“I came upon the V, but I didn’t think much of it because of the weird shape. I didn’t think it was very playable”: Dave Mustaine first discovered the Flying V when he joined Metallica and wasn’t a fan – this is what changed his mind

Dave Mustaine from Megadeth performs on stage at the Tons of Rock festival on June 28, 2025 in Oslo, Norway.

Dave Mustaine may forever be associated with the iconic Flying V shape, with a roster of signature models under his belt that help cement his position as one of the main metal men of the Flying V.

Yet, in a 2023 Guitar World interview celebrating 40 headbanging years of Megadeth, Mustaine revealed why he initially didn't gravitate toward this particular model and design – and why, eventually, adopting it was a no-brainer.