Dave Mustaine

Dave Mustaine
Mustaine performing at Sonisphere 2011
Background information
Birth name	David Scott Mustaine
Born	(1961-09-13) September 13, 1961 (age 55) La Mesa, California, U.S.
Genres	Thrash metal, heavy metal
Occupation(s)	Musician, singer-songwriter, producer, actor, author, talent manager
Instruments	Guitar, vocals
Years active	1978–present
Labels	Loud, Combat, Capitol, Sanctuary, Roadrunner, Tradecraft
Associated acts	Megadeth, Metallica, MD.45, Red Lamb
Website	www.megadeth.com
Notable instruments
Various Dean VMNT Signature model Jackson King V Signature model ESP DV8 Signature model

External video

, 10:09, Loudwire

Part II, 9:59, Loudwire

David Scott "Dave" Mustaine (born September 13, 1961) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, actor and author. He is best known as the co-founder, guitarist, and lead singer of the American thrash metal band Megadeth, and the original lead guitarist of the American thrash metal band Metallica.

David Mustaine was born September 13, 1961 in La Mesa, California, to Emily (née David) and John Mustaine. His father was of French and Finnish descent and his mother was Jewish. He was brought up as a Jehovah's Witness.

Panic was Mustaine's first band. The lineup was Mike Leftwych on drums, Bob Evans on bass, Tom Quecke on rhythm guitar, Pat Voeks as the vocalist, with Mustaine as the lead guitarist. Both Mike Leftwych and the sound man were killed in a car crash after Panic's second show.

In 1981, Mustaine left Panic to join Metallica as the lead guitarist. Metallica's drummer Lars Ulrich had posted an ad in a local newspaper, The Recycler, looking for a lead guitarist. In his own words, Mustaine remembers his first meeting with James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich: "I was in the room warming up and I walked out and asked, 'Well, am I gonna audition or what?', and they said, 'No, you've got the job.' I couldn't believe how easy it had been and suggested that we get some beer to celebrate."

Mustaine's membership in Metallica ended before recording Kill 'Em All in 1983. Brian Slagel, owner of Metal Blade Records, recalls in an interview: "Dave was an incredibly talented guy but he also had an incredibly large problem with alcohol and drugs. He'd get wasted and become a real crazy person, a raging megalomaniac, and the other guys just couldn't deal with that after a while. I mean, they all drank of course, but Dave drank more … much more. I could see they were beginning to get fed up of seeing Dave drunk out of his mind all the time."