Dave Mustaine recently reflected on his influential role within the “Big Four” of 1980s thrash metal. He made bold claims about shaping the sound of Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax in an interview with 89 FM A Rádio Rock.
The Megadeth frontman discussed his connections and musical influence on the other three bands that comprise thrash metal’s legendary “Big Four” alongside his own group.
“Well, I’ve been very invested in the metal community. Kerry [King, Slayer guitarist] and I played together [during the two bands’ early days], and I showed him how to play Megadeth songs, which was before [Slayer] started having all their pivotal records,” Mustaine said. “Kerry and I had a really great time together.”
The guitarist emphasized his songwriting contributions across multiple bands in the thrash metal scene.
“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,” he continued.
Mustaine also addressed his relationship with Anthrax and their musical evolution after meeting him.
“And when I met Scott [Ian, Anthrax guitarist] and the guys in Anthrax out in New York, same thing happened. Their first record was very different from the record they made after they met me and the guys in Metallica,” he said. “So I think that’s great. I love all those bands.”
Mustaine’s claims about his influence on these legendary bands stem from his complex history within the thrash metal community. This particularly includes his tumultuous relationship with Metallica that began in the early 1980s.
Wikipedia reported that Mustaine received songwriting credits on two tracks from Metallica’s second album, Ride the Lightning: the title track “Ride the Lightning” and “The Call of Ktulu.” These songs were arranged from unfinished material he had played to Metallica members shortly before his firing from the band in 1983. The Ride the Lightning album marked the last time Mustaine received songwriting credits from Metallica. It also marked the first time Kirk Hammett, Mustaine’s successor, received writing credits.
Mustaine’s departure from Metallica was a pivotal moment that shaped the thrash metal landscape. Full in Bloom noted that after being fired from the band in 1983, he subsequently formed Megadeth, which became “one of thrash metal’s defining names.” This transition from Metallica member to rival band leader created one of metal’s most enduring feuds and competitive relationships.
The guitarist’s influence extended beyond just songwriting credits. He also claimed credit for developing specific musical techniques. NamuWiki documented that Mustaine claimed credit for developing the “Spider Chord” progression used in “Leper Messiah” on Metallica’s third album. However, Metallica disputed this claim, arguing he had already been fired from the band when that material was developed.
Mustaine’s role as both a former Metallica member and the leader of Megadeth has positioned him uniquely within the Big Four hierarchy. His claims about influencing Slayer and Anthrax, while bold, reflect the interconnected nature of the early thrash metal scene where musicians frequently collaborated and shared ideas across band boundaries. However, as of now, there have been no documented public responses from members of Slayer or Anthrax regarding these specific influence claims.
