Dave Mustaine Reveals Rift with James Hetfield Before Megadeth’s Final Album
As Dave Mustaine prepares for the release of his final album with Megadeth, tensions between him and James Hetfield remain a subject of interest. The discord traces back to their time in Metallica, specifically regarding songwriting credits and contributions. Although Metallica has reissued several of their albums, their influential demo, “No Life ‘Til Leather,” has not seen a re-release.
Background of the Rift
Mustaine, who was a guitarist for Metallica before founding Megadeth, claims to have written substantial portions of several early Metallica tracks. In a recent interview, he highlighted his contributions to songs like “Phantom Lord,” “Metal Militia,” and “Jump In The Fire.” Mustaine emphasized that while he handled the music, Hetfield was responsible for the lyrics, suggesting a balanced split in writing credits.
Contentious Songwriting Credits
- Phantom Lord – Music by Mustaine
- Metal Militia – Music by Mustaine
- Jump In The Fire – Music by Mustaine, Lyrics by Hetfield
- The Mechanix – Music by Mustaine, Lyrics by Hetfield
Mustaine revealed that the songwriting credits became a significant issue when he departed from Metallica. He felt that Hetfield and Lars Ulrich disproportionately shared the earnings from songs he had contributed to significantly.
Failed Collaboration on “No Life ‘Til Leather”
Recently, Hetfield reached out to Mustaine regarding the potential reissue of “No Life ‘Til Leather.” Mustaine was open to helping clarify the ownership of the publishing rights. However, discussions turned sour when their perspectives on past events clashed.
Mustaine recalls, “James said they didn’t recall the events in the same way I did.” He acknowledged the complexity of their situation, stating, “There are three perspectives: yours, mine, and the truth.” This disagreement effectively ended their dialogue.
Looking Toward the Future
As the world anticipates Megadeth’s final album, Mustaine continues to navigate the lingering disputes from his past. He remains committed to sharing his story, including insights on the dynamic with various guitarists in Megadeth throughout the years, through interviews with platforms like Guitar World.
