Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir

Mustaine Shows His Metal

Dave Mustaine founder, guitarist and front man for the heavy metal band, Megadeth, typically generate a variety of emotions resulting from his stage banter, interviews and music. Megadeth fans will instantly give the horns sign with one or both hands as they exhibit their sweet air guitar skills.

Others who might be fans of a competing bands like, say, Mustaine's first band, Metallica, are likely to pontificate about the finer points of guitar skills between Mustaine and Metallica's Kirk Hammett. And, still others who are aware of Mustaine's conversion to Christianity are keenly interested in the strength or weakness of his walk of faith.

As an avid student of celebrities and personalities as well as a Christian, I was eager to dig into the newly released paperback edition of Dave's autobiography, Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir. I'll be honest: I wasn't expecting much from the book because, well, I've never read a head banger's autobiography before and really thought I was going to be bored out of my aging mind. Boy, was I wrong.

The book is very heavy in personal introspection and transparency. The reader will learn very quickly what make Mustaine tick and what ticks him off. Megadeth and Metallica fans will read lots of inside scoop on the history of both bands and lots of stories behind the songs. Dave also shares a lot of the interpersonal dynamics between him and the various configurations of his heavy metal enterprise.

Christians who pick up the book expecting to read something along the lines of B.J. Thomas's Home Where I Belong will be shocked. The language in the book is raw. Very raw. And, while I'm not one who uses the same kind of language as Mustaine chooses to use, I found his transparency and his simple, level-headed approach to his faith actually quite refreshing.

For those of you who run, not walk, from all things Christian, don't be such a wuss. Mustaine's book isn't "churchy". Actually, it's far from it. He states his faith in a matter-of-fact manner and doesn't try to jam anything down the reader's throat. He just puts himself out there as he is and you can take him or leave him. Either way, he's just going to keep on doing what he's doing while devoting more time to his family.

The reader will get the very clear impression from Dave that he knows he's lucky to still be playing guitar after going through his debilitating affliction with his money-making left hand. He also comes across as one who knows darn well that he shouldn't be alive and is living life as one who is fully enjoying his umpteenth chance at living life to its healthy fullest.

If you love reading about talented people - especially those who love a great rags to riches story, you're gonna love Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir. While you're ordering your copy, why not go ahead and get some Christmas shopping done for that head-banger friend or relative by picking up an extra copy or two? Just a thought.

Randy Patterson
Boomerocity

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A Must-Read Book For All Metalheads!

I bought this book yesterday, and it was so exciting and so interesting that I had to finish it before I went to sleep. Since Dave Mustaine wrote the greatest thrash metal album ever (Peace Sells... But Who's Buying), it's not surprising that he would write the greatest metal biography ever.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Rachel McCleary

This book is awesome! It is a great read from beginning to end and I could not put it down. Dave has had an amazing life and to hear it told from him is fascinating! You get all the juicy details. I am a huge Megadeth fan and totally appreciate this book! Long live metal \m/

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Astounding! A metalheads must read

First thing: holy titf**k! Dave Mustaine's autobiography is one of the very best Ive had the pleasure of reading. His point of view on the situation with Metallica was exactly what I expected, but I agree with Dave! Even if you dont, though, you will appreciate his candor. He is extremely intelligent and witty. Some of his stories will make you laugh, while others will make you go completely limp jawed. One of metals greatest has opened a door that you should definately follow through. He will NEVER fail to shock and amaze you with his experiences, his intellect or his ingenuousness. I could understand a parents hesitance to let thier children read this, but im 15, and as long as the adolesent is mature and cognizant of some of the dangerous actions in this book then they should enjoy it and even pick up a valuable lesson. IM URGING YOU! ITS TOTALLY WORTH IT

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A must read for ALL Megadeth fans!

I have been a Megadeth fan since there first album was released. It took GUTS for Dave to stand up and tell us his story and not hold back anything from the past...This is a great read and I would suggest that if you have ever been a Megadeth fan, past or present, to pick up this book immediately!!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Kat

I am a huge metal & rock fan & this looks like a good book.

Question

Does this book have swear words in it?

Pretty good

Pretty good read but kind of blew my image of Dave when he "found god"

Good

Like most rockers who decide tell all autobiographies dave mustaine is one f%$#@& up dude. Doesnt really cover anything any other autobiography about the rock lifesyle hasnt already a thousandd times before but still an entertaining read

Very Entertaining!

If you ever wondered how a rock star lived, read this. It is totally entertaining and makes you wonder how this guy, and the others, are still alive. Hard core lifestyle at its finest. Quick read because it keeps you busy and really not wanting to put it down.

An interesting read, but had potential to be better.

As most life stories are, Dave Mustaine's bio is interesting. There was so much untapped potential though. He really spent too much time describing his early sexual and drug exploits, often giving TMI that's just gross. I expected the foul language, he is a rock star after all, but sometimes it was crude to the point of distracting to the story. However, I was fascinated by his point of view on how things went down between him & Metallica and his conversion to Christianity. I just wish he had spent more time discussing his relationship with Dave Ellefson and the changes that his salvation have brought about in his life.

Ash

Hi

Cam

Hi

Mustaine

Much more interesting than other books from other musicians. It is much more than look how great of an artist l am and what a bad boy l was
It is a story of redemption and finding out the kind of man he can be and strives toward. Great read!

Definitely a page turner!

Worth every penny and a must for any metalhead or Megadeth fan alike.

Depressing, negative read.

I love Megadeth. Every note of every song. I admire Mustaines honesty, but man is he a whiney , "holier than thou" baby. He is a millionaire, married to a beautiful woman, has a beatiful family and made a huge mark and musical history but all he does is whine. He did the same thing to 15 + members of Megadeth that Metallica did to him. I thought the book was depressing and unfortunately made me think less of a guy I used to admire so much. Read the Lemmy autobiography if you are a metalhead. He had just as crappy a life but he turned it all around and has no regrets and not a single complaint. Much more uplifting read.

awesome!! New perspective on a great talent and fighting demons

great perspective on a guitar god. Also gives new insight to how metallica is a greedy band. Great example of overcoming a hard life and demons.

Great read about Dave Mustain and the Rock industry

I have been a fan of Metallica and Megadeth for over 25 years and really enjoyed reading about how his life as a Heavy Metal star. You have to remember that not everything in a biography is fact but is what this individual (Dave) remembers it to be. Unfortunately due to all the Heroine and Cocaine use that is present in the book I will not let my teenage children read it as I do not feel they are mature enough to realize that the drugs had a negative and life altering impact on many people in the book.

Probably the best biography I've ever read.

While reading this book I felt as if Dave was sitting across from me telling me his story. What an amazing writer. He's candid, raw and incredibly intelligent.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Most interesting biography

Dave Mustaine has done made a great book about his life of metal music. This is the most easy reading, interesting, and writing he ever did.
You should read this book, for Megadeth fans and others. This is a good book you should ever read.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.