Dave Mustaine

For the Indonesian footballer, see Dave Mustaine (footballer).

Dave Mustaine
Mustaine with Megadeth at Hellfest 2022
Mustaine with Megadeth at Hellfest 2022
Background information
Birth nameDavid Scott Mustaine
Born (1961-09-13) September 13, 1961 (age 63)
La Mesa, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • producer
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • vocals
Years active1978–present
Member ofMegadeth
Formerly of
Websitemegadeth.com

David Scott Mustaine (born September 13, 1961) is an American musician. He is best known as the co-founder, frontman, primary songwriter and sole consistent member of the thrash metal band Megadeth and for his time as the lead guitarist of Metallica.[1] Mustaine has released sixteen studio albums with Megadeth, sold over 38 million records worldwide, with six albums platinum-certified, and won a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2017 at the 59th Grammy Awards, for the title track of their fifteenth studio album, Dystopia.[2]

Prior to forming Megadeth, Mustaine was the lead guitarist of Metallica but did not appear on any albums. He was, however, credited as a writer on four songs from Kill 'Em All and two songs from Ride the Lightning. Mustaine was born into a family of Jehovah's Witnesses.[3] He now identifies as a born-again Christian.[4][5] Mustaine has been to rehab throughout his life, fighting alcohol and drug problems,[6][7] and briefly battled throat cancer in 2019.[8] Mustaine has been married to Pamela Anne Casselberry since 1991, with whom he has two children, Electra and Justis Mustaine.[9]

In a popular vote on the internet forum of Ultimate Guitar, Mustaine was ranked third in the top 25 rhythm guitarists of all time,[10] first in Joel McIver's book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists,[11] tenth in Loudwire's "66 Best Hard Rock + Metal Guitarists of All Time",[12] and third in their "10 Greatest Rhythm Guitarists in Rock + Metal".[13]

  1. ^ "Megadeth History confirms the founders of Megadeth". Megadeth. 2014. Archived from the original on September 6, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  2. ^ Peacock, Tim (December 15, 2021). "Gibson Team With Megadeth's Dave Mustaine For New Guitar Collection". UDiscoverMusic. Archived from the original on June 1, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  3. ^ Jodi Beth Summers talks to Dave Mustaine, "Out to Lunch", Hit Parader, June 1987
  4. ^ "The Story of Dave Mustaine". Metal Insider. April 1, 2021. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  5. ^ "Dave Mustaine Explains Why He Refuses To Share Stage With His 'Confessed Enemy' – Blabbermouth.net". Roadrunnerrecords.com. May 8, 2007. Archived from the original on October 31, 2010. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  6. ^ Marshall, Clay (September 24, 2020). "Dave Mustaine: "Drugs? Why would I want to glorify something like that?"". Metal Hammer. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022 – via Loudersound.com.
  7. ^ Nurin, Tara (October 20, 2016). "Heavy Metal God Dave Mustaine Crafts A Not-So-Heavy Beer". Forbes. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  8. ^ "DAVE MUSTAINE On His Cancer Battle: 'It's Been A Real Eye-Opening Experience'". Full Metal Jackie. May 2, 2022. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022 – via Blabbermouth.net.
  9. ^ Kelly-Husain, Sara (September 27, 2017). "DAVE MUSTAINE Says DAVID ELLEFSON Helped Him Save His Marriage". MagentaMusik 360. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022 – via Blabbermouth.net.
  10. ^ david89zenum (April 5, 2019). "Friday Top: 25 Best Rhythm Guitarists of All Time". Ultimate Guitar. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ "Dave Mustaine Discusses 'The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists'". Classic Rock. August 27, 2009. Archived from the original on June 2, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022 – via Ultimate Guitar.
  12. ^ "The 66 Best Hard Rock + Metal Guitarists of All Time". Loudwire. July 13, 2016. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  13. ^ Hartmann, Graham (March 22, 2018). "10 Greatest Rhythm Guitarists in Rock + Metal". Loudwire. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022.