The little-talked-about album that made Dave Mustaine fall in love with the guitar

Although he is remembered for his distinctive voice, Dave Mustaine He is primarily a guitarist. It was, in fact, the only role he assumed in the Metallicabefore being dismissed from the band and forming the Megadeth — where he was also responsible for the main microphone after searching for singers for so long.

And even though it has some of the best heavy metal guitarists, such as Marty Friedman, Chris Poland, Al Pitrelli and Kiko Loureiro, Mustaine He never stopped recording and performing his own solos. After all, he established himself as a revolutionary of the instrument by introducing some very popular techniques in the heavy music segment, such as the so-called “spider chord”, which promotes rapid transitions of tones. chords.

This whole story actually began with a hard rock album released in the 1970s. It was also a revolutionary work, especially as it had an influence on several other musicians in the segment, but it wasn’t exactly a sales success: Phenomenon, third studio album by UFOhard rock band formed in England.

For those less accustomed to the topic, the easiest reference to get to the UFO is the bond of Michael Schenker as Scorpions. The German guitarist was part of the band on two different occasions in the 1970s and is the brother of Rudolf Schenkerresponsible for the same instrument in the group.

However, the UFO itself was so influential to the point of being mentioned as a reference also by musicians from the Metallica, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Def Leppard, Saxon, among several others. Not for nothing, he is credited as one of the pioneers of heavy metal as we know it.

In an interview with Spin (via Igor Miranda website), Dave Mustaine was asked to select the five albums that changed his life. The choice for UFO happened precisely through Phenomenon, responsible for presenting classic songs such as “Rock Bottom” It is “Doctor Doctor” — the latter, traditionally used in recordings to start the shows of the aforementioned Iron Maiden. The leader of Megadeth comments:

“I was a young surfer punk when I first heard this record. Someone put ‘Rock Bottom‘ to play at a backyard party in Huntington Beach. We set up the sound equipment, bought a keg of beer, people came and socialized while we listened to music. It was a way of life.”

When Phenomenon started rolling, it was love at first listen.

“Phenomenon It was one of those records that I heard and I just fell in love with playing guitar, it started me on this path.”

Dave Mustaine and UFO

On another occasion, now to the magazine Metal Hammer(via Igor Miranda website), Dave Mustaine he was asked to choose ten albums under the same proposal: that changed his life. Phenomenon, of UFO, it was also there and was included in the “album that reminds me of school” category.

“Is it this or Let There Be Rock (1977) from AC DC. They were the two I listened to the most during this period. black Sabbath was being played a lot at the same time, but I don’t remember which one it was… I think there was ‘Changes’so it was ‘Vol.4’. We’d roll 50 cent joints and listen ‘Changes’. It was my least favorite song, which is why I remember it in particular. But I’ll go with UFO. We listen to this record a lot.”