Dave Mustaine Book Review

Having been layed up for three days fighting a nasty cold, I have found all kinds of time to read,that is after waking up from an off and on NyQuil coma. This week I read the Dave Mustaine book called "Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir" wrote by Dave with Joe Layden. Of course any fan of heavy metal will know Dave Mustaine is the lead singer,songwriter and guitar player of his band Megadeth. The band he created after being kicked out of the metal band Metallica in the early 80's.

I have never minded Megadeth, especially there first three albums, but really never got into getting to know much about him or his band. As it always seemed he was mouthing off about something or someone, and it just got old. That and he could never keep the same band members together for any length of time.

Well, this turned out be a really good read. From his early childhood growing up with him Mom whom was a Jehovah Witness, and then leaving home at an early age and getting in to alcohol and drugs and music. I figured the book would be pretty one sided considering it was he who was writing it. But he actually takes a lot of the heat for his misfortunes with not only Metallica but all the members that have been in and out of his band Megadeth (18 to be exact). He could be quite a rude and obnoxious guy, especially on the booze which usually came after doing drugs of all sorts. He had been in and out of rehab too many times to count before he finally found god. Ya, god, I thought great, here comes the preaching. But he actually never does get in to preaching at all. Just tells how it has helped him and good for him. It was after a mishap in rehab where he had fallen asleep on a chair with his arm hanging over the back of the chair. When he awoke, he couldn't move his arm and ended up he had damaged a nerve in his arm (a freak accident) that left his left arm useless. Which is no damn good, when you are guitar player,especially. And considering this is all he really knows how to do, being a musician, this was big wake up call for him. He was told he would never play again. But through lots of hard work and getting his shit together, he prevailed and continues to run his band Megadeth to this very day.

He has gone through a hell of a lot between drugs,alcohol, problems with members in his own band and disagreements with managers, other bands, women and more. He tells his story honestly and a great way where the book never gets boring or preachy. The man no doubt has a huge ego, which hasn't helped him much, but then I think most band leaders do. He is a very demanding guy, and should sometimes listen to his own advice, but nonetheless he has found faith in god and it seems to have made him a better man.

This is a book well worth reading if you are fan of heavy metal or the band Megadeth.