DAVE MUSTAINE Stands By His 'METALLICA Planned To Fire LARS ULRICH' Story

Ex-METALLICA guitarist Dave Mustaine stands by his claim that the band 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.

In a recent interview with RollingStone.com, 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, Scott Ian (via webmaster Brent Thompson) 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."

In an interview conducted yesterday (Thursday, August 6) with Classic Rock magazine's Dave Ling, Mustaine steadfastly stood by his story.

Classic Rock: Given that Scott Ian wasted little time in issuing a denial, do you now regret breaking the story about METALLICA's alleged proposed sacking of Lars Ulrich?

Mustaine: "No. It was something Scott told me. I was trying to help him promote his autobiography. I love Scott and would never do anything to hurt him — never. But it's what he told me and I know other people who've heard it, too. With all the things that are out there on the Net, I know that Scott's having a bad time. People are starting to say, 'We believe Dave and Scott's a liar. He lied about the thing with Dan [Nelson, the singer who controversially parted company with ANTHRAX].' That's the last thing I wanted. I love Scott. I wish I could just make this thing go away. But I didn't say it, he did."

Classic Rock: So how do you explain your role in all of this?

Mustaine: "Like I said, I was trying to help Scott. I wanted to say something that would make people think, 'Oh shit, I've got to have Scott Ian's bio.' I was not trying to make them think, 'Oh, Scott's a gossip,' or, 'Hey, don't believe Scott.' I'm really fucking mad that people are saying bad stuff about him."

Classic Rock: It's even been implied that you "planted" the question with the interviewer from Rolling Stone to ensure it achieved maximum publicity.

Mustaine: "Yeah, how ridiculous is that? This is MEGADETH, not KISS."

Mustaine himself was a member of METALLICA for less than two years, from 1981 to 1983, before being dismissed and replaced by Hammett. He did not play on any METALLICA albums and did not attend their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year.

Mustaine went on to form MEGADETH. The band's 12th studio album, "Endgame", is due out in September.

No one has every seriously speculated that Ulrich could be dismissed from the band he started with Hetfield more than a quarter century ago. But he told The Pulse of Radio himself that being in a band that long has its ups and downs. "Being in METALLICA for 27 years, part of the ride is that it's got to go on these kind of ups and downs and these dynamics, and now people like you, and now people like you a little more, and now people like you a little less and now people complain about this, and now people are really excited about that . . . it's all part of the ride."

METALLICA is currently touring behind its ninth studio album, "Death Magnetic", and starts a North American run of shows in September.

Video footage of Mustaine talking about METALLICA in March 2008 on guitarist Dave Navarro's (JANE'S ADDICTION) online TV show on ManiaTV.com called "Spread TV" can be viewed below.