Page 41 - Metal Hammer Issue 334 - UK (May 2020)
P. 41
DAVE MUSTAINE
he whole world is coming apart at “Yeah, I’m pretty stoked about that,” he
the seams. says, grinning as he grabs a bottle of water and
At least that’s the way it seems motions for us to have a seat in a private, black-
in Nashville, Tennessee this week. walled dressing room. The obvious first
A T6 tornado tore the hell out of question: So, how do you feel? “I’m a little run
town just as the coronavirus hit down, but a lot of that’s from the medication
the Volunteer State. Even President and all the stuff that goes along with treatment.
Trump is in Music City today, They hit the cancer really hard, nine doses of
surveying the damage from Marine chemo and 51 radiation treatments, which just
Helicopter One, hovering above us beats the hell out of you. My mouth is still
as we step into a dark, downtown messed up but overall, I feel really good.”
studio to meet with local resident, Dave settles in on the couch to tell us how he
Dave Mustaine. got the news that he was cancer-free. “I was
The Apocalypse’s first and second horsemen here in Nashville, at my doctor’s office. He had
take a back seat, at least for the moment. Right to reach down the back of my throat, which
now, we’re more concerned about Dave’s dog. was really unpleasant, but it was important for
Oblivious to its diminutive size, the long- him to feel and make sure. And he said my
haired Chihuahua descends upon us like some progress was amazing, that both sides felt the
high-pitched Hound of Hell, menacingly same. I’ve got a metal plate in my neck that
baring his teeth and threatening to devour our I figured might cause problems, but the doc
very soul if we step any closer to his master. told me, “Dave, you are in perfect health,
“Easy, Romeo. Easy,” Dave says, reaching 100%. You’re free to go.”
to save us from the snarling beast. We coil Dave pauses to slide a piece of Big Red gum
back, cautiously offering the back of our hand. into his mouth, twisting the foil between his
Dave laughs gruffly. “Oh, no,” he says. “That fingers, reflecting before he continues. “It
doesn’t work with him.” sounds bizarre, but I kind of knew. I took good
As the Megadeth frontman corrals his pup, care of myself. I’d done everything my doctors
it gives us a chance to check out the legend told me to do. I had tons of support from
after his recent health crisis. Mass of fiery family and friends. And I had lots of prayer.
mane – intact. Black jacket, jeans, black I don’t want to sound arrogant, but I expected
t-shirt, white sneakers. Honestly? Well, he it. I had faith that I was going to be healed.”
looks like Dave Mustaine, like the hellraiser
still not sold on cheap or easy peace. He moves t this point, Dave rewinds to early
a bit slow, but not creakily – more like a man 2019, explaining how he received
who’s fought the Devil bare-fisted and lived the grim verdict. While out
to tell the tale. shredding with Joe Satriani and
Zakk Wylde on the Experience Hendrix tour,
“THEY HIT THAT severe mouth pain struck. “I’d gone in to get
some dental work,” he says. “And after, it felt
CANCER HARD. IT BEAT like the dentist had broken a piece of scraper
off in my gums. I went back and he sent me
THE HELL OUTTA ME” to an oral surgeon who checked me out and
said, ‘You need to see an ear, nose and throat
DAVE MUSTAINE doctor. I don’t want to say anything bad, but
it looks like the Big C.’ Well, fuck, dude! Why’d
With the hound at bay, he turns to greet us. you say that, then?”
It’s difficult to know what’s appropriate in Dave shakes his head, still pissed, taking
this season of paranoia and mutant pandemic, a long pull of water. “Anyway, I figured I’d take
especially for a man who’s just had his care of myself once the Hendrix tour was over.
immune system nuked. Do we fist bump? Nod While out on the road, a friend of mine knew
and touch elbows? “Nah, I ain’t worried, man,” an ENT at the local emergency room. He came
Dave assures us, shaking hands with a vice over, took a look, and said it wasn’t anything
grip. “I’m healthy now.” to worry about. But I knew something was
The backstory: March 2019. After being wrong with me. It was just too far down for
bounced from doctor to doctor, Dave gets an anybody to see. We had a day off and I was
official diagnosis that sounds like some home in Nashville, so I saw a local specialist
dystopian speed metal verse. Squamous cell who suggested a scope. I don’t do good with
carcinoma on the base of your tongue. scopes, so they had to knock me out to get the
Hold up. Cancer? Mustaine? No way. tube in. But yeah, they confirmed that it was
If anyone seemed indestructible, it was cancer in the side of my throat that had spread
Dave Mustaine. Bad ass, bad attitude, snarling, to two lymph nodes. Initially, they wanted to
spitting, raging, red-headed, black belt- send me to MD Anderson in Houston for 11
carrying soldier in God’s Army, Godfather Of weeks and I said no. fucking. way. I’m not gonna
Thrash. That cancer could sink its claws into be away from my family for that long. So, they
someone like Dave sent shockwaves through set me up at Vanderbilt, with Dr. Cmelak,
the metal community. Now, one year after the who’s actually one of the best radiation
diagnosis, Metal Hammer comes to Music City oncologists in the country. I had a good team.”
to hear his testimony first-hand. Because Dave Fortunately for Mustaine, Music City is also
Mustaine kicked cancer’s ass. the healthcare capital of the United States.
METALHAMMER.COM 41
