You can look at Dave Mustaine’s career in two ways: as a revenge tour or as a story of perpetual redemption. If Mustaine’s life, which is earmarked by iconic records like 1986’s Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying, 1990’s Rust in Peace and 1992’s Countdown to Extinction, is viewed through the post-Metallica-related revenge lens, then you might conclude that ol’ Dave has done pretty well for himself.
Metallica is thrash metal’s top dog, but Megadeth is one of the other three of that movement’s Big Four along with Anthrax and Slayer. That means something. Mustaine, a fire‑breathing, self-taught, V-wielding player, still endures at age 64 despite addiction issues, personality crises, a nasty arm injury, a cancer diagnosis and an ever-revolving band lineup. To that end, it’s perhaps more astute to focus on the “perpetual redemption” angle, right?
