Dave Mustaine Says He Has No Interest in Keeping Metallica Feud Alive

Mustaine says covering ‘Ride the Lightning' was about closing the circle, not reopening old wounds.

Dave Mustaine made his position on the long-running Metallica rivalry clear during a recent appearance on the Brazilian podcast Ibagenscast, stating flatly that he has no interest in sustaining a feud with his former band. The comments came as Mustaine addressed his decision to cover Metallica's ‘Ride the Lightning' on the final Megadeth album, describing the track as an act of respect rather than provocation.

Mustaine on the ‘Ride the Lightning' Cover

When asked to explain why Megadeth chose to cover ‘Ride the Lightning' for what has been billed as the band's final album, Mustaine framed it as a deliberate artistic challenge. He noted that the band set a high bar for itself, saying, “We always thought that James [Hetfield] was an excellent guitar player, so when we set out to do the song, we figured we needed to do it as good or better than the original. And we figured, how are we gonna do that? Metallica's an amazing group.”

The cover, in Mustaine's telling, was conceived as a gesture of goodwill rather than competition. He described it as “kind of closing the circle, paying my respects to the band that I was a founding member in.” Mustaine was an early member of Metallica before being dismissed from the group in 1983, a departure attributed in part to excessive drinking and erratic behavior. That exit has shadowed both bands' public narratives for decades, making Mustaine's framing of the cover as a peace offering notable.

Putting the Rivalry to Rest

Mustaine was direct about where he stands on the feud question. “I don't wanna have a feud. I've put that to sleep so many years ago. So, yeah, I wanted to do something that was — just show some respect, 'cause it doesn't matter to me if he cares, if he likes it; it matters what I do and that I show respect and close the circle.”

He also acknowledged the complicated history without shying away from it. “And love me or hate me, they'll never be able to erase me. And I think that when people can look with acceptance and fondness of the two bands and not try and keep something that I don't wanna keep going.” The remarks suggest Mustaine sees the public appetite for the rivalry as something separate from his own feelings about it, and that he is no longer interested in feeding it.

This is consistent with comments Mustaine made earlier in the year, when he floated the idea of a joint tour as a way to put the tension to rest for good. “I think what needs to happen is there needs to be a Megadeth-Metallica tour. Period. That would, I'm sure, make everything right,” he said in January.

What we know

• Dave Mustaine covered Metallica's ‘Ride the Lightning' on the final Megadeth album, titled Megadeth.
• Mustaine discussed the cover and his feelings about Metallica on the Brazilian podcast Ibagenscast.
• Mustaine was kicked out of Metallica in 1983, in part due to excessive drinking and erratic behavior.
• In January, Mustaine called for a Megadeth-Metallica tour, saying it would “make everything right.”
• Mustaine described the cover as “closing the circle, paying my respects to the band that I was a founding member in.”

The take

The Mustaine-Metallica split is one of the most mythologized personnel decisions in rock history. Being fired from a band that went on to become arguably the biggest metal act of all time would test anyone's equanimity, and for years Mustaine was candid about the psychological weight it carried. He has spoken in past interviews about seeking therapy to work through the resentment, and his public posture has softened considerably over the last decade or so.

What makes this moment worth noting is the vehicle he chose for the gesture. Covering ‘Ride the Lightning,' a song from Metallica's 1984 album of the same name, is a pointed choice. Mustaine has long maintained that he contributed to early Metallica material, and the ‘Ride the Lightning' era sits right at the edge of his tenure with the band. Choosing that song rather than something from a later, less contested period of Metallica's catalog carries a specific meaning, whether intentional or not.

The idea of a Megadeth-Metallica co-headlining tour has surfaced periodically over the years and has never materialized. Both bands have operated at arena and stadium level at various points, so the logistical case exists. Whether the personal dynamics would allow it is a separate question, and Mustaine's comments suggest he at least believes the will is there on his end.

Why it matters

For Classic Rock and metal fans, the Mustaine-Metallica dynamic has been a defining subplot of the genre for 40 years. Mustaine building his own legacy with Megadeth while publicly processing his exit from Metallica became part of the band's mythology. His decision to use the final Megadeth album as a vehicle for reconciliation, rather than grievance, marks a genuine shift in tone. It also raises the question of whether a joint tour, something fans have speculated about for years, could finally move from wishful thinking toward reality.

What's next

Mustaine has publicly advocated for a Megadeth-Metallica tour, calling it the move that would “make everything right.” No dates or formal announcements have been reported. The final Megadeth album, which includes the ‘Ride the Lightning' cover, is the most concrete development tied to this story at present.

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