Megadeth founder, vocalist and guitarist Dave Mustaine has made known over the years his distaste for the nü-metal movement. Back in 2022, the outspoken multi-platinum thrash metal pillar went so far as to as to state the following of the genre, which has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years:
“I can’t tell you how much we would laugh about the bands that we were forced to take out on tour with us, especially during the nu-metal period that we went through years ago. You know, all these bands that wouldn’t play solos and stuff.”
Nü-metal pioneers Korn are thought to be one of the bands who were met with derision from Mustaine, having had a difficult time touring together back in 1995. Recalling that experience back in 2011 with ExploreMusic, Korn vocalist Jonathan Davis stated:
“It was hard touring with Megadeth because at that time Dave Mustaine was really mean and just had attitude. It was scary being on there. I was drinking at the time and I got him drinking again, which I shouldn’t have done, but that was Dave Mustaine and I was this young, little kid, and I’m like, ‘That’s Dave Mustaine and he wants to drink. I’ll give him a drink.’
I respected him and everything, but I kind of got my feelings hurt, because he was mean at times. I don’t have any ill will towards the guy now, ’cause you know how it is — now you’re older and you’re wiser — but at the time it was really scary. And plus, we were pissed off at getting all these metal tours.”
In a recent interview with LifeMinute conducted alongside members of his family, the Mustaine patriarch was asked what he thinks music does for people. His response found him taking another shot at the aforementioned genre, here’s what he had to say [transcribed by Blabbermouth.net]:
“It depends. If you believe all of the colloquies about music, there’s all kinds of sayings and stuff. The one that comes to mind first with your question is music soothes the savage beast. And I don’t know who coined that phrase, but it’s pretty accurate, depending on the type of music. Now, if you play modern metal with the guys that can’t sing and they do the screaming bit, that’s really understandable to me, ’cause they can’t sing and they’re making the best of what they can do.
There was a period in 2000 where we had these bands called — I think it was ‘nü-metal’, and they didn’t do any solos. Well, why didn’t they do any solos? They couldn’t do solos. And thank God that genre went away. People started to learn how to do solos. I would say, if you’re in a ‘nü-metal’ band, you probably would be challenged even playing ‘Johnny B. Goode‘ [1958 rock and roll classic by Chuck Berry]. So I’m glad that went away.”
When asked if there’s any new artists he enjoyed, he replied:
“Well, I like some of the older music because new stuff — I mean, all the good chords are taken. And if you think back when I started 40 years ago, the music playing field didn’t have millions of kids sitting at home doing guitar riffs into their computer and then posting it online. There’s good and bad with everything, and when people do things for their own art, that’s great. But when you start seeing these manufactured records that bandmembers didn’t play on, that’s fraud. So, I like bands that really play what they do.
One of my favorite guitar players is one of the simplest guys in the world — it’s the guy from Pink Floyd, David Gilmour. He could do more with one note than some of the guys playing nowadays can do with 12. And it’s just a matter of feeling — feeling. The guitar, you’re touching it, so it’s an extension of your spirit, your soul, and how you make it sound. If it’s like [makes farting noise], that kind of stuff, well, you probably haven’t bonded with the instrument yet.
Playing a violin — violin has gotta be one of the most dreadful sounds ever when you’re learning it, because the sound of it and rosin the bow and all that stuff is almost as bad as having someone practice on a wind instrument, like a sax or a clarinet.”
There is of course at least some irony in Mustaine‘s comments, given his band’s time spent touring with nü-metal stars Mudvayne last year.
