Megadeth is still full of life
By Kevin C. Johnson
POST-DISPATCH POP MUSIC CRITIC
09/16/2007
This has turned into a megayear for Megadeth.
The veteran thrash-metal band is enjoying one of its busiest periods. "Warchest," slated for release Oct. 2, is an expansive four-CD and DVD box set with more than six hours of content, including unreleased tracks and digitally remastered career-defining tracks.
Newly out is "That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires," a companion to a live DVD released earlier this year, with three cuts ??? "Skin O' My Teeth," "Die Dead Enough" and "Angry Again" ??? that were not included on the DVD. And the band is still promoting its latest studio CD, "United Abominations."
The band's resurgence is in full swing.
"There's lots of reasons why bands become popular again, why all of a sudden it seems like things are clicking again," says Dave Mustaine, guitarist, singer and songwriter.
"We went into an experimental phase for a while, playing music I think was great but wasn't thrash metal. We experienced growing pains, and now we're coming full circle and showing a newfound interest with returning back to form."
Q: How do you interpret the success of "United Abominations"?
A: American audiences can take pleasure when someone successful falls, but if you're the kind of person that can admit when you do something wrong, not that I did anything terrible, we as a nation can be forgiving. They like comeback stories.
Q: What was the experience in Buenos Aires?
A: Going down to that country was so fantastic. The people there are passionate about music. They can't say my name ??? they say Mu-staine. But I'm glad to even hear it.
Q: After you fell out with Metallica and started Megadeth, did you think it would have this longevity?
A: I was so obsessed with revenge I didn't think about stuff like that. But then I realized I was missing all the good stuff along the way while I was going through my career, like the Wicked Witch in Oz. I've got beautiful family and friends who love me, and I was successful. What more do you want?
Q: What is the quintessential Megadeth tune on "Warchest"?
A: There's not really one song that embodies the whole band, because there's been so many different time periods. So many people have been a part of this project, and I love some of them, and some of them I can't stand to be in the same room with.
Q: What's the new tour like?
A: We don't have a lot of extra stuff that goes on with the smaller shows. It's more about being there, one-on-one with the fans, and not trying to act like we're doing them a favor by showing up.
Q: What's the state of heavy metal today?
A: People are playing guitar solos again. It was easy to tell why they weren't before. ??_ They picked up a guitar and learned three chords on the back of a box of Cheerios. I'm happy to see guitar players making a comeback and not taking a back seat to self-deprecating, loathsome front men. I think metal is making a comeback as a whole. I'm sitting on a successful record, and it's rare you get a second chance at anything.
??
