Megadeth 1987 David Ellefson, Chuck Behler, Jeff Young and Dave Mustaine at the Music File Photos 1980s in Hollywood. (Photo by Chris Walter)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
1987
Dave Mustaine of Megadeth (Photo by Jim Steinfeldt)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
1987
525 S Racine Ave, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
Dave Mustaine of Megadeth performs onstage at the UIC Pavilion (University of Illinois - Chicago) in Chicago, Illinois, February 12, 1987. (Photo by Paul Natkin)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
1987
Detroit, MI 48226, United States
(L-R) Bassist and co-founder David Ellefson, guitarist Chris Poland, drummer Gar Samuelson, and co-founder, lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter Dave Mustaine, all of the heavy metal band Megadeth, pose backstage at the Joe Louis Arena during the band's "Waking Up Dead Tour" on February 13, 1987, in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Ross Marino)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
1987
Detroit, MI 48226, United States
American co-founder, lead vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter of the American heavy metal band Megadeth, Dave Mustaine, poses backstage at the Joe Louis Arena during the band's "Waking Up Dead Tour" on February 13, 1987, in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Ross Marino)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
1988
525 S Racine Ave, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
Dave Mustaine of Megadeth at the UIC Pavilion (University of Illinois - Chicago) in Chicago, Illinois, February 25, 1988. (Photo by Paul Natkin)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
1988
Dave Mustaine of Megadeth
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
1990
Willem de Zwijgerlaan 2, 2316 GB Leiden, Netherlands
Dave Mustaine, Megadeth, performing on stage, Groenoordhal, Leiden, Netherlands, 30th September 1990. (Photo by Niels van Iperen)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
1990
London, United Kingdom
Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, portrait, London, United Kingdom, 1990. (Photo by Martyn Goodacre)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
1991
5855 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045, United States
Musicians Gene Simmons of Kiss and Dave Mustaine attending "Foundation Awards" on October 3, 1991 at the Airport Marriott Hotel in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ron Galella)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
1992
45 Queen Caroline St, Hammersmith, London W6 9QH, United Kingdom
Dave Mustaine of Megadeth performing on stage at Hammersmith Odeon, London, 30 September 1992. (Photo by Ian Dickson)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
1995
211 Stockwell Rd, Ferndale, London SW9 9SL, United Kingdom
American guitarist and singer Dave Mustaine and drummer Nick Menza perform live on stage with heavy metal group Megadeth at Brixton Academy in London on 20th March 1995. (Photo by Brian Rasic)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
2000
Concord, Massachusetts, United States
Lead singer Dave Mustaine of Megadeth performs with Motley Crue on the "Maximum Rock Tour" June 26, 2000 in Concord, Massachusetts. (Photo by Don Zulaica)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
2016
501 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203, United States
Electra Mustaine, Dave Mustaine, and Pamela Anne Casselberry attend the 50th annual CMA Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 2, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Michael Loccisano)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
2016
1221 6th Ave, New York, NY 10020, United States
Musician Dave Mustaine visits at SiriusXM Studio on December 14, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Ben Gabbe)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
2016
Donington Park, Castle Donington, Derby DE74 2RP, United Kingdom
Dave Mustaine of Megadeth performs on the main stage at the Download Festival at Donington Park on June 11, 2016 in Donington, England. (Photo by Neil Lupin)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
2016
Av. Eduardo Madero 470, C1106 CABA, Argentina
Dave Mustaine and Dirke Verveuren perform during Megadeth concert as part of the Dystopia World Tour at Luna Park on August 22, 2016 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by Santiago Bluguermann)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
2016
2575 Glen Helen Pkwy, San Bernardino, CA 92407, United States
Dave Mustaine of Megadeath performs at Ozzfest at the Manuel Amphitheater on September 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
2017
800 W Olympic Blvd a335, Los Angeles, CA 90015, United States
Dirk Verbeuren, David Ellefson, Dave Mustaine, and Kiko Loureiro of the band Megadeth attend the Loudwire Music Awards at The Novo by Microsoft on October 24, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harmony Gerber)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
2017
Walton-on-Trent, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom
Guitarist and vocalist Dave Mustaine of American thrash metal group Megadeth performing live on stage at Bloodstock Open Air Festival in Derbyshire, on August 13, 2017. (Photo by Will Ireland)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
2017
800 W Olympic Blvd a335, Los Angeles, CA 90015, United States
