Robert Pally: In 2002, you announced that you would disband Megadeth because of the injury of your arm. But now you didn't. How come?

Dave Mustaine: I did disband Megadeth!!

RP: For how long then?

Dave Mustaine: Where do you think I have been for the last 2 years?

RP: I don't know. You tell me?

Dave Mustaine: Wait a second. You just said that I did not disband Megadeth.

RP: No, I said that you announced that you would disband Megadeth.

Dave Mustaine: And I did. We broke up in March 2002. Right.

RP: What made you change your mind?

Dave Mustaine: I was going to do a Dave Mustaine record. And the publishing company said that I owed them another Megadeth record and I had to give that to them first.

RP: Is the new album a kind of a new start for Megadeth for you?

Dave Mustaine: I don't know. Have you heard it yet?

RP: Yes, I have. It's a kind of a progressive Metal album, at least to me.

Dave Mustaine: (Hmm) I don't know if its progressive Metal.

RP: Its definitely not a straight forward Metal album. Just think for example of the many breaks in the songs and the winding instrumental parts.

Dave Mustaine: I guess that's a matter of opinion for you. I even don't know what progressive Metal is. To me that's supposed to be like Dream Theater or something like that.

RP: In the Metal genre for me it sounds progressive. Of course one can discuss what is progressive or not.

Dave Mustaine: I don't wanna discuss what is progressive or not.

RP: To you where does the new album stand compared to the older ones?

Dave Mustaine: Guitar wise its similar to stuff around "Rust in Peace" and "Youthanasia". From the vocal point of you its close to stuff from "Cryptic writing" up to the present. I learned a lot when I did "Cryptic writing". Those 2 records contain my best vocal stuff. I used what I learned there on the new record. "The system has failed" is a bit of the old and a bit of the new. And I am pretty excited about all that.

RP: You said in the first place that you wanted to release a solo album and then you couldn't.

Dave Mustaine: Have a you heard the new record? That's it. That is what the Dave Mustaine record was going to be.

RP: So it would not sound any different?

Dave Mustaine: No, not at all. It would just say Dave Mustaine on it instead of Megadeth.

RP: I read the press sheet that "The system has failed" is a culmination of frustrating moments over the last 12 to 14 years. What was so frustrating then?

Dave Mustaine: I don't know from were that even came from. Somebody said that and that really pisses me off.

RP: So its not true then?

Dave Mustaine: I don't know what that means? "Culmination of frustrating moments". I never wrote that. I don't know where the hell that came from. I think what they maybe saying it could be about how the music was or some of the lyric and stuff like that. I don't understand that. Of course, I had a lot of frustrating moments

RP: Like everybody..

Dave Mustaine: If I had to put my frustrating moments onto one record it would be a triple live CD.

RP: When you write songs. What mood to you need to be in? Do you need frustrating moments (smiles)?

Dave Mustaine: No, that's what I am saying. I don't know where that came from. I can write songs in any mood. It depends on what I am doing and how I am feeling. More often than not I am feeling pretty good and I enjoy my life. I have a very, very, very, very cool life because the fans believe in me and they have been very loving to me.

RP: In what moment did you write then for example "Die Dead Enough"?

Dave Mustaine: I wrote that last summer in San Diego. I was asked to write a song for the movie "Tomb Raider II". I wrote that and then we turned it in. They liked the song and said here is the budget to record it. But it was not enough money. They only had $25000 to do it. You can not make a fucking song for a movie with this amount. You can't.

RP: Some people can but maybe on your level not.

Dave Mustaine: Well not for a movie, you can't. Not in America. You are maybe able to do it in Europe. You are maybe able to make a piece of shit song and get it in the movie. But if you are making a song that's supposed to stand up to the critics you need more. And who pays for the band? If I did it for free and just for the costs. Recording costs, studio costs and stuff like that. Then it could be done for $25,000. But then, what's the benefit for me going into the studio? And kicking my own ass to give somebody a song for free? It's a business!!

RP: From what years are the songs on "The System Has Failed"?

Dave Mustaine: The songs are from this year. The parts in the songs are made up of bits and pieces from 1990 to when I started to write the songs.

RP: Also in the press sheet it was written that you never got the chance to use these bits and pieces before. Why didn't use them earlier?

