Slayer's Kerry King: 'Dave Mustaine Is A Dictator'

Slayer's Kerry King: "Dave Mustaine Is A Dictator"

posted Jul 9, 2004 at 9:06 PM by deathbringer. (53 Comments)

Band Photo: Slayer (?)

In a brand-new interview with Guitar World magazine, SLAYER's Kerry King spoke about the time he spent in MEGADETH as the band's touring/live guitarist. Asked how he thinks MEGADETH would have turned out if he had stayed in the group, Kerry replied, "I played their first five shows, and if I had stayed I probably wouldn't have lasted more than a year, because [MEGADETH frontman] Dave Mustaine is such a dictator and had much poppier ideas than me. It never would have worked. Jeff [Hanneman, SLAYER guitarist] and I used to go see METALLICA and be blown away by how awesome Mustaine was, so I was honored when the call came asking me to help him. But after five shows, I was like, 'I'm in SLAYER and that ain't going to change." That didn't go over too well."

Source: Blabbermouth

What's Next?

Please share this article if you found it interesting.

You can get related band news and info in the sidebar and on the respective band pages.

53 Comments on "Slayer's Kerry King: 'Dave Mustaine Is A Dictator'"

Post your comments and discuss the article below! (no login required)

1. oh my gawd writes:

Hey look at me, my name's Kerry King and I talk sh** about people in other bands as if I was a high school girl gossiping and b****ing about some other girl I don't like. f*** you and your mediocre band.

# Jul 10, 2004 @ 5:54 AM ET | IP Logged

2. ? writes:

Slayer...Mediocre???? What rock have u been living under???

# Jul 10, 2004 @ 4:34 PM ET | IP Logged

3. fuck you oh my gawd writes:

what the hell is wrong with you. slayer is twice the thrash band that megadeath is. hey look at me im oh my gawd i know nothing about metal and i like to be hypocritical and talk sh** about kerry king. f*** you douchebag

# Jul 10, 2004 @ 5:32 PM ET | IP Logged

4. Muffy writes:

hey gawd, give me your home address so i can kick your f***in ass!! dave mustaine is a f***in p***y like yourself!

# Jul 10, 2004 @ 9:42 PM ET | IP Logged

5. evol monkey child writes:

slayer kicks 666 types of a$$!! oh my gawd needs to go listen to feminem if she doesn't like slayer. now i'm p***ed. anyone who hates slayer needs to get off this website and go jump off a bridge. you piss me off...

# Jul 11, 2004 @ 1:38 PM ET | IP Logged

6. Action Blackson writes:

Anyone that "claims" to like metal and trashes on Slayer needs a serious beating.

# Jul 11, 2004 @ 1:53 PM ET | IP Logged

7. Levithan writes:

f*** the little p***y c***! I'd dare you to say that to Kerry's face! Slayer have a more dedicated fan base than any other band on the planet... metal or not. Death to the little p***y f***!

# Jul 11, 2004 @ 5:31 PM ET | IP Logged

8. deathbringer writes:

Slayer rulez!

# Jul 11, 2004 @ 5:35 PM ET | IP Logged

9. ummm writes:

i'm pretty sure every slayer song sounds exactly the same. they were never able to change anything or be creative.

# Jul 11, 2004 @ 6:00 PM ET | IP Logged

10. Megadeth writes:

Slayer is F@ckup!!!!!!!! Megadeth forever

# Jul 11, 2004 @ 6:25 PM ET | IP Logged

11. relliK writes:

Well I think alot of Slayer fans are f***in brainwashed.Slayer is the sh**,but some of you take it too far.

# Jul 11, 2004 @ 6:38 PM ET | IP Logged

12. deathbringer writes:

Saying every Slayer song is the same is about as retarded as the people who don't listen to metal saying all metal sounds the same. They do have a lot of albums and many follow their style of Thrash (which generally can sound similar), but they've also done a punk tribute album and Diabolus In Musica was different with a down-tuned sound. God Hates Us All sounds like there are lots more distinctive riffs throughout than many past albums (especial Diabolus, which I was noticing in my car just today). I was not always a huge Slayer fan, but they have won me over by God HAtes Us All. I love their new sh** and the classics (just not all of the old albums in their entirety) and they put on the most intense show of everyone I've seen.

