Rust in Peace: The Inside Story of the Megadeth Masterpiece

by Dave Mustaine, Joel Selvin (With), Slash (Foreword by)

Overview

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Megadeth’s iconic record, Rust in Peace, from the band’s lead vocalist and guitarist.

When Rust in Peace was released in 1990, the future of Megadeth was uncertain. Fresh off their performance at the record-breaking Monsters of Rock festival, and with knockout new albums from Slayer, Anthrax, and Metallica dominating the charts, the pressure to produce a standout statement record was higher than ever.

In Rust in Peace: The Inside Story of the Megadeth Masterpiece, the band's lead vocalist and guitarist, Dave Mustaine, gives readers a never-before-seen glimpse into the artistry and insanity that went into making the band's most iconic record. He recounts the arduous task of hiring the band and supporting cast, of managing egos and extracurriculars during the album's ensuing success, and succumbing to the pressures of fame and fortune—which eventually forced the band to break up.

And yet, Megadeth's demise was just the beginning; the birth pangs of the record were nothing compared to what came next. Alcohol, drugs, sex, money, power, property, prestige, the lies fed to the band by the industry—and the lies they told each other-threatened to eat away at the band's bond like rust, devouring it until only the music survived.

Featuring a foreword by Slash

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780306846045
Publisher:	Hachette Books
Publication date:	09/07/2021
Pages:	208
Sales rank:	130,155
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Dave Mustaine is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist who has been performing for close to four decades. He is currently the lead vocalist and guitarist of the American heavy metal band Megadeth. His memoir, Mustaine, was a New York Times bestseller. He lives in Nashville.

Joel Selvin (coauthor) has covered pop music for the San Francisco Chronicle since 1970. He is the author of FareTheeWell, Altamont, and coauthor of Sammy Hagar's bestseller Red, among many more. He lives in San Francisco.

Table of Contents

Foreword Slash ix

Acknowledgments xiii

1 Castle Donington 1

2 Back Home 11

3 Demo 21

4 Drummers 31

5 Getting Straight 41

6 Back to Rehab 51

7 Marty 67

8 Rumbo 79

9 Cutting Guitars 89

10 Axl Calls 97

11 The Songs 107

12 Getting Back 125

13 Rust on the Road 135

14 Hawaii 147

15 Back Home 153

16 Clash in the Usa 159

17 Rust Reunion 167

18 Coda 185

Photo Credits 191

Editorial Reviews

10/05/2020

Mustaine (Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir), frontman of the heavy metal band Megadeth, delivers a detailed, off-the-wall oral history of the creation of 1990’s Rust in Peace, the band’s most popular and critically acclaimed album. As recording began on the album, Mustaine and bass player David “Junior” Ellefson were struggling with heroin addiction. Amid clashing personalities, upheaval in the band (the previous guitarist and drummer were replaced with Marty Friedman and Nick Menza, respectively), and their spiraling addictions, Mustaine says, “Something beautiful, something lasting came out of all that madness and catastrophe.” Working with rock critic Selvin, Mustaine, along with Ellefson and the rest of the band, as well as former managers, band members, friends, and enemies, reveal memorable moments, including Mustaine’s awestruck reaction to seeing Friedman play guitar for the first time (“the world stopped”), drug-addled video shoots, and a touching display of vulnerability when Mustaine discusses the current rift between himself and Ellefson (“I know life goes on”). With a foreword by Guns n’ Roses’ guitarist Slash, and a who’s-who of music industry participants, this rollicking history is a no-brainer for metal fans. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

Apple Books Bestseller

Geeks of Doom, "Fall 2020 Book Recommendations", "Holiday Gift Guide"

Consequence of Sound, "Holiday Gift Guide"
 
Jam Base, "Top Music Books of 2020"

UDiscoverMusic, "Best Heavy Metal Gifts for Christmas"

"You cannot discuss heavy metal without mentioning Dave Mustaine and Megadeth. I've known these guys since their beginning. We took them on their first national tour. This is one of the bands that sharpened the cutting edge of metal. This book tells the roller coaster story of their iconic album Rust in Peace and delves into their personal struggles to keep it all together while dealing with addiction. This struggle and eventual success is one of the things that make Dave Mustaine and Megadeth as a band so compelling. They went through it all and then some, and they came out the other end of it. It's one of the things we have in common. I am proud to have had a small hand in their sobriety during this period of their career. This book is a must read for metal fans. Herein lies their story-Glory, Destruction and Redemption."—Alice Cooper

"I have a tremendous amount of respect for Dave Mustaine. Dave's always stayed true to himself and has never been interested in chasing musical trends. If you ask me that's been the key to Megadeth's success and longevity in this business."—Ozzy Osbourne

"Rust in Peace is an album that means so much to so many it's worthy of this book solely dedicated to it. And now I can't wait for the movie!"—Scott Ian of Anthrax

"The drug-fueled mayhem, the riots, the riffs. The triumphs and the tragedies, no holds barred. I already considered myself a knowledgeable Megadeth aficionado, but I could not put this book down! I thoroughly enjoyed taking the trip with 'Deth on a journey that, against all odds, leads us up to the rebirth of the band and one of the true masterpieces of the Thrash Metal genre."—Michael Amott ofArch Enemy

"An amazing and frank look into the behind the scenes of the making of one of the greatest albums in heavy metal history."—Brian Slagel, Chairman/CEO, Metal Blade Records

"Rust in Peace is probably the greatest Megadeth recording ever. Great line up, great songs and great sound. I admire Dave's style to this day. He really plays his ass off on this!!"—Kerry King of Slayer

"With a foreword by Guns n' Roses' guitarist Slash, and a who's-who of music industry participants, this rollicking history is a no-brainer for metal fans."—Publisher's Weekly

"An appropriately spiky telling of the tale of a dangerously spiky record."—Kerrang!

"[This book] offers a vulnerable insight into the tension within the band and Mustaine’s struggles with addiction."—UDiscoverMusic

“An honest and unfiltered look at the most important era in the long, illustrious career of one of the greatest Metal bands of all time.”—Metal Talk

From the Publisher