INTERVIEW WITH DAVE MUSTAINE AND MARTY FRIEDMAN: 'Cryptic Writings', the market, and Mustaine's wish to play with Lars and James again
Dave Mustaine reflects on his concept of 'Rock and Roll' in maturity and fatherhood. He defends Megadeth's relationship with fans as a musical guide, despite 'selling out' criticism. Mustaine expresses his wish to play with Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield (Metallica) again to make an 'album that would make the world fall on its ass'. He talks about the direction the next album will take (divided into heavy and radio-oriented) and his businesses outside of music. Marty Friedman backs Mustaine's position regarding fans and composition.
Date
June 1, 1998
Media
Maximum Guitar (US)
Interviewer
Maxium Guitar
Interviewees
Maxium Guitar
What are you doing at nine in the morning? That's not very rock and roll.
Dave Mustaine
“Man, I have a newborn. I haven't slept in two weeks. Even so, when you say it's not rock and roll I'm not very sure that's correct. Rock and roll was being against some kind of establishment, and the fact of being up all night is so predictable these days.”
Maxium Guitar
It's true. Many things that were subversive became clichés.
Dave Mustaine
“Exactly. You see these suckers who smoke and stuff, and kids who basically don't have a life suddenly get tattooed, buy a Harley and are cool.”
Maxium Guitar
Are you still as possessive about music as you were five years ago?
Dave Mustaine
“I'm very possessive about the material I write, but I'm not very obsessed with listening to my peers. I try to be on the cutting edge of what's happening, yes, I'm very obsessed with that. But there are many bands [who] listen to what is fashionable at that moment and make a replica of what is current. That's not what we want to do.”
Maxium Guitar
Yes, but didn't you tell Billboard (a magazine) that you listened to Rage Against the Machine, Butthole Surfers, Queensrÿche, Live and the Eels when you were working on 'Cryptic Writings' to get a feel for what the public wanted to hear?
Dave Mustaine
“Well, we wanted to have some guide and take some consideration of what was popular at that time. Basically we listened to those bands as a map to see where that journey would not take us and what our destination was going to be.”
Maxium Guitar
Can the naysayers say that you are giving in to market demands and not adhering to your own artistic aesthetic?
Dave Mustaine
“Well, mockers will mock and be cursed, at least that's what I understand, because I don't hear any Rage Against the Machine or Queensrÿche on this album and I certainly don't hear Live. What I'm doing is breaking the mold where many people are stuck in their own way of writing and don't have new inspiration, so they write the same album over and over again and suffer from Iron Maidenitis.”
Maxium Guitar
You are always in contact with the fans, to the point of adding songs to the setlists of live shows due to fan requests via e-mail. Do you believe you have to give the fans what they want?
Dave Mustaine
“I would say yes. The fans tell us what they want, and we keep them happy. Our relationship is much deeper than the price of tickets. If I were a conceited person [and] were against any teaching, I would be signing our death certificate. Some say that the real sellouts are those who listen to the fans' [requests] and don't do things their own way. I totally disagree. If the fans want heavy, we give them heavy, if they want something melodic, we give them melodic and if you want something in between we also give it to you.”
Maxium Guitar
Marty Friedman
“I agree. If I were in this for myself only, I would play in my home studio, in my room and record a lot of twisted and dark shit. Of course, my own satisfaction is an important part, but at the end of the day, I want to reach as many people as I can while being faithful to the music I hear in my head. Any talk about selling out is complete bullshit.”
Maxium Guitar
Dave, it seems like your former bandmates in MetallicA have taken a completely opposite direction from yours. With 'Load' and 'Reload' they seem to be ignoring fan demand and doing what they want.
Dave Mustaine
“Yes, and they are suffering the consequences of experimentation. Lars harassed me saying he wanted me to be more experimental. Now being experimental means kissing my guitarist and drummer, [it] means painting my nails, wearing makeup and cutting my hair. I don't know, and if he wants to see me more experimental I will welcome his ideas. Maybe we should play together again.”