# Jul 11, 2004 @ 8:27 PM ET | IP Logged

13. leviathan writes:

To say all Slayer songs sound the same... If you say that then you're f***ing stupid. Slayer use different keys, tunings, time signatures and tempos. The people who claim that "every slayer song sounds exactly the same" obviously can't hear this and therefore should go back and listen to something a little more straight forward eg Risk by Megadeth. Also, listen to Reign In Blood and then listen to Seasons In The Abyss and if the cloth eared, tone deaf little sh** heads still can't hear different songs then i recommend that you see a doctor. Slayer are the only band to stay true to their routes through out all the trends of the nineties, compared this to Megadeth's track record of pop albums and SLIT YOUR THROAT! DEATH TO p***ies!

# Jul 11, 2004 @ 8:41 PM ET | IP Logged

14. Addie writes:

Ha ha ha ........slayer use different timings ???? keys?????? tunings????? Tempos??????.............yea right they play everything at 200bps and have tom araya chugging on an open E string .......listen to Rust in ppeace u will know what metal is about .....what riffs are .......and what a puny human being u are .......marty friedman and mustaine 's solos sh*t over kerry king and hanneman......if slayer could ever pull off a Hangar 18 or a holy wars we ll see.........Kerry King talks sh@t all the time .....heres a guy who said that he would never play with dave lambardo even if he was the last drummer on earth....and lo behold ......we have lambardo back in the fold.......balls!!!!!!..........kerry king is a bunch of sh** .......hell even south of heaven and dead skin mask sound the same................Mustaine is and will remain god .........he doesnt even need to say anything ...............Megadeth is forever

# Jul 11, 2004 @ 11:32 PM ET | IP Logged

15. Big Dan writes:

Man you must be sh**tin me! Slayer f***ing eats Megadeath for breakfest! I don't care what any of you say There wouldn't even be a Megadeath if Dave wouldn't have been kicked out of Metallica. So if Megadeath is second bannana to Metallica that shows you how good Megadeath really is! so this is what it comes down too
Megadeath <; Metallica <; Britney Spears <; EVERYTHING ELSE <; SLAYER <; anything better than SLAYER

# Jul 12, 2004 @ 1:09 PM ET | IP Logged

16. Slayer_Is_Gay writes:

Slayer and Megadeth sucks. End of story.

# Jul 12, 2004 @ 11:23 PM ET | IP Logged

17. message boy writes:

does anyone remember nothingface well two members made a band called kingdom of snakes" and thier ep is coming out soon

# Jul 13, 2004 @ 12:46 AM ET | IP Logged

18. why the fuck is addie allowed to speak writes:

what the hell. all the music sounds the same!?! listen to god hates us all and then put in seasons in the abyss and tell me they sound the same. the last couple of albums prior to god hates us all they were experimenting with different kinds of melodies and riffs. f*** you and your solos. listen to captor of sin or angel of death and then talk to me

# Jul 13, 2004 @ 6:01 PM ET | IP Logged

19. vic writes:

i agree addie. i couldn't have said it better. megadeth is way more complex musically than slayer is. don't get me wrong, i love slayer, but dave mustaine is just 10 times better than kerry king. he has no right to talk sh**. lets not forget who started this style of metal...........oh yeah- dave mustaine. shut the f*** up kerry king. go worry about "promoting" ur new album.

Megadeth = Excellence

# Jul 13, 2004 @ 6:53 PM ET | IP Logged

20. Emperor4Ever writes:

Slayer & Megadeth are both cool, Slayer obviously better. But EMPEROR is 4 EVER the greatest band ever. Check out Zyklon!!!