Dave Mustaine of the Metal Band Megadeth attends the Loudwire Music Awards at The Novo by Microsoft on October 24, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Paul Archuleta)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
2017
54 Arundel Dr, Spondon, Derby DE21 7QW, United Kingdom
(L-R) Dirk Verbeuren, Dave Mustaine, David Ellefson and Kiko Loureiro of American thrash metal group Megadeth photographed backstage after a live performance at Bloodstock Open Air Festival in Derbyshire, on August 13, 2017. (Photo by Will Ireland)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
2017
Catton Hall, Catton Park, Walton-on-Trent DE12 8LN, United Kingdom
Dave Mustaine of Megadeth performing live on stage on day 3 at Bloodstock Festival at Catton Hall on August 13, 2017 in Burton Upon Trent, England. (Photo by Katja Ogrin)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
2017
800 W Katella Ave, Anaheim, CA 92802, United States
Musician Dave Mustaine attends the NAMM Show 2017 at Anaheim Convention Center on January 22, 2017 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
2017
1111 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90015, United States
L-R) Recording artists Dirk Verbeuren, David Ellefson, Dave Mustaine, and Kiko Loureiro of Megadeth pose in the press room at the 59th Grammy Awards at Staples Center on February 12, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
2018
4 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, NY 10001, United States
Musician Dave Mustaine (L) and Pamela Anne Casselberry attend the Grammy Gift Lounge during the 60th Annual Grammy Awards at Madison Square Garden on January 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
2018
Peninsula Square, Greenwich Peninsula, London SE10 0DX, United Kingdom
David Ellefson and Dave Mustaine of Megadeth perform during the Stone Free Festival at The O2 Arena on June 16, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Chiaki Nozu)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
2018
Peninsula Square, Greenwich Peninsula, London SE10 0DX, United Kingdom
Dave Mustaine of Megadeth performs during the Stone Free Festival at The O2 Arena on June 16, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Chiaki Nozu)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
2018
4 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, NY 10001, United States
Musician Dave Mustaine attends the GRAMMY Gift Lounge during the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Madison Square Garden on January 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
2018
4 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, NY 10001, United States
Musician Dave Mustaine attends the Grammy Gift Lounge during the 60th Annual Grammy Awards at Madison Square Garden on January 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
Dave Mustaine, lead singer of Megadeth, performing. (Photo by Kevin Winter)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
Lead singer of Megadeth, Dave Mustaine. (Photo by Time Life Pictures)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
Dave Mustaine performing live on stage (Photo by Mick Hutson)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
Photo of Dave Mustaine and Megadeth; Dave Mustaine performing live on stage (Photo by Mick Hutson)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
Photo of Marty Friedman and Dave Mustaine and Megadeth; L-R: Dave Mustaine, Marty Friedman performing live on stage (Photo by Mick Hutson)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
Long Beach, California, United States
Roger McDowell and Dave Mustaine during MTV's 4th Annual Rock 'n Jock Softball in Long Beach, California, United States. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
Portrait session with guitarists Dave Mustaine of Megadeath, right, Kerry King (Slayer), Scott Ian (Anthrax), Jeff Hanneman (Slayer). Hanneman was the founding member and lead guitarist for the thrash metal band Slayer. (Photo by Ann Summa)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
10913 Vanowen St, North Hollywood, CA 91605, United States
George Lynch, Tom Arraya - Slayer, Dave Mustaine at ESP guitars (Photo by Annamaria DiSanto)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
Mark-Paul Gosselaar, David Duchovny and Dave Mustaine (foreground) (Photo by Jeff Kravitz)
Gallery of Dave Mustaine
Photo of Dave Mustaine
Achievements
Membership
Awards
Kerrang! Awards
1999
6 Bryanston St, Marylebone, London W1H 7AN, United Kingdom
Dave Mustaine (right) of the band Megadeath and Disc Jockey (DJ) Tommy Vance at the Kerrang music awards ceremony at the Cumberland Hotel in London where Mustaine won the Classic Songwriter award. (Photo by Neil Munns)
Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards
2015
Peninsula Square, Greenwich Peninsula, London SE10 0DX, United Kingdom
Dave Mustaine of Megadeth wins Golden God Award at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods awards on June 15, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Chiaki Nozu)
Grammy Awards
2017
1111 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90015, United States
(L-R) Recording artists Dirk Verbeuren, David Ellefson, Dave Mustaine, and Kiko Loureiro of Megadeth pose in the press room at the 59th Grammy Awards at Staples Center on February 12, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris)
525 S Racine Ave, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
Dave Mustaine of Megadeth performs onstage at the UIC Pavilion (University of Illinois - Chicago) in Chicago, Illinois, February 12, 1987. (Photo by Paul Natkin)
