MEGADETH's DAVE MUSTAINE: “I'm not a right-winger”

MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine has clarified his political stance, stressing that he does not identify as a “right-winger”. In a new interview with The New York Times, the 64-year-old guitarist/vocalist said. “I’m a Christian, and I answer to a different set of angels. I obey the law, but no, I’m not a right-winger.” He also insisted that he is spiritual, not religious. “We used to always say that religion’s for people who are afraid of going to hell, and spirituality is for people like us who have been there,” he said.

Less than two years ago, Mustaine was asked during a press conference in Peru what the experience was like of going to the White House in 1992 with the “Rock The Vote” campaign for the Democratic National Convention coverage. He said: “What was it like going up to the White House and doing the ‘Rock The Vote’ thing? Well, I think if you wanna say something, you need to know what you’re saying. And I was asked to help get people in my country registered to vote — not to become a Democrat, not to become a Republican, but to vote. And I’ve always said, when I talk to people, I try and show them both sides and then let that person pick. I don’t try and tell people in my songs what to do.

“Would I do it again? I guess I kind of do it still every day, just being an example in heavy metal music that not everyone in metal is uninterested in civil matters in their country, singing about things that matter,” he added.

Four years ago, Mustaine claimed that he “peed on the floor” of the White House bathroom when he went there more than three decades ago. Dave made the outrageous claim while introducing the song “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due” during MEGADETH‘s concert at the Tucson Arena in Tucson, Arizona. Mustaine said in part: “I want you guys to know that I’ve lived through a lot of different eras in the United States and seen different things, and one thing that makes me the most proud of everything here in our country is you guys, the way that you are handling yourselves and the way that… as the metal community. There’s a lot of people that go out there and they say things and they totally embarrass themselves. And I want you guys to know how proud I am to represent you.”

He continued: “When I went up to the White House, I was so proud to be able to go up there and say, ‘Fuck you. You think we’re stupid? We are not stupid, motherfuckers.’

“By the way, when I went into the White House, I went into the royal — whatever the fuck it’s called — White House bathroom, and I peed on the floor. I had to. I had to.”

Seven years ago, Dave, who has attracted a fair amount of media attention over the years for his political thoughts, said that he and other public figures have fallen victim to so-called negative partisanship, in which people identify as being against the opposing political party, and vocalize their beliefs through anger or loathing.

“I’ve got this reputation that I’m a right-winger,” Mustaine told Ron Keel of the “Streets Of Rock ‘N’ Roll” radio show. “Well, check my voting record to see that I’ve voted Democrat and Republican. And it’s just a shame that people are trying to destroy people’s careers because of a vote.”

Mustaine has consistently denied that he is a Republican, telling Artisan News in a 2012 interview: “I’m an independent, not a Republican — I’ve never been a Republican. I’ve always said that. I don’t belong to any party — I’m non-partisan. And for me, the sad thing is, instead of voting for the best man, I have to vote for the lesser of two evils.”

Last month MEGADETH released the latest single and video for “Let There Be Shred”. The track is a rapid-fire manifesto with jaw-dropping riffs and “a tsunami of sound,” to quote a lyric from the song. Directed by Keith Leman, the video features MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine participating in a mixed martial arts battle alongside live performance footage.

Watch “Let There Be Shred” below.