MEGADOUCHE
Dave Mustaine thinks Grammy would have been better presented to his name, instead of Megadeth

Metal Sludge Staff Reporter

RICHMOND, Kentucky — Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine has never been afraid to share his opinion about, well, just about anything and everything at any time.

The outspoken and often controversial frontman addressed a series of topics in a recent interview with the Richmond Register, a Kentucky-based newspaper. He talked about former band members, finally winning a Grammy, The Big Four and the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame.

Here are some of the highlights of the interview.

In the more than 30-year history of the Megadeth, lineup changes have become pretty common. More than two dozen people have played with Mustaine in the legendary thrash-metal band.

The latest changes were quite unexpected, though, Mustaine told the Richmond Register.

Guitarist Chris Broderick and drummer Shawn Drover left in 2014, announcing their departure separately on the same day.

Broderick had been in the band for seven years and Drover had been with Megadeth for more than a decade. They went on to form the band Act of Defiance, which has released one album – 2015’s Birth and Burial.

“Those two guys, I think they got sold a bill of goods,” Mustaine said of Broderick and Drover. “Somebody told them some stuff and they believed it and they left. We didn’t even talk before they left. I wish them well. That’s it. Goodbye.”

Mustaine picked Brazilian-born Kiko Loureiro to replace Broderick. The former Angra guitarist made a memorable impression on Megadeth’s leader the first time he heard him play in person.

“I’m talking on the phone and I hear him in the background and I’m like, ‘Oh my God,’” Mustaine said of Loureiro. “I just knew at that moment that Kiko was the last guitar player I wanted to play with because I’ll never play with anybody any better.”

With Loureiro on guitar, Megadeth recruited Lamb Of God’s Chris Adler to play drums. That lineup (Mustaine, Loureiro, Adler and David Ellefson) created the band’s 15th studio album Dystopia, which was released on Jan. 22, 2016.

Dystopia finally gave Mustaine an honor that had always eluded him.

In February, the album’s title track was awarded a Grammy for Best Metal Performance. It was the band’s first Grammy after being unsuccessfully nominated 11 other times.

“Having been nominated so many times for a Grammy and not getting it, it almost made me just irascible,” Mustaine said. “Now that I have it, most people would be like, ‘Oh wow. I did it. It’s so great.’ But, behind every mountain there’s another mountain. I was looking at my Grammy award, it says ‘Presented to Megadeth for Best Metal Performance for Dystopia.’ It would have been way cooler if it would have said ‘Presented to Dave Mustaine.’ I still have a target. I’m not giving up yet.”

And Mustaine isn’t giving up on the possibility of receiving another big honor.

Megadeth has been eligible for the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame for several years, but has not even been nominated.

Of course, Mustaine was a founding member of Metallica and has writing credits on that band’s first two albums. However, when Metallica was inducted in 2009, Mustaine was not honored and choose to skip the ceremony.

The singer/guitarist is hopeful that Megadeth will eventually join Metallica in the Rock Hall, but he believes that even if that doesn’t happen that he already has a place in that institution.

“I’m in there. Anyone who thinks that Metallica is in there and Dave Mustaine is not has got a short between their headphones. I’m there,” Mustaine said. “As far as being there and standing on my own two feet and going into the head, taking a piss and saying that I own the house, no, not yet. But, I’m sure at some point if it is meant to be, it will happen. I’m patient.”

Mustaine is also apparently patiently waiting any opportunity to do more Big Four Shows.

Meagdeth, Metallica, Anthrax and Slayer did 16 shows together, mostly in Europe, in 2010 and 2011. The most popular thrash-metal bands of all-time did just two dates in America and fans have been eager for more shows in the states ever since.

Mustaine says he willing to go back out of the road with the package tour at any time, but indicated that not all the other bands are interested in getting the groups back together.

“It’s not up to me,” Mustaine said of the Big Four shows. “I have nothing to be afraid of. I’m ready to go play.”

The full story can be found HERE.