MEGADETH Mainman: 'I'm Happy To See Guitar Players Making A Comeback'

Kevin C. Johnson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch recently conducted an interview with MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine.

On MEGADETH's resurgence:

Mustaine: "There's lots of reasons why bands become popular again, why all of a sudden it seems like things are clicking again. We went into an experimental phase for a while, playing music I think was great but wasn't thrash metal. We experienced growing pains, and now we're coming full circle and showing a newfound interest with returning back to form."

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: How do you interpret the success of "United Abominations"?

Mustaine: American audiences can take pleasure when someone successful falls, but if you're the kind of person that can admit when you do something wrong, not that I did anything terrible, we as a nation can be forgiving. They like comeback stories.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: What was the experience in Buenos Aires?

Mustaine: Going down to that country was so fantastic. The people there are passionate about music. They can't say my name — they say Mu-staine. But I'm glad to even hear it.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: After you fell out with METALLICA and started MEGADETH, did you think it would have this longevity?

Mustaine: I was so obsessed with revenge I didn't think about stuff like that. But then I realized I was missing all the good stuff along the way while I was going through my career, like the Wicked Witch in Oz. I've got beautiful family and friends who love me, and I was successful. What more do you want?

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: What is the quintessential MEGADETH tune on "Warchest"?

Mustaine: There's not really one song that embodies the whole band, because there's been so many different time periods. So many people have been a part of this project, and I love some of them, and some of them I can't stand to be in the same room with.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: What's the new tour like?

Mustaine: We don't have a lot of extra stuff that goes on with the smaller shows. It's more about being there, one-on-one with the fans, and not trying to act like we're doing them a favor by showing up.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: What's the state of heavy metal today?

Mustaine: People are playing guitar solos again. It was easy to tell why they weren't before. … They picked up a guitar and learned three chords on the back of a box of Cheerios. I'm happy to see guitar players making a comeback and not taking a back seat to self-deprecating, loathsome front men. I think metal is making a comeback as a whole. I'm sitting on a successful record, and it's rare you get a second chance at anything.