# Jul 13, 2004 @ 10:10 PM ET | IP Logged

21. ?????????? writes:

f*** any1 who talks sh** about slayer and any member they can go f*** themselves

# Jul 13, 2004 @ 10:35 PM ET | IP Logged

22. nin writes:

I don't know, I respect Slayer and all, and the talent it requires to play their music, they just have a dull sound to me. I don't know why I've just never been able to get into the music. Personal opinion I guess.

# Jul 14, 2004 @ 3:42 AM ET | IP Logged

23. slayer-rulz!!! writes:

Megadeth used to be cool...Peace Sell...Rust in Peace...now they are trying to go commercial and totally suck a$$...now they sound so freaking pathetic and gay that I change the station whenever I hear them...Slayer still kicks a$$ and in my opinion if you were to put them both on tour Megadeth would get bood off stage and everyone would be screaming for Slayer!!!!!!

# Jul 17, 2004 @ 1:05 AM ET | IP Logged

24. Slipknot maggot writes:

Slipknot were rip both these bands to pieces!!! Maybe not the old Slayer but difinetly Megadeth!! WE ARE THE PULSE OF THE MAGGOTS!!!!!!!

# Jul 17, 2004 @ 1:08 AM ET | IP Logged

25. MetalMan writes:

Slayer is heavier but not better, I mean everyone can scream like araya, their solos has no melodies so i can f*** all around the freatboard and it would sound like any slayer solo.
Slayer= heavy sh**
Megadeth= great musicians and heavy music
BTW, i don't care who's heavier I care for music's quality.
Just MY OPINION.

# Jul 18, 2004 @ 12:13 AM ET | IP Logged

26. Mike writes:

Rust In Peace puts every single Slayer album to shame. But I'm not saying Slayer are a horrible band, they do there thing, and they do it well, but Megadeth are on a higher level, they incorporate melody and dynamics, something that's missing greatly from Slayer's music.

# Jul 18, 2004 @ 12:15 AM ET | IP Logged

27. somelosersRdumb writes:

To say that slipknot is even in the same universe as Megadeth, let alone better, is utterly f***ing rediculous. I happen to find Slayer redundant and not overly talented, and Tom's vocals are sub-par, but they are twice the band slopknut could ever hope to be. I mean, sk has you brainwashed fools calling yourselfs maggots, for christ sakes. If you are listening to slipknot in, oh, say, 18 years from now, I may be willing to reconsider my opinion. But I'd think you would find a more talented band to make a fool of yourself over by the time you get to high school.

# Jul 18, 2004 @ 12:34 AM ET | IP Logged

28. 45 writes:

Someone slay slayer so we never have to hear about em again. Oh wait...that time is now. Slayer who? Yeah I'm a long time fan and Slayer cd's make great coasters. kick your own a$$ for listening to em.

# Jul 18, 2004 @ 12:44 AM ET | IP Logged

29. somelosersRdumb writes:

Um, Slayer-rulz!, you say Megadeth is commercial, and then you say you turn the station when they come on. IE, you dig music on the radio. IE, you listen to a lot of lame sh**. IE, your opinion is worthless. How much Slayer do you hear on the radio? Probably a little less than none. But you turn the station when Megadeth is played when you hear them, because you don't want it to interrupt your Linkin Park, Nickelback, Atreyu, and whatever other pathetic crap is played on radios these days. Thanks to the internet, I haven't had to listen to the radio in years, always a new band to discover. But then again, I actually dig metal, I don't just try to suck up with some DUMB f***ING POST proclaiming to know about something I know nothing about. Maybe you can get your boyfriend to show you what real metal is, and he won't have much use for a radio when teaching you. Lesson number one should be that Dave Mustaine is a f***ing musical genious.

# Jul 18, 2004 @ 12:47 AM ET | IP Logged

30. somelosersRdumb writes:

How weird, as I read this article and posted a couple of replies, vh1's metal show had played "peace sells" and my favorite slayer song, "seasons in the abyss". Hell, headbangers ball won't play sh** this good.