Maxium Guitar
Would you like to do that?
Dave Mustaine
“Of course I would like to. It would be wonderful if that happened, but I don't know if it will happen. And actually I would like to play more with James than with Lars.”
Maxium Guitar
Do you think there will be a full Metallica reunion?
Dave Mustaine
“It can't be because Cliff is dead. But one thing that would be fabulous is if David Ellefson and I got together with Lars and James and released an album. I think the world would fall on its ass.”
Maxium Guitar
Could you forget all the bad things that happened to you and make this happen?
Dave Mustaine
“Lars, for me, is one of the cleanest guys I have ever met. He is a very, very intelligent man. And I think James is one of the greatest rhythm guitarists who have ever been on this planet. I know that if he and I got together again people would be so impressed that they would have to kill themselves. The only thing that worries me is how to manage my relationship with Marty and with Nick Menza (note: this interview was done before Menza left).”
Maxium Guitar
Marty Friedman
“If you want to do that it wouldn't bother me in the least. Everyone must do what they feel. We are here to make great music. We have chemistry in Megadeth, and it will always work that way.”
Maxium Guitar
Do you think metal will return soon?
Dave Mustaine
“I think everything is cyclical, and there is a massive surge of heavy bands. All I know is that if I see a Lisa Loeb video again I'm going to shoot my TV.”
Maxium Guitar
Dave, you were a 'loose cannon' at the beginning of your career.
Dave Mustaine
“Yes, but that was very predictable, the way I behaved. Going 180 degrees in the opposite direction, that is rock and roll. I still live on the edge, it's just a different edge. You don't know how difficult it is to do Megadeth, go to school, have two children, be married, have big dogs like horses crapping in my garden.”
Maxium Guitar
If you could start all over again, would you do anything differently?
Dave Mustaine
“I wouldn't change anything. I would like to eliminate the trips to jail, but I wouldn't change anything. It has been an exciting and interesting journey.”
Maxium Guitar
You just had your second child (a girl), that must have been a great experience.
Dave Mustaine
“It was. I pulled her out myself. I was at the hospital and the doctor asked me if I wanted to do it and I said yes!!! That's rock and roll, babe. That's what I was talking about. Grab one of those tattooed, heavy guys and if they see a baby being born most would pass out. I cut Justice's umbilical cord (the first child).”
Maxium Guitar
Did you film the birth?
Dave Mustaine
“Yes, it will serve as future education for my children. When my son gets older I'm going to show it to him and tell him: 'If you put this in there, that's what comes out'.”
Maxium Guitar
You are studying again, aren't you?
Dave Mustaine
“Yes, I'm studying business management. It's a mind opener. I'm into education because, the truth is it's a lot of fun for me to be able to talk to anyone about anything. I think relating on the same level is the fastest way to make friends on this planet.”
Maxium Guitar
Have you thought about the next Megadeth album?
Dave Mustaine
“Yes, there is a lot of material that has been started and a lot of lyrics that are in an embryonic state.”
Maxium Guitar
What direction do you plan the next album to take?
Dave Mustaine
“If you ask me about the lyrics I don't know. I think what we are going to do with the new album is divide it into two parts, one with music oriented for the radio and the other really heavy like 'Peace Sells... But Who’s Buying?' The bands I am going to listen to to compose the new album are going to be: Mercyful Fate, Diamond Head and some of the new metal bands. I want to return to my roots, I don't want to forget what brought me here.”
Maxium Guitar
Is Dan Huff going to be the producer?
Dave Mustaine
“I hope so. Dan is a great guy. The only way I don't see him working with us is if he dies, or if he is living on a remote island where no one can find him.”
Maxium Guitar
Do you have any other businesses besides your restaurant with Alice Cooper?
Dave Mustaine
“I have a digital publishing company in Nashville, a surf and skate clothing company in San Diego and my wife [has] $100,000 horses. I don't see myself as a businessman, I see myself as an intelligent being and a being prepared so that when all my talents have been used I can continue to enjoy my lifestyle.”