Friday May 11, 2007
Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine can't escape the pull of metal
By BEN EDMONDS
Dave Mustaine figures he's got the best seat in the house.
His band Megadeth, which pioneered speed-metal in the mid-80s, sits in the middle of a triple bill that could almost be a time line tracing the history of metal. Headliner Heaven and Hell is actually the version of Black Sabbath featuring singer Ronnie James Dio, renamed out of courtesy to Ozzy Osborne (and to relieve the band of the responsibility of having to play Iron Man). Opening act Machine Head is one of the more powerful modern metal outfits.
"A lot of people thought this package would attract a Black Sabbath audience with pockets of Megadeth fans doing their mosh pits," Mustaine said as he prepared for a sound check in San Jose, California. "But it hasn't been like that. From where I stand in front of the stage - only the drummer has a better view, because he's slightly higher - I'm seeing a surprising number of young people. And for whatever reason, more girls than at your typical heavy metal concert."
Mustaine put Megadeth in mothballs when he developed a serious nerve disorder in 2002. After 18 months of physical therapy (and despite residual effects that can sometimes make playing difficult), the guitarist couldn't stay away.
"Even though rebellion is a young man's game, I still respond to the `put up or shut up' challenge," he said. "I just saw a video in which an established artist was obviously spoofing a new star, and it just made him look bitter and jealous. That's not me. I don't have any resentment toward the bands we're passing the baton to. But it did make me sit up and realize that if I still wanted to be in the race, I'd better start running."
The new Megadeth CD, United Abominations, contains enough vintage fury to please the faithful, but it comes from a different place.
"I grew up full of anger until people finally loved me into right thinking," Mustaine said. "I no longer have that to tap into, but when you look around, there's plenty to be angry about."
Song titles like Gears of War, Amerikhastan and Washington Is Next! should tell you what's got his blood bombastically boiling these days.
The current band maintains Megadeth's signature thrash, and Mustaine acknowledges that the need for speed among the newer members (guitarist Glen Drover, bassist James LoMenzo and drummer Shawn Drover) may exceed his own.
"If the Drover brothers had their way, the record would be even faster," he laughs. "But I'm built for comfort more than speed. I'd rather ride in a really slow Mercedes than a really fast Volkswagen."
- Copyright (C) 2007 MCT Information Services
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