Rock & Metal

Chris Poland Responds To Allegations Of Dave Mustaine’s Intense Leadership

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In a recent interview with Ultimate Guitar, former Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland reflected on his time with the iconic thrash metal band and addressed some common perceptions about frontman Dave Mustaine.

When asked about Mustaine’s reputation for being a strict and uptight band leader, Poland dismissed the rumors. “He never really told anyone what to do. Occasionally, he’d suggest something like, ‘Can you try playing in a higher register?’ after I’d maybe attempted a solo a few times,” Poland explained. “But it was never, ‘Okay, you’re going to start here and then do this.’ It was never that structured or controlling.”

Poland also looked back on his experience recording Megadeth’s tenth studio album, The System Has Failed, describing the process as positive and enjoyable. “With The System Has Failed, it was a fun time,” he said. “I’m pretty sure Dave was sober during that period, and the vibe was good. There were some things happening behind the scenes, but I don’t want to get into that. He was also busy remixing some of the earlier records, and we all know how that story goes.” He added, “But overall, it was a great experience working with Ralph Patlan. He’s a consummate professional.”

Other musicians who’ve worked with Mustaine have also weighed in on his personality, clarifying that he’s not as difficult to work with as some have suggested. Phil Labonte, the lead vocalist of All That Remains, shared his own positive experience in a previous interview. “Dave has a reputation for being kind of prickly, but I’ve found him to be the most accommodating, friendly guy,” Labonte said. “There were people on the tour who’d say, ‘Make sure you go say hi to Dave,’ because he wants to hang out. He’s genuinely interested in getting to know everyone.”

Steve Di Giorgio of Testament also praised Mustaine’s approach to collaboration, posting on social media, “Dave was great to work with—really easy-going and an awesome host. It was a valuable learning experience, especially learning to use a pick more than I ever had before. I keep that little yellow plectrum in a case as a reminder that versatility opens doors to new opportunities.”

Meanwhile, Megadeth continues to work on their upcoming album, although Mustaine recently admitted that the process has been a bit frustrating. In the meantime, the band’s latest release, The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!, which debuted in September 2022, achieved major commercial success. It entered the Billboard 200 at No. 3 in its first week of sales and topped several other charts, including Top Album Sales, Top Current Albums Sales, Top Rock & Alternative Albums, Top Rock Albums, and Top Hard Rock Albums.

I'm Emma. I Love rock music, doing guitar reviews, and making food. I love writing works because it is the best way to provide information to people.

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