Dave Mustaine Reveals All-Time Favorite Guitarists, One to Play in Spain
Dave Mustaine, the frontman of Megadeth, disclosed his all‑time favorite guitarists during an interview with Jon Chang of YSOLIFE, a leading Taiwanese media outlet. The interview, conducted on November 2, 2024, also hinted that one of the named guitarists will perform in Spain later that month. Mustaine praised the evolution of guitar technique, noting the impact of Yngwie Malmsteen and the role of modern software in learning. "In Europe there are countless guitarists with a lightning‑fast pick technique, but since Yngwie Malmsteen appeared, everyone else has become simply fast‑playing guitarists," Mustaine said. "Before Yngwie, when a great guitarist emerged, you had Michael Schenker of UFO and Scorpions, Angus Young of AC/DC, James Hetfield of Metallica, or myself, each with a truly distinctive style. There were also the Iron Maiden guitarists. Then that explosion happened and now there are many really good players, especially thanks to the software they can use to learn." He also reminisced about the analog methods used by early musicians: "When we started, those apps didn't exist. We had to lift the needle on the record player, roll it back a few grooves and hope it landed exactly where we needed to pick up the guitar and the pick in time to play again with the song. Later cassette decks with variable speed allowed us to slow down or rewind recordings easily. That's how we learned songs." Mustaine listed his personal favorites without hesitation: "One of my favorite guitarists is tied to the era he emerged in. In terms of guitar layers and tone, I stay with Jimmy Page. For his extraordinary note choice, David Gilmour. And for sounding incredibly metal before metal guitarists existed, Ritchie Blackmore. I'm not a big fan of keyboards, so I wish Deep Purple had been a bit less 'Purple' and omitted the keyboardist, but it was still fantastic. Of course, as I've said, Angus Young of AC/DC and Michael Schenker of UFO. That would be my 'last supper'—I'd love to have all those guys with me." The interview confirmed that Michael Schenker will appear at the upcoming Lion Rock Fest in León, Spain, on November 7, 2024, at the Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones. He will share the stage with Robin McAuley, Kee Marcello (ex‑Europe), Art Nation, Fighter V, and Midnite City, among others. Tickets are available through the festival's official site. In related news, Megadeth is featured in issue 482 of La Heavy magazine, alongside Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Limp Bizkit, and Within Temptation, with a cover artwork led by Deep Purple. The issue offers extensive coverage of Metallica, Kaiser Chiefs, Evergrey, Bloodhunter, Jared James Nichols, and many more. Fans are encouraged to pick up a copy at newsstands or via the magazine's online store. The original article was first published on MariskalRock.com and can be accessed at https://mariskalrock.com/actualidad/dave-mustaine-megadeth-nombra-a-sus-guitarristas-favoritos-de-todos-los-tiempos-uno-de-ellos-toca-en-espana-en-noviembre/.
