Dave Mustaine Reveals Why He Was Kicked Out of Metallica in a Recent Exclusive Interview
via R&M News / YouTube
Early Days and Leadership in the Band
Dave Mustaine shared how he took charge during Metallica’s early shows. “Whenever there was any kind of altercation… I would be the one that would take care of it,” he said. While James Hetfield stayed calm, and Lars Ulrich liked to have fun, Mustaine often ended up handling the problems.
He remembered playing at a junior high school where Lars might’ve gone. “From that point on, it was just clear,” Mustaine explained. He also handled money for the band after shows, saying, “That was my gig.” He talked about clubs taking large cuts of ticket sales, bar tabs, and even merchandise. “Most kids my age at the time don’t know,” he added.
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The Move to New York and the Crash
The band later moved to New York after a label showed interest in their demo No Life ‘Til Leather. “Lars had found somebody he wanted to manage us,” Mustaine said, referring to Jon Zazula of Megaforce Records. On the way, the band got into a serious car accident.
Mustaine was driving a truck in snowy weather, pulling James’s pickup on a tow bar. “We hit black ice and the whole thing spun around,” he said. After getting control of the vehicle, Mustaine saw an oncoming truck heading straight for a crew member, Mark Whitaker. “I had to push him out of the way,” he said. “If I wouldn’t have… he’d be dead right now.”
Being Replaced and the Aftermath
Shortly after, at a U-Haul facility, James and Lars told Mustaine he was being replaced. “They tried to pin that driving thing on me as the last straw,” he explained. “We all drank—that’s why they called it Alcoholica.” He pointed out that everyone in the band drank heavily, not just him.
“When we got out to New York… after two shows, they woke me up and said ‘Look, you’re out of the band.’” He asked if there would be a warning or a second chance. “They said no,” Mustaine recalled. “That was unfair.”
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Music Credits and Frustration
Mustaine was also upset that his music was used after he was kicked out. “I told them when I left, do not use my music,” he said. But songs like Ride the Lightning, Phantom Lord, Jump in the Fire, and The Four Horsemen were based on his riffs. “All the solos on that first record were mine,” he added.
Why Was He Singled Out?
When asked why he was the only one removed, Mustaine said, “When I got drunk, I got violent.” He remembered being out with James when they saw a man beating up a woman in an alley. That kind of aggressive behavior, he believed, is what made him the target.
Watch the interview below:
