Former Megadeth guitarist Glen Drover recently opened up about his departure from the band. He revealed the real reasons behind his exit in an interview with Waste Some Time with Jason Green.
Drover addressed questions about the circumstances surrounding his 2008 departure from Megadeth. He clarified that the situation was more complex than previously reported.
When asked about the story that he left simply because he didn’t want to tour and had family obligations, Drover provided a more detailed explanation.
“Well, some of it was personal beyond that which I won’t talk about because it’s very personal. But there was another situation you know where I had to step down. It was a lot of stuff going on at one point, which I got through. But at the time it was kind of heavy and I had to leave,” Drover said.
He emphasized that the band was aware of his struggles at the time.
“And they knew it as well you know. They knew that I was having some issues with a couple of things, you know, and musically or personally. Personally and not musically. Musically, I was fine. It was just, you know, I it was a lot to do with my family and just personal issues that I had, which we’ll leave that at that,” he continued.
Regarding whether his departure ended on good terms with Megadeth, Drover expressed that the situation was handled professionally.
“Yeah. I think for the most part I think you know Dave (Mustaine) was upset but I think he also understood as well to a point you know because he didn’t really know 100%. But he had he had a good idea what was going on. It also wasn’t a situation where I just like you know I’d step down and then they were touring the following week. I wasn’t going to do something stupid like that,” he explained.
Drover also revealed his role in finding his replacement. He recommended three guitarists to the band.
“We did the Pacific Rim and then there was about a break for about three or four months before doing a United Kingdom tour, which of course as we know is everything British and Scandinavian Europe in general. So basically it was about maybe I don’t know a couple weeks after we finished the Pacific Rim where I have to do this and so when I left, I recommended three guitar players uh which were Jeff Loomis, Jeff Waters and Chris Broderick and for whatever reasons Jeff had declined and as both Jeff’s and Chris said yes. So that’s how and why he got in the band or how he got in the band,” he said.
Drover’s departure marked the end of a significant chapter in Megadeth’s history. His contributions to the band extended beyond just his guitar work during his tenure from 2004 to 2008.
Wikipedia reported that Drover joined Megadeth in 2004 alongside his brother Shawn on drums. He contributed guitar to the 2007 album United Abominations. This album would become his only studio recording with the band. His departure became particularly notable as it occurred during the promotional tour for the record.
Previous reports about Drover’s exit had suggested that family obligations were the primary reason for his departure. However, Blabbermouth noted that Drover has denied that family time was the sole reason. He stated he left to escape a “destructive atmosphere” within the band. This revelation aligns with his recent comments about personal issues that went beyond simple family considerations.
In a 2008 statement addressing his departure, Drover clarified his position on the family narrative. BraveWords documented his statement: “I am aware of the rumors that I left Megadeth to focus on family life. My family life has always been my priority.” This statement suggests that while family was important to him, it wasn’t the complete story behind his decision to leave the band.
The guitarist’s departure came at a crucial time for Megadeth. The band was actively touring to support United Abominations. Louder Sound reported that Drover emphasized he was never just a “hired gun” in Megadeth but was a full member of the band. This made his departure even more significant for the group’s dynamics and future direction.
