DAVE MUSTAINE: Why I Lost My Job With METALLICA

Norway's Lydverket blog conducted an interview with MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine on August 7, 2009 at the Langham Hotel in London, England.

Before the interview took place, Lydverket received clear instructions from MEGADETH's press officer that Dave's past in METALLICA was a strictly forbidden topic of conversation. However, according to reporter Kristin Winsents, it was Mustaine himself that broke the "ban," because he evidently still has a lot to say about the group he was fired from 26 years ago.

Watch Winsents' report below. A couple of excerpts follow.

On getting kicked out of METALLICA for allegedly drinking too much:

Mustaine: "I was so hurt by the way that happened. I said, What?! No second chance, no warning? C'mon, we all drink. C'mon.' And [they were like], 'No, that's it. You're gone.' And I was like, 'Alright.'"

On the altercation with METALLICA frontman James Hetfield that led to Mustaine being fired from the band:

Mustaine: "He kicked my dog.

"I was selling pot. When I would go play in concert, people knew that my pot was sitting in my apartment just saying, 'Go ahead and keep me company.' So I was broken in on. People stole everything that I had; all my stash. And I figured, screw this. I'm gonna get some dogs to stay in the apartment when I leave. So I got two dogs and I took one of them up to a rehearsal one time and she put her paws up on Ron's [McGovney, METALLICA's then-bassist] car. And James kicked it right in the side. And I was like, 'What did you do?' [And I was like] 'It's a dog, it's what they do. You don't kick animals.' So we went into the house, and we started arguing some more. And I ended up punching him in the face and I think that was the root of why I lost my job.

"I hated that. I didn't wanna hit him. I cared a lot about James; I really liked him. I still like him. I don't like Lars [Ulrich, METALLICA drummer], but I like [James]."

On being invited to attend METALLICA's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction in April, but not to get inducted along with his former bandmates:

Mustaine: "I think someone would have to be a complete fool to think I was gonna go there and sit in the audience and watch them be inducted into the Hall Of Fame. It was nice that Lars that invited me, but any of the public that thinks I was gonna go... But what are you — stupid?! I'm proud of them, I wish them well, but what do I have to do?! That's masochism."

On his state of mind in 2009:

Mustaine: "When I became a Christian, everyone thought that I was gonna become a pussy. Now, evidently, it backfired.

"Lately, I started really getting into trying to better myself — really, really digging into my past and working with counselors and therapists to really try and free myself of the stuff that holds me back as an artist so that I can be a better artist and an entertainer."

"Honestly, this is one on my finest hours, because spiritually I am at peace so much. I have no problems with anybody. What good is it gonna do for me to sit there and piss and moan about how much excess there was in my life?! There was, there ain't anymore."

****Note: A portion of this interview, in which Mustaine discusses his upcoming autobiography, was released on September 15. This latest clip (see below) was posted on the Lydverket web site on Wednesday, October 14.