Mustaine reflects on ‘brotherhood’ with Hetfield
Megadeth mainman says he and Metallica’s James had a unique chemistry on stage
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Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine says he and James Hetfield were like brothers when they played together in Metallica.
And looking back on his time with the band in the early 80s, he reveals he thinks they had a special chemistry on stage.
Mustaine tells VH1 Classic Rock Icons (via Blabbermouth): “There was a feeling that James and I had when we would stand next to each other and play. I think people saw there was a real brotherhood there. We were a really great guitar duo.”
He was fired from Metallica in 1983 before the release of Kill ‘Em All and says his anger at that decision drove him to make Megadeth the most “ultra-furious metal band” in the world.
Mustaine continues: “Growing up and having all of the defence mechanisms I’d gotten over the years, I was pissed – I was going to fight. When you’re scratching and clawing to have something to eat, someone takes away your livelihood, this means war.
“I don’t really know that when Megadeth started that it was anything other than just pure revenge. It was all about, ‘You know what? You’re not going to make me that kid, the one that’s picked last again.’
“We wanted to be the utmost heaviest, ultra-furious metal band. Period. It doesn’t sound like my last band. I wanted to do it for me – not because of something I lost – it was because of what I still had.”
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Megadeth are currently working on the follow-up to 2013’s Super Collider. They’ve yet to announce who will replace guitarist Chris Broderick and drummer Shawn Drover in the lineup, but Mustaine recently said fans would be “very happy” with what’s been going on behind the scenes.

Scott has spent 37 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in 2014 before moving into e-commerce in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, highlights deals, and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 12 years, Scott has written more than 11,500 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from news and features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.