Dave Mustaine: Part of that is because whenever a record would be done it would be done. If you have a song its all written and you are working with another song and it needs one part. And that one part is in another song. You take a part out of a song. You got an entire song you sing is not used. Whenever I am in a dressing room or on stage I would always sound check because I don't practice. The only time I really practice is when I am playing. The only time I really write is when I am playing. If the only time when I am playing is when I am in the dressing room or on stage its probably a good idea for me to always be taping because it's the only chance I get when I write.

RP: Do you have a collection of riffs and stuff that use for songs then?

Dave Mustaine: Yes, exactly.

RP: Metal and Hardrock is very popular at the moment. Do you hear the influence of Megadeth in some of the current bands?

Dave Mustaine: I hear the influence of me in some of the new bands. Although it's kind of hard to say I hear Megadeth because the way I played in Metallica and the way I play in Megadeth is a little different but to me it sounds the same. And I hear that in a lot of guitar players.

RP: Can you name any guitar player?

Dave Mustaine: I don't know their names. I don't sit there and say: Hey, that sounds like me. Lets write down their name.

RP: Do you listen to current music and bands?

Dave Mustaine: Sometimes. But lately, I don't have so much time because I have been working a lot. Also for buying records. Actually, the last record I bought was something because I needed to check a word on it. It was an old Iron Maiden album Killers.

RP: What did you think about the Nu-Metal genre?

Dave Mustaine: In America? I am not familiar with it.

RP: For a couple of years to me the music is more about image then about music. People form bands to become famous. What was your reason to start music?

Dave Mustaine: I liked playing music and I liked the lifestyle that went along with it if you were in a band. Because it was kind of like you were in a gang. Every time you went into the other gang had to give up their girls. It was fun for me. After I got married that went away. It was really cool to experience traveling and meeting people, and playing in front of people around the world.

RP: What is the reason for you today to make music beside that you live off it?

Dave Mustaine: I still like it. You know it's not for the money. I am doing ok right now. If I got in trouble I would sell my house. I am wearing a t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans right now. I am not some stuck up rockstar.

RP: Together with bands like Exodus, Anthrax and Metallica you were kind of the forefathers of Metal and Nu-Metal. Did you ever think that this scene would get that big?

Dave Mustaine: I didn't know that it would become this big. And don't think anybody thought that it would become that big. Its almost a phenomenon.

RP: How is your relation to this band today?

Dave Mustaine: I saw Anthrax 2 days ago in Greece. We were hanging out in the hotel where I was doing my promotion. They had gone to do a festival. I haven't talked with the guys from Exodus for quite some time. And I haven't talked to the Metallica guys for a while either. I actually prefer that we don't talk about Metallica in this interview.

RP: OK

Dave Mustaine: Thanks, buddy

RP: Which is your favorite song on the new album?

Dave Mustaine: It depends on what kind of mood I am in. I like "Truth be Told". It's got some really heavy riff at the end and it reminds me a lot on "Five Magic's" from "Rust in Peace". And I also like "Die Dead Enough" because its one of the hookiest song on the record. There are a couple of other song that I melodically like "The Scorpion", "Something I am Not" and "Of Mice and Men". And there are the fall on / fall out Heavy Metal song "Back in the Day", "Blackmail the Universe" and "Kick the Chair". It really depends on what kind of song I wanna listen to. If I wanna listen to Metal, real Trash-Metal. I gotta make up my mind. Is it "Kick the Chair", is it "Back in the Day" or is it "Blackmail the Universe".

RP: How long did it take you to record the album?

Dave Mustaine: I think it took us 2 months to record the album but that's not really fair because it was over a 5 to 6 month span. The days we spent were probably 45 to 50 days.

RP: Were there a lot of first takes?

Dave Mustaine: No (smiles). Only a few. We really worked very hard on it. As much as I like to say my arm is 100% right now, it wasn't then.

RP: What are the doctors saying? You won't have any problems anymore?

Dave Mustaine: I am 100% healed.

RP: What did you do that healed that well?

Dave Mustaine: I prayed, I did physical therapy, I lifted weights, I took a bunch of vitamins and worked out a lot. And I rested.

RP: Will you be touring in Europe?

Dave Mustaine: Yes, I will be touring next summer, hopefully. Depending on how the public receives the album. If they want me to come over, I am coming over. If the record is successful how can I not come over?

RP: You have always been more successful in America then in Europe.

Dave Mustaine: Yes, to a degree. It's a shame.

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