Dave Mustaine Shares a Confession About Punching to James Hetfield

Dave Mustaine regrets and shares punching James Hetfield. He says “it was even dumber to punch Metallica‘s James Hetfield.

If we go return to April 13th, 1983, and Dave Mustaine, it happened with no warning. Metallica had already signed Kirk Hammett as their new lead guitarist. In the early morning hours of the day, James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich and Cliff Burton were up Dave Mustaine who was suffering from an uneasy hangover. He was informed that they had to go home.

For almost 30 years later, Dave Mustaine answered fans’ questions. Mustaine also regrets punching James Hetfield during that time. (transcribed by metalshout.com):

“I saw the thing with James Hetfield on stage where he was saying that he was going through a rough patch. I was sad to see that because it’s been one of those really weird love-hate relationships. And the whole reason that I ever even pursued any of this was I really liked those guys. If I didn’t like ’em, I would just say, ‘Fucking flush the toilet and be done with it.’

“He’s [James Hetfield] always been somebody that I really liked playing with. I wished things wouldn’t have ended the way that they did. But que sera, sera (Spanish ‘Lo que será, será’ meaning in English ‘what will be, will be’).”

In this interview he also shares thoughts about James Hetfield’s insecurity:

“Oh no. I am clearly the alpha male between the three of us. Why did I have to do everything when I was in the band? Why did they always ask me talk to the promoters and collect the cash? Why was I the one who had to do the fighting? Why did I have to talk in between songs?

How can you expect a boy who’s twenty and the guitar player in one of the biggest new things in the world to have a grasp on reality? Everything from that point forward was a fucking feud. Everywhere I went it was: ‘So, how’s everything going with Meta… er, Megadeth?’

No. I really don’t give a fuck. And you know what? I love those guys. I sent a text message to James just a couple of days ago after he’d said that he was insecure about his playing. I said: “James, I love you and I really like your playing.” He didn’t answer. Of course not. Why would he? The point is I wanted him to know that I’ve had those feelings too, but I don’t now. I must remind you that when I joined Metallica, James did not play guitar. He just picked it up and started playing when I was in the band. But let’s be honest, James is one of the best metal guitar players in the world. So for him to have those feelings, that’s a lie, because he’s a mind-blowingly talented guy.

So I just felt I needed to say something to him. I didn’t tweet it. I didn’t want anybody to know what I said. But I’m telling you because, hey, you brought it up!”

You can watch the entire video Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine answers fans’ questions below!