ISSUE #27 MMUSICMAG.COM Q&A Myriam s antos

david ellefson, shawn drover, Chris broderick, dave Mustaine megadeth dave mustaine explains why these metal icons aren’t afraid to take risks

Megadeth’s latest albuM, cross that line and have to say, “It’s just the two players and they know—step, stride Super Collider, celebrates 30 years in the not worth it anymore.” and pass. Note by note they’re synchronized. metal trenches—and it will certainly satisfy You feel that when you’re onstage. the cravings of fans who feast on the band’s What was your approach? there’s awkwardness when you’re stock-in-trade: shock-and-awe thrash metal. I’ll usually go into the studio and listen to playing with somebody and they’re behind but it may also confuse—and even anger— a bunch of riffs and start piecing together or in front of you or playing the wrong some die-hard headbangers. this is the most songs. then if there’s a part missing in stuff. It’s like, “dude, do you really want melodic record frontman dave Mustaine has between the riffs, I’ll write it on the spot. to be here?” the guys we’re playing made in years, and there’s even an electric When shawn [drover, drums] comes he’ll with right now are hungrier and better banjo on one track. still, Mustaine—who’s listen to it and play through it a couple of players than I usually am. so I’ve got to the only consistent member of the band— times. We’ll try and get the take and build stay on my toes. isn’t worried. “there are people who take the energy of the song off the drum track. exception with this because they want to after that’s done it’s a matter of icing the how does it feel having reached the hear ‘black Friday’ the rest of their lives,” cake with the bass, guitars, vocals and solos. 30-year mark? he says. “I feel for them.” It’s been a total blessing. there’s nothing You selected producer Johnny K again. I could have done with my life that would have you earned total creative license? We do about two records per producer and have been this fulfilling. having people come I don’t have a license to make bad music. move on, and that’s been our mantra. We’ll up and say, “You have no idea what ‘In My When you take risks with your music and put work with somebody and if it’s successful darkest hour’ meant for me. and doing everything on the line and it works, it makes we’ll work with him again. In an effort to stay all kinds of charity work with kids: last it all worthwhile. I couldn’t have written fresh, we always try something new. We year we brought a soup kitchen to Port- “the blackest Crow” 10 years ago because I thought it had worked and was successful au-Prince, haiti. the fans helped provide would have been closed-minded, and I don’t with Johnny [on the Thirteen album] and the funds. People think I’m this ogre, this think I had the skills. When I think about all that’s why we revisited that. are we going unapproachable guy, and nothing is further these years trying to write music and having to work with a new guy next time? Probably. from the truth. No matter what anybody says all this adversity, it tires you out. You’ve got about me, at the end of the day, I know a to ask yourself, “am I writing because I want and you chose the same lineup as well. thousand little kids are getting fed. so to? Or am I writing because I want others It’s like when you’re watching a you know what? tough. to like my music?” at some point people two-on-one breakaway in hockey. You see –Steve Rosen

‘When you take risks, put everything on the line and it works, it makes it all worthwhile.’

22

M mag 27.indd 22 6/13/13 7:38 AM