Former Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland recently opened up about his relationship with Dave Mustaine and his time in the band. He shared his perspective in an interview with Heavy Metal Mayhem.
Poland reflected on the early days of Megadeth and his enduring bond with the band’s frontman, despite past conflicts.
“Me and Dave (Mustaine) lived together in a rehearsal studio [in the early days of Megadeth]. We took ‘bird baths’ with cold water in a sink for a year. And then we toured repeatedly. We were together all the time. We were a real band when Megadeth first started,” Poland said.
The guitarist explained how those shared experiences created a lasting brotherhood between the band members.
“And once that happens, everybody kind of becomes brothers. And I know Dave said terrible shit about me [in the later years], but I don’t hold a grudge. And I understand. I know how Dave is. I know Dave. That’s how he is. He says stuff off the top of his head, and I’m sure regrets it later,” he continued.
Poland also discussed his musical approach during his time with Megadeth and what he learned from Mustaine.
“The way I looked at [Megadeth’s music] was, ‘This is fast Led Zeppelin.’ And that’s the way I looked at it. I had a decent idea of how to get a good distorted sound, and so when the pedaling got involved, I just adapted to it. And then, of course, his spider chord thing. I learned a lot from Dave,” he added.
Poland’s journey with Megadeth began during a pivotal period in the band’s formation. It represents a significant chapter in thrash metal history.
Megadeth Fandom reported that Poland joined Megadeth in 1984 after being recommended to Mustaine and Ellefson by the band’s then-new drummer Gar Samuelson. The timing was crucial, as Yamaha Artists noted that Megadeth hired Chris in 1984, replacing Kerry King of Slayer, who was temporarily filling in as lead guitarist.
During his tenure with the band, Poland contributed to some of Megadeth’s most influential work. He recorded on the band’s first two albums, which would become cornerstones of the thrash metal genre. Yamaha Artists confirmed that in 1985, Megadeth released their debut album “Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good!” followed by “Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?” in 1986.
However, Poland’s time with Megadeth was cut short due to personal struggles. Megadeth Fandom documented that he was fired from the band in 1987 amid substance abuse issues. This marked the end of an era for both the guitarist and the band.
Despite the turbulent ending to his Megadeth chapter, Poland’s musical journey continued beyond thrash metal. Vintage Guitar reported that after Megadeth, he embarked on a solo career and indulged in his true musical passion – fusion. He eventually released debut material with his group Ohm, showcasing his versatility as a musician beyond the thrash metal realm.
