Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine recently opened up about his complicated history with his former band Metallica. He addressed how his former bandmates’ criticism affected his career in the early years. The guitarist shared his thoughts in an interview with Louder Sound.
Mustaine’s comments came in response to a question about finding peace with his achievements after years of feeling overshadowed by Metallica’s success. He also discussed dealing with disparaging comments from Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield.
“I’ve always had a sense of peace with what I have. But it was when I had to spend my entire career, almost, on defence,” Mustaine said.
The Megadeth frontman explained how the ongoing criticism impacted his professional journey. He also expressed his current stance on the relationship between the bands.
“There’s nothing between me and Metallica any more as far as any negative energy, but it was difficult, for all those years, having to deal with the comments,” he continued. “Especially them saying I can’t play. Are you out of your mind? Who would say something like that?”
The tension between Mustaine and his former bandmates stems from a painful chapter in metal history. This chapter continues to influence both musicians’ careers decades later.
Loudwire reported that Mustaine was abruptly fired from Metallica on April 11, 1983. A hungover Mustaine was woken at 9 AM by Hetfield, Ulrich, and Cliff Burton and told he was out of the band. The dismissal came after volatile drinking incidents and physical altercations, including Mustaine punching Hetfield in the face. The band had already recruited Kirk Hammett as his replacement.
The emotional wounds from this firing resurfaced years later in a highly publicized moment. Ultimate Classic Rock noted that Mustaine had a tearful reconciliation with Lars Ulrich during the filming of Metallica’s 2004 documentary “Some Kind of Monster.” Lingering resentment from the 1983 dismissal became evident to viewers worldwide.
While Mustaine’s drinking was cited as the primary factor behind his dismissal, the aftermath proved to be a defining moment for both bands. Ultimate Guitar revealed that despite everyone praising his writing contributions, especially pieces like “The Four Horsemen,” Mustaine felt devastated by how the situation unfolded.
The interview touched on Mustaine’s long-standing need to defend himself against criticism from his former Metallica bandmates throughout much of his career with Megadeth. This highlights how this decades-old conflict shaped his professional journey and public persona.