(L-R) Bassist and co-founder David Ellefson, guitarist Chris Poland, drummer Gar Samuelson, and co-founder, lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter Dave Mustaine, all of the heavy metal band Megadeth, pose backstage at the Joe Louis Arena during the band's "Waking Up Dead Tour" on February 13, 1987, in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Ross Marino)
American co-founder, lead vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter of the American heavy metal band Megadeth, Dave Mustaine, poses backstage at the Joe Louis Arena during the band's "Waking Up Dead Tour" on February 13, 1987, in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Ross Marino)
5855 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045, United States
Musicians Gene Simmons of Kiss and Dave Mustaine attending "Foundation Awards" on October 3, 1991 at the Airport Marriott Hotel in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ron Galella)
211 Stockwell Rd, Ferndale, London SW9 9SL, United Kingdom
American guitarist and singer Dave Mustaine and drummer Nick Menza perform live on stage with heavy metal group Megadeth at Brixton Academy in London on 20th March 1995. (Photo by Brian Rasic)
6 Bryanston St, Marylebone, London W1H 7AN, United Kingdom
Dave Mustaine (right) of the band Megadeath and Disc Jockey (DJ) Tommy Vance at the Kerrang music awards ceremony at the Cumberland Hotel in London where Mustaine won the Classic Songwriter award. (Photo by Neil Munns)
Lead singer Dave Mustaine of Megadeth performs with Motley Crue on the "Maximum Rock Tour" June 26, 2000 in Concord, Massachusetts. (Photo by Don Zulaica)
Electra Mustaine, Dave Mustaine, and Pamela Anne Casselberry attend the 50th annual CMA Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 2, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Michael Loccisano)
Donington Park, Castle Donington, Derby DE74 2RP, United Kingdom
Dave Mustaine of Megadeth performs on the main stage at the Download Festival at Donington Park on June 11, 2016 in Donington, England. (Photo by Neil Lupin)
Dave Mustaine and Dirke Verveuren perform during Megadeth concert as part of the Dystopia World Tour at Luna Park on August 22, 2016 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by Santiago Bluguermann)
1111 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90015, United States
(L-R) Recording artists Dirk Verbeuren, David Ellefson, Dave Mustaine, and Kiko Loureiro of Megadeth pose in the press room at the 59th Grammy Awards at Staples Center on February 12, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris)
800 W Olympic Blvd a335, Los Angeles, CA 90015, United States
Dirk Verbeuren, David Ellefson, Dave Mustaine, and Kiko Loureiro of the band Megadeth attend the Loudwire Music Awards at The Novo by Microsoft on October 24, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harmony Gerber)
Walton-on-Trent, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom
Guitarist and vocalist Dave Mustaine of American thrash metal group Megadeth performing live on stage at Bloodstock Open Air Festival in Derbyshire, on August 13, 2017. (Photo by Will Ireland)
800 W Olympic Blvd a335, Los Angeles, CA 90015, United States
Dave Mustaine of the Metal Band Megadeth attends the Loudwire Music Awards at The Novo by Microsoft on October 24, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Paul Archuleta)
54 Arundel Dr, Spondon, Derby DE21 7QW, United Kingdom
(L-R) Dirk Verbeuren, Dave Mustaine, David Ellefson and Kiko Loureiro of American thrash metal group Megadeth photographed backstage after a live performance at Bloodstock Open Air Festival in Derbyshire, on August 13, 2017. (Photo by Will Ireland)
Catton Hall, Catton Park, Walton-on-Trent DE12 8LN, United Kingdom
Dave Mustaine of Megadeth performing live on stage on day 3 at Bloodstock Festival at Catton Hall on August 13, 2017 in Burton Upon Trent, England. (Photo by Katja Ogrin)
1111 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90015, United States
L-R) Recording artists Dirk Verbeuren, David Ellefson, Dave Mustaine, and Kiko Loureiro of Megadeth pose in the press room at the 59th Grammy Awards at Staples Center on February 12, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris)
4 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, NY 10001, United States
Musician Dave Mustaine (L) and Pamela Anne Casselberry attend the Grammy Gift Lounge during the 60th Annual Grammy Awards at Madison Square Garden on January 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim)
Peninsula Square, Greenwich Peninsula, London SE10 0DX, United Kingdom
David Ellefson and Dave Mustaine of Megadeth perform during the Stone Free Festival at The O2 Arena on June 16, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Chiaki Nozu)
4 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, NY 10001, United States
Musician Dave Mustaine attends the GRAMMY Gift Lounge during the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Madison Square Garden on January 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim)
4 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, NY 10001, United States
Musician Dave Mustaine attends the Grammy Gift Lounge during the 60th Annual Grammy Awards at Madison Square Garden on January 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim)
Portrait session with guitarists Dave Mustaine of Megadeath, right, Kerry King (Slayer), Scott Ian (Anthrax), Jeff Hanneman (Slayer). Hanneman was the founding member and lead guitarist for the thrash metal band Slayer. (Photo by Ann Summa)
(Founding member, singer, and lead guitarist of Metallica ...)
