This interview was actually conducted by Guitar For The Practicing Musician magazine in 1992. I own this issue which is why I know where it's from. Coincidentally I was recently going through my old guitar magazines and I found this issue. I forgot about this one but there are many other good Mustaine ramblings in other magazines including one that I believe was in Guitar Player from a 1991 issue where he rips Testament for, in his own words,"ripping off our (Megadeth's) drum riser" and "copying our stage moves." He also mentioned that Testament was sounding like Metallica and Chuck was trying to sound like James Hetfield. Scott Ian also got in a few cracks at Testament (the interview was conducted with Mustaine, Scott Ian, and Jeff Hanneman during the Clash of the Titans tour). He mentioned something about Testament having dance steps layed out on stage for stage presence.
I personally don't put too much stock into Mustaines ramblings. I mean it's pretty much old news and he's been doing it forever. However, as a musician and a guitar player he ranks right up there with the best and to suggest otherwise is very shortsighted. The first Megadeth band with Chris Poland and Gar Samuelson was technically phenomenal and were very fundamental in putting thrash metal on the map of musical respectability. I would have to say that at that time they were an all around better band than Metallica. Obviously it didn't matter in the record sales department since we all know what transpired over the years. However, now the latest crap by Megadeth is a different story and doesn't sound at all heavy but more like pop music. It's too bad that Mustaine wrote his best music when he was a drug addict.
It doesn't bother me that all of these people are ripping on each other. Perhaps the music could even benefit from certain criticisms. I guess it can't be too serious since there is a link to the Testament website on the Anthrax site. So kiddies, please try and lighten up. We all know who's making the heavier music today.
