Marty Friedman says constant questions about his time with Megadeth don’t get to him as much as they used to.
The guitarist is a star in Japan, where he’s been based since 2000, and he’s better known there as a TV personality than as the former Megadeth guitarist.
But he still fields questions about his time with Dave Mustaine’s band, including recently being linked with a return to the band as they searched for a new guitarist and drummer.
Freidman tells Ghost Cult: “I used to get a little bit, not upset – but I’m doing all of this cool stuff now. Why do you keep bringing up Megadeth?
“Then I realised that it takes a long time of doing other things before people notice it. After a while, people ask less about it and more about what I’ve been doing lately. So it’s better.”
He says the Megadeth questions come mostly from media and fans outside of Japan, and that fans in his adopted country are as interested in the music he has created since moving there.
He adds: “I’ve done so many other things. Maybe if 10 people meet me, two of them would know me from Megadeth, two of them know me from this thing and two would know me from something else. It’s all different things.”
But he insists: “I’m proud of all of that Megadeth stuff so I really don’t mind.”
Friedman last year described J-pop sensations Babymetal as Japan’s answer to Meshuggah. He also released solo album Inferno last year. Megadeth are currently recording their 15th album with new guitarist Kiko Loureiro and Lamb Of God drummer Chris Adler.
