Dave Mustaine says he thinks that “the world is a beautiful place.”
The Megadeth frontman has garnered a reputation for being one of the most divisive personalities in metal – but he says that many people falsely assume that he has a negative view of society
He tells KBAD 94.5: “A lot of people think I have a very negative view of the world. I think the world’s a beautiful place, but that there are bad people here, instead of some other people who are very pessimistic and think the world’s a bad place and that there’s only a few good people left.
“I try and go through my day, my job, my travels and just make people as happy as I possibly can. I’m not here to say, ‘Oh, the world’s gonna end,’ and all this kind of stuff.”
While he denies that their latest album Dystopia is the band’s commentary on current US affairs, he admits they use their music to educate fans.
He adds: “Part of the problem with people is they listen to what I say and they think I’m making a judgement. And what I’m doing is saying, ‘Look, here’s a situation. Find out for yourself. Get your own truth.’
“With our songs, we’ve always tried to educate our fans. I’ve never told anybody which way to vote, which way to think, which way to dress, which way to act – it’s always been, ‘Hey, here’s the moral at the end of the story.’”
The band are on tour until August, including an appearance at the Download festival in June.
Megadeth tour dates 2016
May 20: Columbus Rock On The Range, OH
May 22: Schaghticoke Rock ‘n Derby, NY
May 26: Sioux Falls Badlands Pawn, SD
May 27: Pryor Rocklahoma, OK
May 29: San Antonio River City Rockfest, TX
Jun 02: Milan Gods Of Metal, Italy
Jun 03: Bologna Estragon, Italy
Jun 05: Nijmegen FortaRock, The Netherlands
Jun 07: Lodz Power Festival, Poland
Jun 09: Solvesborg Sweden Rock Festival, Sweden
Jun 10: Download Festival, France
Jun 11: Download Festival, UK
Jun 14: Groningen Oosterport, Netherlands
Jun 15: Pratteln Z7 Konzertfabrik, Switzerland
Jun 16: Luxembourg Rockhal, Luxembourg
Jun 17: Dessel Graspop Metal Meeting, Belgium
Jun 17-19: Clisson Hellfest, France
Jun 22: Berlin Huxleys Neue Welt, Germany
Jun 23: Hamburg Docks, Germany
Jun 24: Copenhagen Copenhall, Denmark
Jun 25: Halden Tons Of Rock, Norway
Jun 28: Cologne Live Music Hall, Germany
Jun 29: Frankfurt Batschkapp, Germany
Jun 30: Munich Backstage, Germany
Jul 02: Rishon LeZion Live Park Amphitheatre, Israel
Jul 07: Sofia Universiada Hall, Bulgaria
Aug 02: Santiago Teatro Caupolican, Chile
Aug 07: Sao Paulo Espaco Das Americas, Brazil
Aug 12: Brasilia Net Live, Brazil
Aug 13: Fortaleza Siara Hall, Brazil
Aug 20: Ascuncion Independiente, Paraguay
Aug 22: Buenos Aires Luna Park, Argentina
