Lord of the Strings: Return of the King

The last time I stood within 20 meters of Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine was in Corpus Christi, Texas, in the year 2008. That was my senior year of college. Chris Broderick was his lead guitarist back then. United Abominations was the band’s most recent album, and “Sleepwalker” was my favorite of the new songs. The next album, Endgame, was on the horizon.

I’d seen Megadeth play with Iron Maiden back in 2013 as well. That was in Raleigh, NC, at the same venue where I saw my first metal show, Ozzfest, back in 2006.

It’s strange that I remember these shows so vividly. I remember the songs, the stage lighting schemes, and the crowds. I’m grateful to my mind for grasping a lot of these moments.

This show had a special meaning for me. Mustaine had just overcome throat cancer and live music had largely been canceled for the previous 18 months due to the pandemic.

I was in need of a catharsis because year 36 has been particularly difficult for me. Due to a foot injury I’ve spent it largely motionless. Virtual meetings had slowly devoured my spirit over the previous year and I was, honestly, not feeling like my old optimistic self.

Something about a rock show is cathartic. People stop stressing and start experiencing. For a few hours all problems subside and all that matters is the music. To hell with the rest. Let’s just mosh.

I felt my personal issues evaporate quickly. It’s a similar feeling, oddly, one gets from being out of the city and staring at a clear night sky. I think it’s because both instances halt thoughts of the past and future.

It’s easy to forget just how incredible Mustaine is as a guitarist. He’s brilliant and he knows it. There are a lot of guitarists with deft technical ability, the types who can blast thousand-mile-an-hour solos as their strumming hand whirs up and down the fretboard. But every note from every solo on Mustaine’s guitar is downright mellifluous. His melodies can be menacing and sensuous, and often they’re both at once. He’s better than the rest. His albums can only capture a fraction of his magic, and make no mistake, he is a true magician. The musician Dave Mustaine stays with you.

I was so caught up in the song “She-Wolf” that I attempted to jump. I forgot that I couldn’t jump, and my right leg surged with pain from the ankle to knee. I didn’t give a damn. I was at a rock show (and I’d also had a few cocktails to numb the pain).

You never know how many times you’ll get to see Dave Mustaine. Just seeing him perform once is a blessing. Here’s to hoping for more opportunities.