# Jul 18, 2004 @ 12:51 AM ET | IP Logged

31. wermacht writes:

http://www.metal-sludge.com/ExposedSlayer.htm

# Jul 18, 2004 @ 1:06 AM ET | IP Logged

32. carpna writes:

what is KK talking about? how was Dave thinking pop when he played in Megadeth? the 1st 4 CD's were thrash music. i dont get why he mentioned Dave going poppier at the time

# Jul 18, 2004 @ 1:19 AM ET | IP Logged

33. Metalmassacre writes:

Slayers a good metal band but anyone who has actually LISTENED to megadeth and not just compared them to dave's ex band metallica would know that megadeth is a true metal band for guitarists/musicians. Slayer pounds their riffs, megadeth articulates their riffs. Two different styles of metal, both good-- Megadeth, from this guitarists perspective is just a lot more thought out, anyone who thinks slayer is heavier/faster hasnt been to a megadeth show or listened to Rust in Peace......

# Jul 18, 2004 @ 2:48 AM ET | IP Logged

34. jimbo writes:

hey, ok slayer are good, but i doubt very much that they have the most dedicated fanbase. metallica certainly the most wide fanbase...most likely not the most dedicated tho...megadeth however have a huge fanbase who are very dedicated. the megadeth forums will prove that. in fact what was i saying...slayer are awesome...i just prefer megadeth thats all...but im sure kerry is right about mustaine in the early times. but what is he telling us thats new? everyone should have worked out for themselves...if your working with dave mustaine on music...its gona be, for the main part, a one man show

# Jul 18, 2004 @ 7:35 AM ET | IP Logged

35. trakra writes:

I think both the bands are great. It just depends on my mood what I listen too.

# Jul 19, 2004 @ 10:33 AM ET | IP Logged

36. cableguy writes:

Dave Mustaine would outplay Kerry King anyday!!!! I love Megadeth and Slayer,But when it comes down to crazy-blow your mind leads ...Its always going to be DAVE"GOD"MUSTAINE. end of story.

# Jul 19, 2004 @ 10:08 PM ET | IP Logged

37. relliK writes:

^I have to agree.

# Jul 19, 2004 @ 10:59 PM ET | IP Logged

38. kevin writes:

umm...their both good...u dumbasses.

# Jul 20, 2004 @ 1:03 PM ET | IP Logged

39. deathbringer writes:

I can see why someone might like Megadeth over Slayer simply because Thrash is not for everyone. Megadeth has more classic metal riffing and somewhat better solos. Big deal. Metal is not all about guitar riffs and solos. Sure it's a huge part. I don't even consider Kerry King's individual playing ability because Slayer sounds so amazing as a package and I'd take that package over Megadeth anyday no matter who is the better guitar player.

# Jul 20, 2004 @ 1:31 PM ET | IP Logged

40. nin writes:

Slayer bores me.

# Jul 20, 2004 @ 4:47 PM ET | IP Logged

41. relliK writes:

I prefer Slayer way over Megadeth,I just think Mustaine is better at solos and sh**.

# Jul 20, 2004 @ 7:17 PM ET | IP Logged

42. metalforever writes:

Slayer is a good metal band and I like them a lot. I respect them for never playing popish material as compared to megadeth. This said, Megadeth is the best metal band to ever walk this earth. Mustaine's ingenouisity, skill, riffing ability, solos and ability to make off notes fit is far more superior than anything Slayer will ever be able to accomplish.

# Jul 21, 2004 @ 7:32 AM ET | IP Logged

43. tiger woods writes:

Megadeth rules and tom Araya is from Chile the best country

# Jul 22, 2004 @ 6:57 PM ET | IP Logged

44. evol monkey child writes:

slayer rules, need i say more?

# Jul 23, 2004 @ 10:35 AM ET | IP Logged

45. Bla writes:

Megadeth rules. Slayer is cool too! Shut up.

