“Their first record was very different to the record they made after they met me”: Dave Mustaine on how he has influenced Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax
Dave Mustaine has spoken about the influence he feels he’s had on the guitarists in his Big Four co-members, Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax.
In a new interview with São Paulo, Brazil’s 89 FM A Rádio Rock, the Megadeth frontman explains the effect his guitar playing had on his thrash metal contemporaries. “I’ve been very invested in the metal community,” he says [via Blabbermouth].
READ MORE: “I’d listen to it in my bunk on my Walkman in private”: David Ellefson kept his love of Metallica’s Master of Puppets a secret from Dave Mustaine
“Kerry [King, Slayer guitarist] and I played together [during the early days of both bands], and I showed him how to play Megadeth songs, which was before [Slayer] started having all their pivotal records. Kerry and I had a really great time together.”
He continues: “And I wrote music in Metallica and I wrote music in Megadeth. So I’ve been very influential with the guitar with these three bands.”
Dave Mustaine was Metallica’s lead guitarist between 1981 and 1983, before he was fired from the band for alcoholism, drug addiction and personal conflicts. He helped write a number of songs on the band’s debut album Kill ‘Em All – which was ultimately recorded with Kirk Hammett who joined in ‘83 – as well as Ride the Lightning, from the band’s sophomore album and covered this year on Megadeth’s final album.
“And when I met Scott [Ian, Anthrax guitarist] and the guys in Anthrax out in New York,” he goes on, “the same thing happened.
“Their first record was very different from the record they made after they met me and the guys in Metallica. So I think that’s great. I love all those bands.”
Though tensions have died down in the decades following their split, Dave Mustaine continues to reflect on his past with Metallica in interviews. Recently, he claimed that Megadeth’s success was, in part, due to the motivating factor of Metallica “trying to hold me back”.
“And it wasn’t just Metallica, it was everybody. For a long time, it very much was me against the world. It was like, okay, if you’re not with me, you’re against me,” he said.
Megadeth released their final album earlier this year, and are embarking on a massive world tour for the rest of 2026.
For a full list of dates, head to megadeth.com.
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