MEGADETH Mainman's Autobiography Changes Title?

***UPDATE***: A registered member of the official MEGADETH forum who goes by the name "Megajeff" says that he spoke with HarperCollins last month and that "they assured [him] that the title [of MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine's autobiography] has not changed and the release date of early April is false." However, it should be noted that the "Wake Up Dead: A Heavy Metal Memoir" title and the April publication date is being listed by several online sources, including:

* Borders.com
* AllBookstores.com
* Angus & Robertson

Original article follows.

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine has apparently changed the title of his upcoming autobiography to "Wake Up Dead: A Heavy Metal Memoir" from the previously announced "Hello Me... Meet The Real Me". The book, which is due on April 13 via HarperCollins's It Books imprint (focusing on pop culture, sports, style and content derived from the Internet),was co-written by New York Times journalist Joe Layden who also authored "The Last Great Fight" about what is considered by many to be the biggest upset in the history of boxing: James "Buster" Douglas' tenth-round knockout win over Mike Tyson in 1990.

Mustaine recently told AOL's Noisecreep about his upcoming autobiography, "It's easy to hate somebody that you don't like. But you know what? People don't know who I am. Who they think I am is not really who I am, because they guy that they've continued to vilify in the press, that guy's been gone a long time. And I think anyone who reads this book will see that."

"Wake Up Dead: A Heavy Metal Memoir" is not simply a tell-all story of decadence and debauchery.

"That stuff is mundane," Mustaine told Noisecreep. "We come to expect that from rock stars, so why would I talk about it? Everybody knows it happened. I want to talk about things that are way more important. There's stuff in there about how the band was formed, why I chose to sing, how the different band members came and went, how different songs were written, stuff that happened through the addictions and rehabs. And when I got done reading it for the first time, when I closed the last page I actually had tears in my eyes because somebody had finally gotten who I am as a person in print."

According to Mustaine, part of the book reveals how he practiced black magic as a teenager, and how the experience — which inspired the 1986 song "The Conjuring" — affected his life for years after.

"I put two hexes on people, and they both worked and the result was just what I was asking for," he explained. "Now, it took forever to get that Satanic depression off of me because it's just like playing with a Ouija board. You open the doorway to the dark side, and spirits come through. It took almost 20 years to get rid of that Satanic depression. I did it when I was 15, and I don't think I got free of it until I was in my mid-30s.You ask yourself, 'How is it possible that this is happening to me?' Well, because you flirted with the devil and you put a hex on somebody and you put another hex on somebody, and, well, you owe him. And that's why I have a problem playing 'The Conjuring' today."

Former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson told Classic Rock magazine that he isn't looking forward to reading Mustaine's upcoming autobiography.

Ellefson, who worked with Mustaine from 1983 to 2002, said, "I'm not sure I really want to read what he has to say. I doubt he'll send me a copy anyway!"

Ellefson said that he is disappointed that Mustaine still seems to bear a grudge against him and other former members of MEGADETH.

"I just hope that one day we can get past this, and that peace will reign," he told Classic Rock. "We should all be proud of what MEGADETH achieved, and have respect for each of us brought to the band."

In 2004, Ellefson filed suit against Mustaine claiming, among other things, breach of fiduciary obligation, libel and emotional distress.

To pre-order "Wake Up Dead: A Heavy Metal Memoir" directly from HarperCollins, go to this location.

Norway's Lydverket blog conducted an interview with Mustaine on August 7, 2009 at the Langham Hotel in London, England. The first clip from the chat, in which he discusses his upcoming autobiography, can be viewed below.

(Thanks: The Metal Den)