Former Megadeth guitarist Chris Broderick recently appeared on the Scars and Guitars Podcast, where he discussed his time with the band, focusing on his approach to being part of such a dynamic and evolving group.
Broderick, who was welcomed into Megadeth by Dave Mustaine in 2008, shared how he managed to stay in the band for six years, contributing to albums like 2009’s ‘Endgame,’ 2011’s ‘Thirteen,’ and 2013’s ‘Super Collider,’ saying:
“I just tried to put my head down and play the guitar. And that’s always what it’s about for me initially. Like, I love playing the guitar. So, I remember I got an interview right when I joined Megadeth, and this kid, he was so awesome.”
Embracing The Role In Megadeth
He then recalled the details of this early interview, explaining:
“‘You’re the 22nd member that’s been in Megadeth. How does that make you feel?’ I just started laughing. I mean, 22nd, second guitarist, it doesn’t matter – I’m here to play guitar. And I just did my best to focus on that as much as possible. So, that’s the one thing that grounded me and kept me sane for the amount of time that I was in that band.”
Understanding The Dynamics Of Decision-Making In Megadeth
The musician discussed his 2014 departure from Megadeth with Ultimate Guitar and pointed out that his decision wasn’t entirely based on artistic or musical differences. Rather, it was about having the space to express his own musical choices. He also talked about the internal workings of Megadeth, noting:
“It wasn’t a democratic or an equal band in terms of the decision-making process. And again, I was totally fine with that at the time. It was awesome for my career, and it was great playing for all those fans, but at some point, when do you decide you’re gonna be a musician and really create your own music, or are you just going to record what somebody else wants?”
Transitioning from his reasons for leaving Megadeth, Chris also disclosed that had he been given more opportunity to contribute creatively and have more say in the band, he would have definitely considered staying.
Still, as he shared in a 2022 chat with Sweden’s RockSverige.se, his experiences with the band taught him valuable lessons beyond just playing music. He realized the significance of an artist’s personality and how they present themselves.
