Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Boy do we love a good story. Especially if it’s a story of something that almost didn’t happen, like in this case. Dave Mustaine was still looking for a new guitarist to take Jeff Young’s place as Megadeth started preparing for what would eventually become “Rust in Peace”, as per MetalInjection. In a recent interview with Guitar World, Mustaine recalled how he first met guitarist Marty Friedman, who was soon to be employed, and traced it back to a single CD that was sitting on a counter in Megadeth’s management office.
Marty’s CD, Dragon’s Kiss [1988], had been sitting on the counter in the management’s office, and I remember walking past it. The cover was this black picture with bright orange lettering on it, and it was pretty eye-catching. But I just couldn’t do it because of his hair.
Mustaine didn’t hold back when asked what was specifically wrong with it.
He had two different colors in his hair. His hair was black from the roots down to about his ear line, and then it was red all the way down to his armpits. I thought, ‘I can’t do this.’
Friedman didn’t exactly inspire confidence when he showed up for the audition.
So, he came in, and he walked in with a Carvin, which wasn’t a company renowned for its guitars. He had this ADA rackmount unit, but I don’t know what it was for or how he thought it was going to help him. [Laughs]
By then, Mustaine had already had some degree of success and had well-stocked gear rooms, which was highly effective.
And when it came time to do the solo, Marty just popped in. We’ve been through guitar player after guitar player, and we get to the solo part in ‘Wake Up Dead’, and he nails it. I just thought, ‘Oh, my God…’ and I reached behind me, turned off my wireless, went out and called my manager and said, ‘I think we’ve got him.’
The shortlist read like a metal hall of fame prior to Friedman’s arrival. Slash of Guns N’ Roses had been jamming with bassist David Ellefson and Mustaine, but eventually stayed put. Dimebag Darrell of Pantera was offered the position, but negotiations broke down when Mustaine declined to hire Dimebag’s brother, drummer Vinnie Paul, who had already committed to Menza. Criss Oliva of Savatage declined, refusing to quit his band. Jeff Loomis was impressive as a teenager, but Mustaine thought he was too young at eighteen. Friedman, on the other hand, arrived without any fanfare. Ron Laffitte, a Capitol Records manager, recommended him after listening to Friedman’s solo debut, “Dragon’s Kiss”, which was recorded during his tenure with the shred group Cacophony. Between 1990 and 2000, Friedman joined Megadeth, which went on to become the greatest deal in Japan.
