In a recent interview with music journalist Steve Rosen, Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine reflected on the lasting impact of his musical influences, revealing a deep admiration for Jimmy Page’s guitar work in Led Zeppelin while expressing a more lukewarm view of Rolling Stones legend Keith Richards.
Mustaine emphasized that a guitarist’s influences play a vital role in shaping their sound and skill. As someone who juggles rhythm guitar, vocals, and lead playing, Mustaine shared how essential rhythmic clarity is in his approach to music:
“I think that as a musician, as a guitar player, you’re only as good as your influences. I’m a rhythm guitar player who sings and plays lead. So, if you want something that’s really rhythmic, you want something that’s smooth and [there aren’t any] sharp corners. When you start getting into music [and] you’re a rhythm player… if you can’t keep the beat to the song with your foot, it starts getting too weird.”
When Rosen brought up Keith Richards, Mustaine acknowledged the guitarist’s cultural significance but admitted his playing never resonated with him personally:
“No, nothing against Keith Richards. I think he’s a very entertaining person, but his playing style, for me, just wasn’t there. I was a Beatles fan, and I liked The Who more than I ever did The Stones. But I do recognize the great talent; any dude who can snort his dad’s ashes and live to tell [chuckles]… But, no, not for me, honestly.”
On the contrary, Mustaine credited Jimmy Page with teaching him a vital lesson in guitar layering—a technique that would influence his approach to composing and recording:
“I liked Jimmy Page’s playing. I love the way he approached layering. You hear any one of those guitar tracks on their own, you’ll say that sounds like… I have to be respectful, it’s one of my favorite bands. But when you start layering all those other things, they really start taking on a life of [their] own. And I think that, for me, is something that I really learned a lot from [Page] too.”
In addition to Page, Mustaine gave a nod to other rhythm guitar legends who helped shape his aggressive, riff-driven style. He cited Malcolm Young of AC/DC, Brian Tatler of Diamond Head, and foundational bands like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Motörhead, and UFO—all of whom were part of the British Invasion and New Wave of British Heavy Metal movements.
“Now, as far as the rhythm, down-picking and stuff, [I] loved Malcolm Young… And there’s a guy named Brian Tatler from Diamond Head that’s really cool with the riffing and stuff. Of course, [Judas] Priest, [Iron] Maiden, Motorhead, UFO, all those other bands in British Invasion and the New Wave of British [Heavy Metal]. I mean, all that influenced me too, but that all goes back to Robert Johnson anyway.”
Mustaine’s comments serve as a reminder that even the most innovative players in rock and metal owe a part of their sound to the trailblazers who came before—each influence contributing a layer to their musical identity.
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