Read Q&A with Megadeth’s Mustaine
Thrash metal titan Dave Mustaine formed Megadeth in 1984. More than three decades later, he’s still riffing and snarling on records and stages with a fury. Dalson Chen talked to the 55-year-old in advance of Megadeth’s July 5 concert at Caesars Windsor.
Q How do you feel about all the positive critical reception for Megadeth’s 15th album, Dystopia?
A I’m pretty happy about it. When you set out to do a record, you obviously hope for the best. The peculiar thing about it is we didn’t do anything different this time from the last time. It’s just a matter of who you’re playing with and song selection.
Q The critics are raving about it, and Megadeth finally won a Grammy. Grammy Award-winning thrash metal band Megadeth. How does that sound to you? Does it sound strange?
A It does sound strange. It sounds very strange. The irony is that we’ve had so many nominations. The number 13 has come up in my life so many times. If we’d won it for the next (album), it would have been 13 (nominations). I’m just glad it didn’t take that long.
Kenny G, I talked to him one time at the Grammys and he said ‘Oh, it took me 21 times to get my first one.’ I was just like, ‘Thank God it didn’t take me 21.’
Q Kenny G, the saxophonist?
A Yeah. Yeah. We’re friends.
Q I didn’t know that. So what keeps the fire burning for you? With Megadeth, we’re talking 33 years of metal with really no compromise of sound or creative approach.
A I think it’s just trying to stay true to yourself. If you do something because you really love it, you don’t find yourself compromising.
We had a period when we were at the end of our time with Capitol Records, that we felt the label was really starting to compromise our values. It led to us leaving. That’s why we have that one record called Capitol Punishment. I’d been through seven presidents while I was at that label.
Q Now, the reception hasn’t been 100 per cent positive for Dystopia. There are those who took issue with some of the lyrical content. The Onion’s AV Club referred to its “xenophobia,” or even described the lyrics as “offensive.”
A Who said this? You know what The Onion is, right, bud?
Q Yeah, it’s a joke site, but the AV Club does review a lot of music stuff.
A Oh, OK. Just making sure you knew.
Q Well, what do you think about that critical response?
A Uh, I don’t. I think that everybody’s entitled to their opinion. To say that I’m a “phobe” of anything — unless they’ve got those little letters that say they’re a psychiatrist, I’m not gonna buy it.
Q There are so many people that are self-described doctors and psychiatrists in the world, going around telling everybody else what’s wrong with them. It’s a f**king song. I imagine they’re probably talking about Post American World? I don’t know which song they specify.
A Yeah, I think that’s the song they’re talking about. The whole impetus for that song came from a picture of Barack Obama walking with a book that said Post American World. And I was like, ‘Well, I wonder what that book is about?’
Q OK, I’m reading the review more specifically now and it is indeed that song. (The review) refers to your “jingoism.” Does that bother you?
A No. Because they don’t know me.
Q At this point, you’re literally outliving some of your peers in heavy music. How much is mortality on your mind these days?
A Zero. I’m not going to live trapped in fear that my life is going to end, because then I’d miss out on all the great things that life has in store for me. I love my life. I’ve had a lot of close calls, but a lot of that has been due to stupidity.
Unless you’re really stupid, you learn growing up. You learn what’s right and wrong. You learn the difference between what’s going to leave a scab and what’s going to leave a really bad scar.
Q Could you ever see yourself retiring from metal? Or at least retiring from performing?
A You know, I could see myself putting farther dates between concerts. But do I see myself ever quitting metal? Not really. I think it’s too much a part of my DNA. I’d still want to be involved in some capacity, whether it’s as an executive, a producer — somebody who’s helping to make records or managing bands.
I’m a trustee on the Grammy board now, and I’m starting to go into the next phase of my life — to really be an ambassador and pass on the experience that I have ... And that is just as rewarding to me as winning the awards.