Former Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland recently explained why no one approached him to join their band after his departure from Megadeth. He revealed that Dave Mustaine’s accusations against him damaged his reputation in the music industry. Poland shared these details in an interview with Eon Music.
Poland’s comments came in response to a question about whether other bands had approached him after leaving Megadeth. His response revealed the lasting impact of the controversy surrounding his departure.
“No, not at all. Man, you know, and like, I don’t have grudges, I don’t hold grudges, but, Mustaine, the whole ‘Liar’ thing, the whole thing; ‘Chris stole our equipment,’ that whole thing was talked about so much that nobody ever called me,” Poland said.
The guitarist also described how the accusations affected his ability to secure equipment endorsements and work opportunities in the industry.
“Not only that, one time I walked into Carvin [amps] and I was like; ‘hey, man, can you guys endorse me? I need a couple of two by twelve cabs,’ and this guy looked me right in the face and he goes; ‘we don’t work with people like you.’ I just walked out the door,” he continued.
Poland went on to defend himself against the accusations. He explained the actual circumstances behind the equipment situation.
“So, I mean, there was a lot of shit that was said that actually, kind of was not okay. But it was BS, anyway; I never pawned anything but my own gear, then once me and Gar would pawn – he’d pawn his cymbals, I’d pawn a head, and maybe a guitar – then Scott Menzies [Megadeth crew member] would go to the pawn shop before a tour would start, before rehearsals, and get it out of pawn, and then we’d play blah, blah, blah. And, yeah, that was all it was. He [Dave Mustaine] was just upset, man. Yeah, he was really upset with me,” Poland explained.
The fallout from his Megadeth departure had severe consequences for Poland’s career and personal life. The impact extended far beyond just missing out on band opportunities.
Louder Sound reported that after leaving Megadeth in 1987, Poland found himself working nights bussing tables in a diner from midnight to 8 a.m. This dramatic career shift highlighted just how devastating the professional blacklisting had become for the talented guitarist who had contributed to some of Megadeth’s most acclaimed early work.
The relationship between Poland and Mustaine remained strained for decades following the split. Poland has stated that he and Mustaine had not spoken since 2004. He indicated he might consider working with Mustaine again on a solo project. However, he expressed no interest in relearning Megadeth songs or returning to the band in any official capacity.
Reflecting on the possibility of rejoining Megadeth during the band’s turbulent period, Poland offered a sobering perspective on what might have happened. “It was probably best that I didn’t. Probably drugs would have killed somebody, or all of us. Who knows?” he said. He acknowledged the dangerous environment that characterized much of Megadeth’s early career.
Despite the personal and professional challenges he faced after leaving Megadeth, Poland has continued to maintain that he harbors no grudges against his former bandmates. His recent comments suggest that the accusations and their aftermath significantly impacted his career trajectory. However, he has found a way to move forward without bitterness, even as he continues to set the record straight about the circumstances of his departure.
