Bram Teitelman of Billboard reports:
When Megadeth picked up their first-ever Grammy for best metal performance on February 12th, it was a long time coming, but not for lack of trying — they’d been nominated nine times before in their 34-year career. What was frontman Dave Mustaine thinking being there for the tenth time?
“A little bit of everything, Mustaine tells Billboard. “Obviously the gratitude of being recognized, but also the disappointment lingering from the years where they’ve given the award to somebody that didn’t belong in that category.”
The frontman says he means [no] offense to any of the bands he lost out to in the past, mentioning Nine Inch Nails, Jethro Tull, “a live version of a 27-year-old song” (Judas Priest) and “someone doing a cover song” (Metallica)…
…What many watching the pre-ceremony at home will remember about the win, however, was the house band launching into Metallica’s Master of Puppets as the band took the stage. Mustaine was famously kicked out of that band in 1983 before they’d recorded their debut album, Kill ‘Em All, starting Megadeth later that year. For his part, Mustaine states that it wasn’t worth getting upset over.
“They could have played any song by anybody, and it wouldn’t have mattered because that was our moment,” he says. “I could see the correlation with [the band] who would think, ‘Oh, Megadeth, Metallica, we don’t know any Megadeth, but we do know this one Metallica song, so let’s play this. You think he’ll get mad? I don’t think so, let’s hope not. Hit it, Lefty!’ And then we get up there and go, ‘Boy, that was the worst f–king version of Master of Puppets I’ve ever heard.’ But that kind of stuff, you’ve just won a Grammy and you’re going to worry about some house band doing a cover song in the background?…”
…And while they’re basking in the glow of their Grammy win, Mustaine says we can expect a follow-up to Dystopia sometime next year. “I’m pretty afraid of picking up my guitar during the off season, so I try to keep my distance from it,” he says. “It starts to call my name when it gets close to new record time, and the past couple weeks, I’ve actually been playing a little bit, so it’s kind of like ‘ok, here we go.’”
Read more at Billboard.
source: billboard.com
15 Responses
Rattlehead, I agree it’s interesting to think what might have been. I have much respect for what Mustaine has accomplished after being “left for dead” (in an artistic and business sense) by Metallica. I don’t think it’s a total coincidence that the three best Metallica albums, by far I’m my opinion are the ones with Mustaines music on them.
The one thing Metallica has had that Megadeth hasn’t is Lars’ business vision. Though I know it isn’t likely, I would like to hear some music with Dave back in the band. Their current music isn’t bad, but I wouldnt call it cutting edge at this point. Say what you want about the Gaga thing, but at least it was a little outside the box for them.
Waverider, I think it would be great if Dave joined Metallica and put out some new music. I, too, doubt it will happen….Dave might be too concerned that if he shows James and Lars some new riff ideas, they will steal these ideas (again) for the next Metallica album…. :o)