In a recent tweet, Ron McGovney talked about how Dave Mustaine contributed to Slayer’s sound.
A fan asked the musician the following:
“What did the guys in Metallica REALLY think of Slayer? To me they were yalls biggest competition. Banging riffs.”
He replied by saying:
“Back then, they were playing a lot of cover songs. I think that when Kerry and Jeff saw Dave Mustaine play guitar, everything changed for Slayer.”
What Does King Think About Mustaine?
In a 2023 interview with Metal Hammer, Kerry King spoke highly of Mustaine’s guitar work when he was in Metallica:
“Still to this day, he’s a f*cking great guitar player. They were great at that point. They were ahead of us by at least 16 months to a year. They were doing originals and we were still doing covers. I think we opened for Metallica with Mustaine, I can’t recall, but I know me and Dave [Lombardo, Slayer drummer] definitely saw them in a club and we were blown away by Mustaine.”
Later, Mustaine thanked King for his kind words on X, writing:
“It’s not every day one of the most fearsome guitarists in the world gives you a compliment like this. Thank you Kerry, I look forward to hearing your new stuff and we should definitely go out together.”
Mustaine’s Other Statements On Slayer
After Slayer announced their farewell tour, Mustaine paid tribute to the band, saying:
“You gotta remember that we played with Slayer long before they found their direction, too, so they were still kinda getting their legs, so to speak. This makes me feel kinda old, but I got to watch them grow into who they are. And as a guy that had a pretty good influence in this whole thrash thing, watching this group of guys going from being on the outside of the circle, to entering the circle, to demanding and earning the right to be right in the centre… it was great, you know?”
Kerry also previously said Mustaine was difficult to work with. He mentioned Mustaine was cooler back then but has changed due to drugs and other activities. King wouldn’t join Megadeth today and feels their music styles are too different.
You can see Ron’s tweet below.
Back then, they were playing a lot of cover songs. I think that when Kerry and Jeff saw @DaveMustaine play guitar, everything changed for Slayer.
— Ron McGovney (@RonMcGovney) July 9, 2024