DAVE MUSTAINE: LARS ULRICH 'Can't Keep Me Out' Of The ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME

In the September 2009 issue of U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine (see cover below),MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine explains the reasons behind his decision to turn down METALLICA's invitation to attend their induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

Mustaine, who was a member of METALLICA for less than two years, from 1981 to 1983, before being dismissed and replaced by Kirk Hammett, tells the magazine, "Lars [Ulrich, METALLICA drummer] said, 'If you were on the record, you got inducted; if you weren't on the record, you didn't,' and would I come along and hang out and watch them get inducted? I was like, 'Dude, that's so typical!' It makes for the same kind of mentality as a guy watching some other guy fuck his girlfriend. I just said, 'I'm flattered and I'm proud of you guys and I wish you well. I'll be there if I'm being inducted, but if I'm gonna watch, then I've got better things to do.'"

Mustaine adds, "To say that I'm not on the record, well, I'd say that there are 40 million fans with MEGADETH and METALLICA records in their collections that would say that Dave is on the METALLICA records because my name's on there [in the songwriting credits], but I guess Lars never really looked past the word 'Ulrich.' He just stopped there and read it again, over and over and over!

"Bottom line is, I'm going to get into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame one way or another and he can't keep me out! When I do, I'm going to ask him to induct us and I'm gonna give eggs to everyone in the front row! [Laughs]"

Mustaine publicly declined METALLICA's invitation to attend the April 4 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame ceremony, citing European tour commitments, but issued a statement congratulating the band.

Regarding why Mustaine wasn't being inducted into the Hall Of Fame along with the current members of METALLICA, Ulrich told The Plain Dealer in an April 2009 interview, "You've got to kind of cap it somewhere. Dave Mustaine never played on any METALLICA records. No disrespect to him. But there [were] half a dozen other people that were in the lineup in the early days.

"We thought . . . the fair thing to do would be to include anybody that played on a METALLICA record.

"Dave Mustaine was in the band for 11 months, predominantly in 1982. . . . I'm not trying to play it down. I have nothing but respect and admiration for his accomplishments since."

Mustaine claimed in a recent interview with Rolling Stone magazine that METALLICA wanted to fire co-founder and drummer Lars Ulrich after the group finished touring in 1986 — but the plan was disrupted by the death of bassist Cliff Burton in a tour bus accident. Reporter Greg Prato asked, "As far as you know, is it true that on the last METALLICA tour Cliff Burton was on before he died, the band was planning on firing Lars Ulrich at the tour's end?" Mustaine replied, "That's what Scott (Ian, ANTHRAX guitarist) told me. He said that when METALLICA got home, that James (Hetfield, frontman),Cliff and Kirk (Hammett, guitarist) were going to fire Lars."

However, ANTHRAX's webmaster refuted Mustaine's statement in a post on ANTHRAX's official Twitter profile, writing, "Story's not true. Little does anyone know but Lars actually owns the (METALLICA) name. Good luck ever kicking him out."

MEGADETH's 12th studio album, "Endgame", is due out on September 15.