“I wanted to do something to bring my career full circle,” the Megadeth frontman told Rolling Stone. “I wanted to do something that I felt would be a good song.”
*Text by Althea Legaspi and Kory Grow ||| Dave Mustaine is preparing his latest album with Megadethaptly titled Megadeth. More than 40 years after Mustaine founded the band, he sees the album — which comes on the heels of 13 Grammy nominations, a Best Metal Performance win and 16 albums — as a fitting conclusion to the acclaimed thrash metal pioneers’ journey.
As part of the album, Mustaine confirms to Rolling Stone USA rumors that he re-recorded his version of “Ride the Lightning”title track from the album Metallica 1984, for which he received co-writing credits following his departure from the band in 1983. The reissue will be available alongside the entire album on January 23, 2026.
“It wasn’t really that I wanted to do my version. I think we all wanted the result to be a specific way, and for me, that represented something much bigger than the end result of the song. It was a matter of respect.”
This respect, according to him, is for the Metallica singer and guitarist, James Hetfield. “Nobody ever talks to me about it.”he said of Hetfield’s ability. “One day he’s a singer, the next he’s this force of nature, and I’ve always respected him as a guitarist.”
He then adds on the choice to include his version of “Ride the Lightning” on Megadeth’s farewell album:
“So I wanted to do something to close the circle of my career now, since it all started with the Panic [banda de Mustaine antes do Metallica] and several of the songs that ended up in Metallica’s repertoire. I wanted to do something that I felt would be good music.”
Metallica developed the song, using some of Mustaine’s guitar riffs, into a chilling narrative about a wrongly convicted man awaiting execution. The title “ride the lightning”, a euphemism for dying in the electric chair, came from the book The Dance of Deathfrom Stephen King.
Metallica’s recording was kinetic thrash metal with machine-gun-speed guitar notes and solos and Hetfield’s convincing cries for mercy. Megadeth’s recording is a little faster and lower pitched, as it is in a lower key, and Mustaine sings the lyrics with more growl than Hetfield, but the guitar sounds just as powerful.
The band had no intention of recording the song for the new album. In fact, its origins arose from a recording session in the studio. Mustaine says:
“Our intentions were pure. I had no reason to say, ‘Hey, man, this thing we’ve had for 40 years where you guys are never going to tour with me, me playing this song is going to change everything.’
As mentioned, the 10-track album, which includes the first single already released, “Tipping Point”, is scheduled for release on January 23rd. The band will announce a series of farewell concert dates later this year — Brazil, more specifically São Paulo, welcomes them on May 2nd.
Mustaine claims that Megadeth has no plans to play the song live. And he adds: neither Hetfield nor the Metallica drummer, Lars Ulrichknew about the existence of the re-recording in advance.
“It wasn’t for lack of ideas or courage or anything like that. I know the last time I talked to James, we were talking about business stuff, and I haven’t talked to him since. So I was hoping we could get his approval before we released the track. But as things turned out that way, I think a lot of people were happy with our decision, so we just moved on. And I’ll be more than happy to talk to him when I get the opportunity, but I don’t have his number anymore.”
Although the two may have lost contact, Mustaine welcomes the possibility of him and Hetfield talking again.
“I also know that time heals wounds, and I don’t know if we still have that kind of relationship. I know I would like to hang out with him, listen to new music, clown around and stuff like that, but maybe we’re all too old. I don’t know.”
While he hopes this might open a window for them to talk again, Mustaine makes it clear that this song isn’t about renewing old friendships.
“I don’t think the point of this was to try to rekindle relationships or anything like that. It was about showing respect to a man who… I don’t believe he thinks I respect him, and I wanted to make that clear. I wanted to pay tribute to the band. And now that I’m getting ready to ‘hang up the guitar,’ I wanted to make sure nothing was left unsaid.”
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dave mustaine
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james hetfield
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Megadeth
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
