Dave Mustaine Feels Uncomfortable About Being The ‘Godfather Of Metal’

In a recent appearance on the Jeremy White Show, Dave Mustaine said that when people call him the ‘godfather of metal,’ he can’t help but feel a bit shy, as he thinks other musicians also played a role alongside him.

The guitarist explained how it felt to be labeled as the ‘godfather of Metal’:

“It’s just like with me when people say I’m the godfather of metal, I get shy, and I it’s gonna sound lame, but I almost feel embarrassed because while I was a big part of it and I was there, there were other people there and I really love to give them credit, too.”

Acknowledging the contributions of other bands to the scene, Mustaine went on:

“The guys in Metallica and me, we’re not the only ones. In the beginning, there were guys in bands like Lȧȧz Rockit, which is an unknown band, and I don’t think it’d mean anything anymore. Hirax. I think they’re still trying, but that was a band that never got the break that they needed.

Of course, Exodus, a great band. [They] produced a great guitar player from Metallica, but Exodus never got that giant door opening for them. Another great guitar player was Gary Holt that went on to play with Slayer, and personally, for me, I think Gary is the sound of Exodus.”

He also named some other metal bands:

“You got other bands like Testament, Overkill. My God, there are so many bands that are part of the scene. They just came a little bit after me, so I sometimes feel like we’ve got to remember all these other guys.”

This is not the first time Dave Mustaine was asked if he was ‘the godfather of thrash metal.’ In a 2016 chat with Loudwire, the guitarist offered a different perspective and suggested that without him, there may not have been thrash metal or even a band like Metallica. He also praised James Hetfield’s guitar skills but emphasized his own significance.

Below, you can watch his recent interview.