Dave Mustaine Reveals Chaos Behind Megadeth's "So Far, So Good… So What!"

At the beginning of 1988, Megadeth entered the studio to record their third album, So Far, So Good… So What!, amid escalating drug use, lineup turmoil and a fraught partnership with co‑producer Paul Lani. Frontman Dave Mustaine, who had been expelled from Metallica in 1983, described the sessions as "a disaster" and recounted his conflicted desire to quit heroin while continuing to feed his habit. The album was released in January 1988, reaching No. 18 in the UK and No. 28 in the US, but its production was widely criticized. The band’s lineup had shifted dramatically since the success of Killing Is My Business… and Peace Sells…: guitarist Chris Poland had left, drummer Gar Samuelson was fired, and only bassist David "Junior" Ellefson remained from the original roster. Mustaine recruited Jeff Young on guitar and Chuck Behler, Samuelson’s roadie, on drums. "We auditioned this guy Jay Reynolds from an LA band called Malice. But he looked ridiculous – he wasn’t right at all," Mustaine recalled, explaining why the band chose Young instead. The new formation debuted at the Christmas On Earth Festival in Leeds in December 1987, sharing the bill with Nuclear Assault, Overkill, Kreator and the Cro‑Mags. Recording at Woodstock Studios in upstate New York proved chaotic. Mustaine admitted, "I was in a confused state about my drugs habit: I wanted to kick it, I didn’t want to kick it… Paul Lani would be out in the woods, peeling apples and coring them and feeding them to the fucking deer while we were trying to make a record." Ellefson later added, "Everything about the record was too rushed. The line‑up just wasn’t right… So Far, So Good… was a step backwards for us." Despite the turmoil, the album contains notable tracks such as the cover of the Sex Pistols' Anarchy In The UK (renamed Anarchy In The USA) featuring original guitarist Steve Jones, and the personal ballad In My Darkest Hour, written after Mustaine learned of Cliff Burton’s death. Lyrical content reflected Mustaine’s anger and personal struggles. "Liar" targeted former guitarist Chris Poland over stolen gear, while "Hook In Mouth" attacked the PMRC’s censorship campaign. The song "502" references the police code for driving under the influence, a foreshadowing of Mustaine’s 1989 DUI arrest. Mustaine also recounted a bizarre anecdote about paying Steve Jones a thousand dollars and a phone book for his participation, illustrating the band’s erratic decision‑making. The album’s release was followed by a tumultuous tour. In Northern Ireland, Mustaine’s on‑stage remarks about "The Cause" sparked a mini‑riot, and later that summer at Monsters Of Rock in Donington, bassist Ellefson suffered severe withdrawal, forcing the band to cancel remaining dates and enter rehab. By early 1989 internal tensions led to the firing of Jeff Young and Chuck Behler, paving the way for the classic lineup with Marty Friedman and Nick Menza that would record the acclaimed Rust In Peace. So Far, So Good… So What! remains a polarizing record, often overlooked except by devoted fans. While its production flaws are evident, the album captures Megadeth at a moment of raw, unfiltered chaos, offering a glimpse into the band’s struggle to balance creative ambition with personal demons.

Megadeth lineup in 1988 at Woodstock Studios