Open Letter to Dave Mustaine

Dear Dave Mustaine,

Let me just start out by saying I have been a devoted fan of yours since the mid-80's. I have every album in rotation (except Risk), and although skeptical about your re-issues, Megadeth actually improved on already great albums, a feet other bands have failed miserably at. I interviewed you once over my 'journalistic career' and asked you zero questions about Metallica. I had some...we all have them, but out of my immense respect for you, I held back.

In the late 80's and early 90's, it was Megadeth that I turned to no matter what shit was going through my head...parents divorce, school fights, peer pressure, girls, etc. Dave Mustaine and Megadeth always were the answer.

Fast Forward to 2009, the release of Endgame. FANTASTIC album. I never wrote you off, but this album is amazing...great lyrics, song structure, riffs and solos. When guitar solo's seem to be a dying art among thrash bands, you showed why Megadeth is THE top band.

On to today...

I have been reading your recent posts lately and wondering if there isn't an underlying issue here that has nothing to do with your label, Roadrunner Records. Are you looking for an out because Mike Gitter, the guy that brought you to Roadrunner, was fired from Roadrunner Records? The timing is amazing. I hear it all the time; when A&R guys leave a label, the bands they signed want to leave as they no longer feel they have anyone on the inside pushing for them. This is very understandable.

In your recent forum post, you stated that the head of Roadrunner Records said "[he] came out and said it (Endgame) was the last record and that if we didn't re-sign with them for more records they were going to stop selling the record." I didn't know Roadrunner was that financially stable to take it's best and biggest artist and not put any effort into them, especially when another album is owed to them. To do that would be label suicide. I assume they have a financial stake in your album? I would also assume that at this point they put in more than they got in return. Roadrunner Records has always been a label that promotes bands throughout their tenure with the label.

A few albums ago with other label's [Sanctuary, Capitol], you were reaching the high teens on Billboard for the album's debut. Roadrunner has you back in the single digit Billboard debuts, with both albums they released. Is this turn-around due to them sitting back and letting the Megadeth brand carry the album? I turn on Sirius Radio and hear tracks from Endgame playing on occasion, peppered in between Hatebreed and Killswitch Engage (I'll save that for a later rant). Typically it is the record label that takes you to radio. I remember you making TV appearances around the release too. Not many bands and metal bands for that get on a TV show to promote their release. They pushed the video for "Headcrusher" pretty hard. You keep saying "I wish the album was handled differently", how do you wish it was handled? The only thing I have seen Roadrunner Record's mishandle was their Top 50 Metal Frontman List. If I saw this as Roadrunner Record's botching the release, I'd be the first to point it out in my ongoing Twitter attacks against the label.

I hate to bring this up, but I did hear reports from UFC at Staples Center this last week that you were drinking. Could this be the root of your recent rants? We all remember when you were having issues that drugs and alcohol were the root. If so, seek help before you self-destruct. You have given so much over the years to me, your fans, and music in general. Please go back and look at your recent rants when you are of clear head and mind and take in what you are saying. I miss the days of Led Zeppelin. They rarely did press and only spoke when they had something important to say. It help create that shroud of mystique around them that lasts to this day. One last thing; please don't put this in Gods hands, you'll be let down.

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Tags:  Megadeth, metal diva, dave mustaine, roadrunner records, rant

Jason Fisher    October 28, 2009