# Jul 24, 2004 @ 10:00 AM ET | IP Logged

46. LEEo0 writes:

It's almost irrelevent at this point to say. But that a$$hole at the top said "gossiping", and "b****ing" as if they were two seperate things. hahaha what an a$$hole. Kerry King rules.

# Jul 24, 2004 @ 7:15 PM ET | IP Logged

47. jv writes:

who cares? kerry king just talks sh** about everyone anyway. daves not the first to get a hiding from him... lets not forget people like rob flynn.

# Jul 25, 2004 @ 9:54 PM ET | IP Logged

48. slayer-rulz!!! writes:

New Megadeth music sux major balls. And you are right you pathetic "somelosersRdumb". I do listen to radio music and I do think that Linkin Park and some other alternative bands kick ass, but thats what they started out to be and are damn good at what they play. Megadeth started as a heavy thrash band and Mustain sold out his A$$ to try and play commercial music and now he sux at it. He should have just called it and let these new bands take over. Same thing with Metallica...they suck now too. That new sh@# they play aint worth a squirt of piss. They need to call it quits. They will never top Kill'em All, Ride The Lightning, and Master Of puppets. Sorry you hard core Metallica and Megadeth fans. Your bands are now dead!! Get of their nutz and find new bands!!!!

# Jul 25, 2004 @ 11:09 PM ET | IP Logged

49. chris writes:

I like megadeth and slayer just as much as the next guy... (hell one of my favorite albums is God Hates Us All) but seriously Kerry is not more thrash than Dave... no one is He invented it. Well he helped i would actually give the inventing of thrash metal to Lemmy woo motorhead is cool! but man it's all good and Dave is not a jerk. When your in a band to keep control so everyone doesn't act like morons u gotta be mean sometimes u kno. i'm sorry if kerry thought he could join and be the boss but he can't so it's too bad! Plus Marty Friedman rips over kerry king

# Jul 28, 2004 @ 5:03 PM ET | IP Logged

50. chris writes:

one more thing My favorite (non led zeppelin) album of all time is Killing is My Business... man kerry and dave on one album dats the heezy

# Jul 28, 2004 @ 5:06 PM ET | IP Logged

51. HAHAHA writes:

Why are there so many slayer fans out there (not all of them) that only know how to say dumbass sh** like "SLAYER f***ING KICKSASS AND IF YOU DON'T SEE THAT YOU'RE f***ING STUPID" or "MEGADEATH AND MUSTAINE EAT sh**"...jesus christ...I'm not saying you need to be a p***y and accept everyones opinion as legitimate, but that doesn't mean you gotta make yourself sound like a retarded dipsh**.

# Jul 29, 2004 @ 3:43 AM ET | IP Logged

52. VikingCrown (Denmark) writes:

I think it's really sad to see how all you guys just throw all this sh** in eachothers faces... I mean, Slayer is great, Megadeth is great... Kerry King talks sh** about Machine Head, Metallica & Megadeth. Dave Mustaine is still, 20 years later, sad about being kicked out of Metallica.
Besides if it were not for Metallica, neither Slayer or Megadeth would exist. They more than anyone professionalised the Metal genre, they gave it thought+aggression, and the only reason why people slap Metallica, is because they can't say it's "their" little band, that they carry with them all the time. I think it's sad to see how much people fail to recognise the true pioneers of Thrash/Speed Metal... Sad sad sad...

# Aug 2, 2004 @ 7:14 AM ET | IP Logged

53. Dark-Calibur writes:

That may be true, maybe, but Metallica is just to money hungry and lars has shown the whole world he was all about money when the napster era came along. So I turned my attention away from them if they were so caught up on the money and not the music. Not to say metallica sucks, because they play great stuff, it's just there motives and intents are pretty gay...Slayer and megadeth are great bands in my opinion and If you hate either or, thats all on you...Just keep rocking is all....

# Aug 2, 2004 @ 10:54 AM ET | IP Logged

To minimize comment spam/abuse, you cannot post comments on articles over a month old. Please check the sidebar to the right or the related band pages for recent related news articles.

Metal Underground.com