Dave Mustaine Explains Why He Hasn’t Contacted James Hetfield For A Long Time

Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine did a brand new interview with Darran Charles from Guitar.com. The legendary vocalist answered questions about his career and his characteristics. He explained why he hasn’t contacted his former bandmate in Metallica, James Hetfield.

We all know Mustaine is one of those outspoken people, and because of those appearances, he has been the leading part of many discussions in the past. According to Mustaine, every story has three sides, and frankly, Mustaine isn’t afraid to show his side.

In his recent interview with Charles, Mustaine explained his view on telling something to someone in a simple way. When Charles asked Mustaine how his outspokenness had impacted his career in the long run, Mustaine recalled his latest conversation with James Hetfield. He says that he hasn’t talked to Hetfield since what he said to him. According to him, these things hurt James.

“There’s three sides to every story, right. There’s my side, there would be the other person’s side, and then there would be the truth which is somewhere right in the middle. You know, oddly enough that was one of the last conversations I ever had with James Hetfield because we were talking about getting back together and doing a project.”

Dave Mustaine Reveals His Disagreement With Lars Ulrich

Believing that there are three sides to every story, Dave Mustaine cited his dialogue with James Hetfield as an example. According to Mustaine, while they were clearing the problems to make a new project with Metallica, his disagreement with Lars Ulrich prevented this.

“Something had come up about the publishing discrepancy that we have been arguing about for years and years and years, and I told James, ‘I’ll do it but we’ve got to get this stuff sorted out first’. And he said, ‘Oh yeah, sure’.”

“So I said, ‘Now these two songs you and me split, 50/50. Lars didn’t write on this song – you know that. I don’t know why you gave him percentages but I’m not. I’m not going to sign another deal that’s gonna confirm that because I never agreed to that’.”

“And James said, ‘Well, Lars has a different recollection of that,’ and I said that’s fine; there’s his side of the story, my side and the truth is somewhere. And that blew his mind, and we haven’t talked since. You know, I was trying to be really friendly with him; he told me that the last three projects they did bombed, and they wanted to go back and use all the stuff that I was on, and I said sure. As soon as I said that ‘three stories’ bit, it was over!”

In the continuation Mustaine added: “You know, I was trying to be really friendly with him; he told me that the last three projects they did bombed, and they wanted to go back and use all the stuff that I was on, and I said sure. As soon as I said that ‘three stories’ bit, it was over.”

Back in September, in an interview with Andrew Daly, Mustaine admitted that he secretly dreams of writing again with James Hetfield. He also stated that making music with Metallica would bring a great experience to both his band and Metallica.

“I have been secretly hoping there’d be a day where James [Hetfield, his former bandmate in Metallica], and I can write together again,” Mustaine says.

Continuing his words, he mentioned people who want to see that collaboration. According to him, writing music with James Hetfield makes his band Megadeth and Metallica gain a lot of experience.

“I think the world really does want us to do that, and I think there is a pretty good possibility of it happening down the line,” he continued. “I do think that it’s possible that one day James is going to come around and that he and I are going to be able to do something together again. I guess that’s one of the things that has always kept me pushing forward. I think it’d be good for Megadeth, and it could be great for Metallica too.”

“Improving his relationship with James day by day, Mustaine had also admitted earlier this month that he had sent a supportive message to James after said he’s mentally collapsed. Although James did not text back, the message he sent was important to him.

“I sent a text message to James just a couple of days ago after he’d said that he was insecure about his playing,” he says. “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.”