MARTY FRIEDMAN: 'MEGADETH's Negative Imagery Was Getting Me Down'

January 25, 2003

Former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman has not ruled out a future reunion with Dave Mustaine and Co.

"Who knows?" Friedman answered when asked about the possibility of taking part in a reformed band. "I'm already playing with two members now [referring to the fact that bassist Dave Ellefson and drummer Jimmy DeGrasso will join him on his upcoming solo tour—ed.], and I have nothing at all against Mustaine and would be happy to hear any ideas he may have."

When asked about the seriousness of the illness that precipitated his departure from the group in early 2000 and whether he was simply attempting a quick exit from the group, Friedman said, "I quit [MEGADETH] in Nov. 1999, but agreed to stay on the tour 'till March 2000. We had two days off for Christmas, I wound up in the emergency room with exhaustion on that break and decided that if we could get a replacement sooner than March, I wanted out sooner than later. The music was bumming me out mentally more than anything. Al [Pitrelli] came in and learned so fast and did so well that I was able to leave on Jan. 11 [2000], my last show being in Seattle. My guru told me that the negative imagery in the music was getting me down to such a low that I myself didn't even know what was going on. As soon as I removed myself from that 'death and evil! Monsters!' environment, the next thing you know I was healthier and happier than ever, working on some cool music."

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