Founding member, singer, and lead guitarist of Metallica and Megadeath shares the ultimate, unvarnished story behind his involvement in the rise of two of the world’s most influential heavy metal bands in history. Dave Mustaine is the first to admit that he's bottomed out a few times in his dark and twisted speed metal version of a Dickensian life. From his soul-crushing professional and artistic setbacks to his battle with addiction, Mustaine has hit rock bottom on multiple occasions.
Dave Mustaine is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. As the central figure of the group Megadeth and a former Metallica lead guitarist and co-songwriter, he is one of a handful of people considered to have pioneered thrash metal and speed metal. He also published his autobiography "Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir."
Background
Ethnicity:
David's mother was of German drop while his father had a blend of French, Canadian, Irish and Finnish family.
Dave, born David Scott Mustaine, was born on September 13, 1961. He is the son of John and Emily Mustaine. Along with three sisters they lived in La Mesa, California. Emily was a housewife and John was an accountant. John was an abusive alcoholic. Not long after Dave's Birth, Emily left John. It was not easy to leave. Dave, his mother, and three sisters moved from house to house and city to city to avoid John.
Education
Dave attended Marina High School. On several occasions however he was suspended or expelled from both for aggressive behavior. By the age of 17, he was peddling drugs to pay for his apartment rent. One of his clients paid for the drugs with albums by AC/DC, Motorhead, and Judas Priest which kindled his appetite for heavy metal music.
As a youngster, Dave Mustaine joined his first genuine band Panic during the 1970s as the lead guitarist. The band later self-destructed in 1981 after the death of two of its members in a car crash after the band's first show.
In 1981 Dave joined Metallica, which was comprised of drummer Lars Ulrich and vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield as a lead guitarist. He co-wrote songs for Metallica, which appeared on "Kill Em All and Rode the Lightning." After working two years with Metallica, he was fired from the job due to drug abuse, alcoholism, and irresponsible behavior toward others. Mustaine then came back to live with his mom in California where he set aside up enough cash to migrate to Hollywood.
After moving to California, he secured his first real job as a telemarketer. He quit it after he had made enough money to move to an apartment in Hollywood and started the short-lived band, Fallen Angels which later transformed into the more well known present-day Megadeth (based on the name of a song he wrote). Megadeth was initially comprised of Mustaine, bassist David Ellefson, guitarist Greg Handevidt and drummer Dijon Carruthers. This line-up has changed a few times throughout the years.
Early in 1985, the band was given $8,000 by Combat Records to record and produce their debut album. However, after spending half of the album's budget on drugs, alcohol, and food the band was forced to fire their original producer and produce the album themselves. Megadeth released their first album, 'Killing is My Business... and Business is Good in 1985. They also made tours throughout Canada and the United States the same year.
Megadeth released their first album, 'Killing is My Business... and Business is Good in 1985. They also made tours of the United States and Canada the same year. Megadeth released their second album, 'Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?' in 1986. Their songs proved to be a huge excess. The title track and 'Wake up Dead' became a huge hit. Megadeth's first tour began in England in 1987.
Megadeth released their third album, 'So Far, So Good... So What!' in 1988, which featured hits like 'In My Darkest Hour,' 'Hook in Mouth,' and 'Anarchy in the UK.' Later that year, Mustaine produced the album, 'Refuge Denied' for the band, 'Sanctuary.'
Throughout the 1990s Dave fronted Megadeth and the band became increasingly popular and well respected in heavy metal circles. In addition, Mustaine covered the 1992 Democratic National Convention for MTV, worked on the Clash of the Titans Tour, closed the Woodstock '99 music festival, and fired Marty Friedman from the band.
