Dave Mustaine has recorded a cover of Metallica’s Ride The Lightning as a tribute to James Hetfield, describing the frontman as a “f****** powerhouse” guitarist.
Speaking about the decision to do his own version of the track he co-wrote for Metallica’s second studio album of the same name for the thrash metal legends’ upcoming final album, Mustaine clarified that the move wasn’t about reinterpreting the song, but about acknowledging Hetfield’s impact.
He told Rolling Stone: “It was about respect.
“No one ever talks to me about that. One day he’s a singer, the next day he’s this f****** powerhouse, and I’ve always respected him as a guitar player.”
The Megadeth leader said the cover came together naturally during a jam session and was intended to reflect his own musical journey, which began with Panic and included contributions to early Metallica material.
He said: “I wanted to do something that I felt would be a good song.”
Mustaine confirmed that neither Hetfield nor drummer Lars Ulrich has heard the track yet.
He told the publication: “It was not for lack of having the thought or the courage or anything like that. I know the last time James and I talked, we were talking about some business stuff, and I haven’t spoken to him since. So I was hoping that we could get his approval on this before we release the track. But when it turned out the way that it did, I think there were so many people that were happy that we did this, that we just went for it. And I’ll be more than happy to talk to him when I get the opportunity, but I don’t have his number anymore.”
Mustaine reiterated that he intended to make his “respect” for Hetfield “clear”.
He went on: “I don’t believe he thinks I respect him, and I wanted to make that clear.
“Now that I’m getting ready to hang my guitar up, I wanted to make sure that nothing is left unsaid.”
Ride The Lightning was one of two Metallica tracks he penned for the 1984 LP, along with The Call of Ktulu.
Before he co-founded thrash metal band Megadeth, Mustaine was the lead guitarist for Metallica, though he was dismissed from the band before their debut album in 1983.
He claims he penned “a lot of” music that “made” Metallica.
Mustaine says their tracks Phantom Lord, Metal Militia, Jump In The Fire, and The Four Horsemen also contain his riffs.
He added on The Shawn Ryan Show earlier this year: “And I wrote a bunch of Leper Messiah [on Metallica’s third album, Master Of Puppets] too. They didn’t give me credit on that.
“You listen to the riffs, you know they’re my riffs. It’s, like, you think I’m gonna all of a sudden hear my riff and say, ‘That’s not me.’ So, yeah, I wrote a lot of their music that made them, and all the solos on that first record were mine – the best Kirk [Hammett, Mustaine’s replacement] could try and copy them.”
Megadeath have so far released the lead single, Tipping Point, from their final LP.
They will also embark on a farewell tour, with the full dates yet to be revealed.
The follow-up to 2022’s The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead! is set for release on January 23.