Dave Mustaine recently engaged in a chat with Lucía Sapena from Paraguay’s Trece channel, delving into the topic of the scarcity of outstanding new rock bands.
When Sapena inquired about his favorite Megadeth album, Mustaine likened the task to picking a favorite child, emphasizing the profound impact certain records had on his life. He highlighted “Peace Sells[… But Who’s Buying?]” and “Killing Is My Business[… And Business Is Good!]” as particularly influential, noting the latter’s avant-garde nature as emblematic of artistry at its pinnacle.
Expounding on his dissatisfaction with the current rock landscape, Mustaine lamented the prevalence of derivative music, longing for the emergence of groundbreaking acts akin to the likes of Iron Maiden, AC/DC, and Guns N’ Roses. He underscored the rarity of encountering a new band capable of eliciting genuine astonishment and admiration.
Moreover, Mustaine revisited his critique of bands such as Pearl Jam and Green Day, branding them as pop acts rather than authentic representatives of metal. He contended that the term ‘metal’ has become diluted, applied indiscriminately to music irrespective of its original genre. Mustaine argued that popular success, exemplified by albums like ‘Countdown to Extinction,’ should not automatically categorize a band as ‘pop,’ emphasizing the arbitrary nature of labeling music as either ‘pop’ or ‘rock.’
Throughout the conversation, Mustaine articulated his stance on the evolving music landscape with clarity, advocating for originality and innovation while challenging prevailing perceptions of genre classification.
