Megadeth guitarist Kiko Loureiro didn’t play during audition

Megadeth guitarist Kiko Loureiro has recalled how his audition for Dave Mustaine didn’t include playing his instrument.

The Angra member was recruited last year following the departure of Chris Broderick, and he appears on 15th album Dystopia alongside guest drummer Chris Adler from Lamb Of God.

Loureiro tells WSOU: “People are always asking, ‘How is it to work with Mustaine?’ He has this reputation because sometimes he says stuff that people don’t agree with. But to be honest, Dave, he’s just a super gentleman.

“When I met him the first time, when I was kind of auditioning, we just hung for a day in Nashville. He was showing me Nashville – we had lunch, we had coffee, beer at night.

“I hung with him the whole day. I didn’t play at all for my, let’s say, audition. I discovered a very sharp guy, very intelligent. He’s very into politics, he’s very sharp in the music business in general, and he’s a gentleman.”

Once he’d been invited to join Megadeth, Loureiro took his time before starting to contribute any music. “I was more observing and trying to understand,” he says. “Embracing his ideas and trying to make it a little better, if possible – respecting his input in general.

“I just found a good way to interact with him. It was really easy to work with him. He’s an interesting person, so you need some time to understand.”

Megadeth released a 360º video for their track Poisonous Shadows this week. The band are on tour until August, including an appearance at the Download festival in June.

Megadeth tour dates 2016

Apr 28: San Juan Coliseo de Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico
Apr 30: Ft Myers Fort Rock At Jetblue Park, FL
May 01: Jacksonville Rockville At Metropolitan Park, FL
May 07: Concord Carolina Rebellion, NC
May 20: Columbus Rock On The Range, OH
May 22: Schaghticoke Rock ‘n Derby, NY
May 26: Sioux Falls Badlands Pawn, SD
May 27: Pryor Rocklahoma, OK
May 29: San Antonio River City Rockfest, TX
Jun 02: Milan Gods Of Metal, Italy
Jun 03: Bologna Estragon, Italy
Jun 05: Nijmegen FortaRock, The Netherlands
Jun 07: Lodz Power Festival, Poland
Jun 09: Solvesborg Sweden Rock Festival, Sweden
Jun 10: Download Festival, France
Jun 11: Download Festival, UK
Jun 14: Groningen Oosterport, Netherlands
Jun 15: Pratteln Z7 Konzertfabrik, Switzerland
Jun 16: Luxembourg Rockhal, Luxembourg
Jun 17: Dessel Graspop Metal Meeting, Belgium
Jun 17-19: Clisson Hellfest, France
Jun 22: Berlin Huxleys Neue Welt, Germany
Jun 23: Hamburg Docks, Germany
Jun 24: Copenhagen Copenhall, Denmark
Jun 25: Halden Tons Of Rock, Norway
Jun 28: Cologne Live Music Hall, Germany
Jun 29: Frankfurt Batschkapp, Germany
Jun 30: Munich Backstage, Germany
Jul 02: Rishon LeZion Live Park Amphitheatre, Israel
Jul 07: Sofia Universiada Hall, Bulgaria
Aug 02: Santiago Teatro Caupolican, Chile
Aug 07: Sao Paulo Espaco Das Americas, Brazil
Aug 12: Brasilia Net Live, Brazil
Aug 13: Fortaleza Siara Hall, Brazil
Aug 20: Ascuncion Independiente, Paraguay
Aug 22: Buenos Aires Luna Park, Argentina

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.