Bangkok Jungle

Megadeath Leader Trashed December 26, 2009

Former Megadeth guitarist Jeff Young has lashed out in fury at former employer Dave Mustaine, branding him a liar and challenging him to a live guitar duel. Young, who played with the band in 1988 and appeared on the So Far, So Good… So What! Album, is one the 19 musicians hired then fired by Mustaine over the years. Young – a classically-trained performer – was reputedly hired because he was able to decipher, transcribe and play complex solos by previous band members extremely quickly. But in a recent interview, Mustaine said he’d sung solos to Young, who then played them as he’d been told – leading Young to angrily deny that was the case, and stating that Mustaine had never been in the studio while he was recording.

After hearing about another interview, he’s challenged his ex-boss to a live guitar duel, and also called upon the other former band members to unite against Mustaine.

Young says on his Myspace page: “Over the years I’ve sought to take the high road, tried to have a little class. But peace sells and who’s buying, right? Now my days protecting all Shitstaine’s dirty little secrets are over.

“So, Dave, you’re always respected the audience? Is that why every single night you have be carried off stage because you were too f’ked up to stand, let along play or sing? Were you too f’ked up to realise we had a deal with the sound man to bury your guitars and vocal in the mix?

“Do you consider it respectful when a fan asks you for a guitar pick, to pick your nose and flick it at them with a, ‘There’s your pick’ response?

“We cancelled the Australian tour because I ran out of heroin? Let’s get the real truth out there: we cancelled so you could get back into one of how many failed attempts at rehab. While you were in rehab you tried to get me and the other members to smuggle heroin into rehab?”

Young goes on to say that Mustaine got a guitar tech arrested after the assistant was sent out to buy drugs, and risked the entire tour entourage’s freedom by trying to smuggle drugs into Japan.

He continues: “Look around – even your own fans can barely stand you any more. You’ve lost your grip on reality. All the fans want is for you to shut up. Take that toxic energy and turn it into something positive – make an album that’s half as good as Peace Sells, So Far or Rust in Peace.”

He finishes: “You wanna act like children? How about this? I barely play electric guitar any more but I hereby challenge you to a duel. Any stage, anywhere in the world, and two Megadeth tunes from the Peace Sells or So Far era. I’ll play my solos, Chris Poland’s solo and your solos note-for-note and you have to do the same.

“I’m friends with Chris Poland, Glen Drover, Nick Menza and David Ellefson, and although I’ve yet to meet Marty Friedman or the others, I respect their talent immensely. Former disrespected Megadeth members unite – Megalomaniac, step down!”