Dave Mustaine On Metallica: “We’re Constantly Working On Improving Our Relationship”

Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine has opened up about his evolving relationship with former Metallica bandmates James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich. The trio’s decades-long history has been defined by tension, particularly after Mustaine’s ousting from Metallica in the early ’80s over behavioral and substance issues.

While moments of reconciliation have occurred over the years, conflicts have resurfaced, such as Mustaine’s high-profile royalty dispute over the 2016 “No Life ‘Til Leather” demo box set, which ultimately led Metallica to cancel the release. Reflecting on that period in 2018, Mustaine told RockHard:

“I’m not afraid of Lars Ulrich, and I’m not giving him my percentage… As far as the songs, James wrote all the lyrics on ‘Phantom Lord,’ I wrote every note of the music… Now, they took it in the past — everybody knows that — and the past is the past. But I could not willingly enter into a new agreement with these guys predicated on Lars getting credit for something he did not do.”

Now, with Megadeth’s final studio album set to drop this Friday, January 23rd, and the band entering their farewell tour cycle, Mustaine’s stance has softened. On covering Metallica’s “Ride the Lightning”—a track he co-wrote during his time in the band—he told Spin:

“It was to complete the circle and pay respect to my partners, James and Lars… I believe that James is an exceptional guitar player, and that Lars is an exceptional songwriter. I’ve always thought that… We sped it up just a teeny bit, and we made sure that we beefed up a couple of the parts.”

Speaking further about his current relationship with Hetfield and Ulrich, Mustaine shared:

“We’re constantly working on improving our relationship, me and James and Lars. I really do love those guys. That’s why we fought so much—it was that I missed them. And the idea of leaving the band, it was just hard to fathom… You try and put things into perspective as you get a little bit older. I think about where I am at in my journey: I’m on the backside of the mountain, and I want to make sure that every day counts.”

Despite years of personal and professional friction, Mustaine appears committed to closing the circle with Hetfield and Ulrich, emphasizing respect, shared history, and the value of moving forward.

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