling Dave Mustaine's number (866.597.6342) at TheLiveLine.

"Endgame" was helmed by Mustaine and acclaimed British producer Andy Sneap (EXODUS, NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY, MACHINE HEAD). Sneap also manned the boards for 2007's "United Abominations".

Photo below courtesy of Megadeth.com