INTERVIEW WITH DAVE MUSTAINE
Dave Mustaine defends the riskier, more melodic direction of 'Risk', arguing for the need to grow and seek new fans, without neglecting the *hardcore* audience. He confirms that the title was inspired by Lars Ulrich's advice to take more risks. Mustaine addresses the electronic music influence in 'Insomnia' and criticizes Ricky Martin's success in the US, attributing it to his physical appearance. He reiterates his deep love and connection with Argentine fans, stating that playing in Buenos Aires is incomparable, even mentioning that 'I'll Be There' was written with the Argentine audience in mind. He also describes the Woodstock festival as 'more dangerous than fun'.
Date
September 9, 1999
Media
Suplemento No de Pagina/12 (AR)
Interviewer
Unspecified Journalist
Interviewees
Rolling Stone
What happened? Why the change?
Dave Mustaine
“Because I don't want to be part of those bands whose past controls their future. We've done so much heavy that it's time to grow.”
Rolling Stone
Aren't you worried about the reaction of your audience?
Dave Mustaine
“Well, the fans can say whatever they want. But if you're a fan of a baseball team, you're not going to stop being one just because they lose a game. There are good days and bad days. And on an album there are good songs and bad songs too. On this album there are at least five heavy tracks for our hardcore audience, and a lot of melodic tracks for a new audience. As a band, I want to keep the old fans, but also find new ones. I met someone from Pearl Jam who would sit around complaining because they were successful. And I want to have fucking success! Play for millions of people! Lars Ulrich once said that my lyrics were fine, but that I should take more musical risks. It was good advice and we followed it; there are changes, we took more risks. And besides, if people don't like the album we can say: "See? We told you it was a risk..."”
Rolling Stone
And is it a risk to have been inspired by electronic bands to make "Insomnia", for example?
Dave Mustaine
“Well, we needed a special atmosphere. It's hard to make a song about not being able to sleep without mentioning something stimulating. That's why the music sounds somewhat techno. There's a feeling of anger and nervousness in the lyrics, and I think this type of music helps to understand it more.”
Rolling Stone
The new metallic generation, bands and audience, is getting closer to other rhythms and textures. Before, there wasn't such an open mentality: the one who was heavy, was heavy...
Dave Mustaine
“I don't know what other bands do, but the more you open up, the more you reach people.”
Rolling Stone
And what do you think of the success of groups like Limp, Coal Chamber or KoRn?
Dave Mustaine
“I don't know much. I know they're doing well and they're popular...”
Rolling Stone
Do you think they are making heavy metal disappear?
Dave Mustaine
“No, I think those kinds of bands don't supplant heavy metal because they take it as just another musical component, to mix it with hip-hop or rap.”
Rolling Stone
Do you see them as purely fashion bands?
Dave Mustaine
“If you think of fashion bands, you think more of Vanilla Ice, Milli Vanilli or Poison, bands that came and went.”
Rolling Stone
Could this be the case with Ricky Martin and his entry into the American market?
Dave Mustaine
“I don't think Americans give a damn about Latin music. I think they like Ricky Martin because he's pretty... Selena also made Latin music and no one paid attention to her. Now, Ricky Martin has those big white teeth, a nice butt... Everyone sees him as adorable and that's how he became a phenomenon. But he is going to be another one of those artists who are here today and disappear tomorrow. To make matters worse, there are terrible rumors about him...”
Rolling Stone
Which ones?
Dave Mustaine
“No, I'm not going to say them. But that's the first thing that happens when you're successful: they start throwing shit at you.”
Rolling Stone
And how did you escape that? You've been together making music for 14 years.
Dave Mustaine
“I don't know, maybe because David Ellefson has nice teeth like Ricky Martin... No, seriously, I think it's because we continue to be honest with the fans, we don't try to deceive them.”
Rolling Stone
And how do you see the Argentine fans?
Dave Mustaine
“Our fans are great everywhere in the world, but in places like Argentina, Brazil or Chile there are no foreign bands all the time so it's a totally different story. There is a feeling of love and connection with the audience that could never compare with any other part of the world. When we first went to Buenos Aires, the fans fell in love with us and we fell in love with them. I met the nicest people in the world there: their personalities, their smiles and their love for our music. And this does not mean that we don't like playing in Santiago, São Paulo or Rio, but there is no crazier place than Buenos Aires on the entire planet!”
Rolling Stone
And Woodstock? How was it?
Dave Mustaine
“Woodstock was more dangerous than fun. It was something like the show of the breasts... Something that is quite common in America, all the girls take off their bras. I think they think that makes them more attractive. Anyway, this year everything was somewhat chaotic. The organizers couldn't control the people and everything got out of hand. I'll tell you one thing: There's nothing like playing in Ferrocarril!”