David Scott Mustaine

What is a hero? A hero to me isn’t a person who needs to save someone from a burning building but inspires you to do something, whether you met him or not. A hero doesn’t need to be famous, because he is happy being just who they are. A hero to me is someone who does something out of the good of his heart, not for fame or fortune. That is my definition of Dave Mustaine, my hero.

Dave Mustaine was born on September 13, 1961 in La Mesa, California. As a child his parents divorced, so his mother was constantly moving to avoid Dave’s father. By age 17 he had his own apartment and supported himself financially by selling drugs. One druggie couldn’t pay for the stuff so he gave Dave rock records instead. This fueled Dave’s hunger for metal. He learned to play an electric guitar and joined the metal band, Panic.

When he was 19 he responded to an ad in the paper that read, “looking for a lead guitarist for the band Metallica.” Dave quickly left Panic to join Metallica. Dave met the rhythm guitarist James Hetfield and the drummer Lars Ulrich. Dave asked “ am I in the band or not?” When Hetfield replied, “ you got the job”. Dave Mustaine would be in Metallica for less than two years.

Dave Mustaine was a heavy drinker when he was young. He drank so much, he got kicked out the band. He made his own band that would turn out to be an extremely popular thrash band. He started this band, Megadeth, with David Ellefson (bass), Greg Handevidt (rhythm guitarist), and Dijon Carruthers (drums). Dave was looking for someone to be vocals, but nobody showed up to try out, so he decided to do it himself. He was playing lead guitar and vocals at the same time!

Dave Mustaine recorded many albums, which of the first four are some of the most iconic CDs that helped form thrash and speed metal. He performs each show with energy and is an excellent guitarist. His music doesn’t just sound good, it has a message. The album “Peace Sells…” his message is about war. In “Rust In Peace” his message is about nuclear weapons.

Dave Mustaine is my hero because he had the willpower to stop using drugs and has an ability to play a guitar and sing at the same time (you should hear some of his songs, they're crazy). He’s an excellent songwriter, and he always likes to have fun. He will be remembered by all thrashers forever!