They began the new millennium with 'Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years,' a 'best of' collection, produced by Capitol Records. A crisis came in 2002 when he suffered a bout of radial neuropathy caused by falling asleep with his left arm over the back of a chair. This left Dave with a largely paralyzed left hand and he was unable to play the guitar for over four months and was only able to play again following months of intense daily therapy. The band temporarily disbanded in 2002.
The period of rest gave Dave time to think and to explore. His personal life was turned upside down and it was during this period of self-analysis that he became a Christian. Dave made a full recovery, contrary to the Doctor's expectations, and Megadeth was reformed, but with different values.
In 2003, Megadeth was the headline act at a show in Greece. The performance included two acts that Dave could no longer play alongside following his Christian conversion. When he discovered that the bands 'Rotting Christ' and 'Dissection' were due to play, he mentioned his intention to withdraw from the show, at least on the nights these bands were performing. Dave felt he could not perform alongside groups who were satanic or blasphemous towards Jesus Christ. In the end, the concert organizers took these two bands out and asked Megadeth to play, as they were the headline act. Dave was a little embarrassed as he did not want to stop the others from playing, he didn't want to be on the same stage on the same night.
The band reunited without bassist Ellefson in 2004. Megadeth has hosted its own music festival, Gigantour several times since July 2005.
In 2010, Megadeth embarked on a 'Rust In Peace' 20th Anniversary tour, played with The Big Four (Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax). Also Dave released his autobiography, "Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir."
In 2011, Mustaine played five songs with Metallica at the Fillmore Theater as a part of the band's 30-year anniversary celebration.
Megadeth got their first Grammy Award in 2017 for 'Best Metal Performance' for their fifteenth studio album 'Dystopia' (2016). With a great many records sold everywhere throughout the world, Megadeth is as of now viewed as one of the pioneers of the whip metal subgenre and Dave Mustaine is the main individual from the band to have included in the entirety of the band’s account since origin.
Mustaine was raised as a Jehovah's Witness. In 2002 Megadeth's Dave Mustaine became a born-again Christian, and for a time refused to tour with bands he deemed "satanic." "When I got saved there were certain things I didn't know," he writes in his new memoir Mustaine. "And it's like that old saying when you're cooking: 'When it doubt, leave it out.'" He's since softened that stance and has recently toured with Slayer. "I spent a lot of time as a new Christian trying to get comfortable in my new skin," Mustaine writes in his book. "There were times when it felt smooth and right; there were times when it felt like I was suffocating. It wasn't until the summer of 2005 that I began to sense harmony between my spiritual and artistic lives."
Politics
According to Dave, he and other public figures have fallen victim to so-called negative partisanship, in which people identify as being against the opposing political party, and vocalize their beliefs through anger or loathing.
Mustaine has consistently denied that he is a Republican, telling Artisan News in a 2012 interview: "I'm an independent, not a Republican - I've never been a Republican. I've always said that. I don't belong to any party - I'm non-partisan. And for me, the sad thing is, instead of voting for the best man, I have to vote for the lesser of two evils."
Four years earlier, Mustaine made headlines when he voiced his support for ultraconservative Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum. He explained at the time that the Pennsylvania politician looked "like he could be a really cool president... kind of like a JFK kind of guy." That same year, he drew ire on social media when he suggested onstage at a concert in Singapore that President Obama was behind the mass shootings in Aurora and at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin.
Mustaine later blamed media outlets for taking his statements out of context, explaining that he never said he officially "endorsed" Santorum. As for the Singapore concert, he claimed to have been repeating the theories of Larry Pratt, a pro-gun activist who runs the organization Gun Owners Of America.
In October 2011, as Occupy Wall Street protests were raging across the country, Mustaine railed against what he saw as the president's inappropriate support for the populist movement, calling Obama the most divisive president we've ever had. "I've never, in my 50 years of being alive, listened to an American president try and turn one class of people against another class of people," he said. "I've never - never - heard a president say, 'Go down and join the protesters down at Wall Street,' knowing that there are Nazis down there, knowing that there are people down there who are trust-fund babies, that are super, super-wealthy and they're going down there and pretending that they really care; they just wanna be part of the 'movement.'"
Also in 2012, Mustaine revealed his "birther" opinions on a talk show, saying he doubted President Obama was born in the United States. He told radio host Alex Jones: "With all of the proof about his birth certificate being fake... And you see the signs in Kenya that say 'the birthplace of Barack Obama.' Hello?! C'mon, guys. How stupid are we right now?"
In 2016 Mustaine refused to say if he was going to vote for Donald Trump in that year's United States presidential election but called the billionaire real estate mogul "a very successful businessman." He also said that he wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton.
Views
Dave Mustaine was interviewed on Seattle Sounds when he was asked if he supports gay marriage he said: "Well since I'm not gay, the answer to that would be no." Dave was then questioned if he would support legislation to make marriage between a man and another man legal. He replied, "I'm Christian. The answer to that would be no."
Mustaine revisited his comments about gay marriage during a brand new interview with the New Jersey radio station WSOU. Recalling the original comments which got him in hot water with the gay community, Dave said: "I was up in Seattle. I was talking on talk radio. It wasn't even a music show. And the [radio host] goes, 'What do you think about gay rights?' And I said, 'Buddy, I'm a heterosexual. I'm a happily married man. This doesn't really apply to me. So I don't really know. Ask me another question.' And the guy says, 'So you're not for gay rights.' And I said, 'I never said that. I just said that I'm a happily married, straight man.' And the guy goes, 'So, are you against gay people?' And I said, 'I'm against Dave being gay.' And that was all I said. And now the gay community thinks I am a gay hater."
Addressing the fact that some people think his faith prevents him from supporting the legalization of gay marriage, Mustaine said: "I'm a Christian, so for me, I have my beliefs, but I never tell people what to do. And I would never tell anybody who to love or who not to love. And by the standards of what people think Christians are, I wouldn't be a Christian, because Christians are supposed to be against abortion. And if my daughter was raped or her life was at stake because of a disease or delivery or something like that, I would be for protecting the life of the mother. So I've got all these conflicting things."
Quotations:
"Pop and metal aren't friends. Each knows exactly where the other lives and tries to keep its distance. They choose different streets, neighborhoods, zip codes."
"All bands eventually break up because of one or more of the four P's: power, property, prestige, pussy."
"It wasn't enough for Megadeth to do well; I wanted Metallica to fail."
"I went there anyway-knowingly, willingly-because I wanted a number one hit. I wanted what Metallica had, even if it meant selling a piece of my soul to the devil."
"Moving on is a simple thing, what it leaves behind is hard."
"Let's put it this way: I did not get in trouble every time I drank, but every time I got in trouble, I’d been drinking."
"It's pretty simple for me, really. I want to be able to carry a gun; listen to whatever music I like; eat, drink and be merry; and not hurt anyone else (the exception, obviously, being self-defense). It's the abbreviated Sermon on the Mount: treat other people the way you want to be treated."
Personality
Dave is known for his exceptional musical gifts. His skills in rhythm, as well as lead guitar and vocals, are astounding. Although Megadeth has never been quite as popular a heavy metal act as Metallica, Mustaine still prides himself on his music.
He is also described as a disarmingly patient, judiciously curious and brilliantly sarcastic.
Dave Mustaine is a black belt in Taekwondo and Ukidokan karate.
The frontman has refused to play the 1986 song "The Conjuring" live. Claiming to have practiced black magic as a teen, Mustaine said the craft was the basis for the crushing 'Peace Sell' track. However, in a recent interview with "The Morning Blaze With Gus & Izzy" on Fresno's 105.1 The Blaze, Mustaine said he is reconsidering his decision. "As I grow, I evolve in my outlook and my personal journey here, being a positive person and being a positive influence on other people's lives. So as long as it doesn't hurt anybody, I wouldn't mind doing the song again, 'cause it is a good song," he explained.
Physical Characteristics:
Dave was diagnosed with throat cancer in May 2019. He underwent 51 radiation treatments and nine chemotherapy sessions before announcing he was cancer-free in January 2020.
Quotes from others about the person
Well, you know, the whole thing with Dave is I've never, ever, ever had a problem with Dave. I've always seen Dave as someone who was just really, really sad, really angry, really frustrated about his situation with Metallica, and he never could let that go. And, you know, I've always shown a lot of empathy for him, understanding that he was just pissed off. It's the equivalent of the woman of your life leaving you." - Kirk Hammett
Interests
Playing the quitar, golf
Politicians
Abraham Lincoln
Artists
Salvador Dali
Sport & Clubs
Taekwondo
Athletes
Bruce Lee
Music & Bands
Heavy metal, AC/DC, Motorhead, Judas Priest
Connections
Dave married Pamela Anne Casselberry in 1990. Their first child, Justis David Mustaine, was born on February 11, 1992. Justis also a guitarist and has performed in many theatres. Electra Nicole Mustaine is their second child, born on January 28, 1998, also a musician. The couple parted their ways twice but reconciled. Dave's wife is running a coffee business.