DID DAVE MUSTAINE SING & PLAY ON THE "RIDE THE LIGHTNING DEMO"?

[@pilgrimMj]

Dave Mustaine played kazoo on Moth Into Flame.

[@Sk8rocka]

That was him singing, actually.

[@pilgrimMj]

I do get the two confused.

[@mdnblues]

pilgrimMj No, that's Robert's job.

[@allenbass5131]

Ye right he played the armless,legless, wonder of the twentieth century in the One video too

[@damienwaychester1527]

NO!!! Roberto Agustín Miguel Santiago Samuel Perez de la Santa Concepción Trujillo Veracruz Bautista plays kazoo in Metallica

[@mindpurge2270]

Flash before my eyes Now it's time to die-AH Definitely James, 100% positive.

[@gooderish]

He's a modern day Shakespeare.

[@John6-40]

Lol as soon as I heard the die-AHH...I was like "yep, definitely James"

[@jeremyrock7446]

mindpurge in the 90’s my buddy had rare ep and it definitely sounded like mustaine singing. But that one is definitely James

[@waldus6166]

You sound like Lars

[@mrThorleifsen]

Minus the accent.

[@nikosmj1]

ummmm

[@tomnoonan306]

lol

[@Isaacserrano_19]

Mr Tato lol

[@CJ_YT.]

Hahah he does

[@Metallica8589]

It's funny because even on the youtube one, you can clearly tell it is James. Not sure where people got confused.

[@ultragames4life]

Steve at certain parts it sounds sorta like daves live singing but deeper

[@talis84]

ditto. Still sounds like James-ha! been listening to both bands since 1990, not too much after these albums came out.

[@hellraiser6766]

Steve exactly its obvious its james

[@trevorclark7985]

Steve if Dave mustaine sounded like that then that would mean he sang on kill me all

[@MrDlt123]

Yeah, if you've listened to any Metallica album at all, you can clearly hear the 'yah' that James sometimes added to the end of each verse.

[@coltallic3114]

Sounds nothing like Mustaine on both the yt and fixed versions. It sounds just like James singing live in 1985. The fact that people actually thought that was Dave... just wow.

[@BirdsElopeWithTheSun09]

It does sound a lot like Dave, but you can still clearly tell that it's James.

[@Nyslleo]

BirdsElopeWithTheSun wtf it doesn't

[@Skaarn_]

BirdsElopeWithTheSun Well that's a gigantic contradiction

[@marcinmcula99]

If you only know stuff like black album it would be hard to believe that's james singing

[@uome20bukz]

@@marcinmcula99well if you’re familiar with James’ live voice from the early and mid 80s you can clearly tell it’s James.

[@mraguia5036]

People are tone deaf if they think that's Mustane.

[@seanoconnor5730]

Mr Aguia I'm tone deaf and I could tell it was James. He was trying to channel his inner King Diamond 😉

[@Krzztl]

@@seanoconnor5730 tone deaf? I don’t wanna be offensive or anything, but exactly what’s that?

[@seanoconnor5730]

@@Krzztl hear me sing and you'll understand why

[@sirspongadoodle]

@@seanoconnor5730 singing is for gays anyways.

[@GOWZDAWG19]

Yup! Dave sang every songs in KEA and RTL, he also played the guitar, bass and drums as well.

[@dablindscooter1973]

Lou Angeles he could prob play drums better than lars

[@ihavenolegs1731]

Dave em All

[@jai4481]

@@dablindscooter1973 agreed xd

[@the_motherfucker]

And every album after that too, even St. Anger

[@SavitTheGoalie]

I believe it

[@KSSRacing]

It's James singing %100

[@MrXatcloud]

James James James and James.

[@SigTheSauceMan]

There's no mistaking James' voice, no matter which era we're talking about.

[@johnsaults4949]

Aiden Hamilton Music James Blowing Lars maybe

[@TheAgentAssassin]

100% James

[@johnsaults4949]

Yeah wait. No Lars is the gayest. I'm so ashamed of those guys.

[@aryotaheri7421]

even on the KZbin version it's still really obvious that James is singing.

[@mrduke5058]

EXACTLY

[@undertheinfluence1654]

His voice is distinct

[@robncasey1216]

James' growl is unmistakable...always has been. I don't care how old he is. It's been what has always set him apart.

[@vannacee26]

Yep, and James' voice is also deeper.

[@jimmywood3735]

James can growl but dave knocked him the F out! 😆

[@Kriegter]

Dave's voice is very nasal

[@4572dk]

thats definately james - its Mustaines pitch but nothing like his style

[@brandonbooze3599]

Dhruv Kotecha there are no grunts or whines

[@skotwilson904]

Dhruv Kotecha Agreed.

[@jantapp1714]

Skot Wilson of

[@VonOzbourne]

"Nooow it's time, to diiiee YA!" Yep. That's Hetfield.

[@glennrodriguez4941]

Dhruv Kotecha Dave didn't have his signature style back then

[@qjones7298]

Dames Metfield is my favourite Metallica Member

[@omicron5529]

haha that's fuckin mad funny lmao

[@lapinus]

Metallideth

[@heartsthekitteh6239]

Honestly I prefer Jave Hustaine for his flute work on Kill The Lightning

[@sayaadadurian]

Another way to confirm that dave did not sing on the album is in an interview I say some time ago. In it Dave claimed that during the inception of Megadeth they were looking for a lead vocalist. When they couldn't find one, Dave ended up singing. Which means that it's highly unlikely that Dave would even attempt to sing on the demo.

[@MajstorijeM]

You are all deaf, it is Lars singing

[@lapinus]

It's def kirk

[@Geckoblade64]

Dave did the vocals on Call of Ktulu

[@myamarana69]

"Whatever the hell that's called" yeah right Dave , hahahah

[@coreycunningham4727]

Even at a higher pitch, it still sounds like James. It doesn't sound a thing like mustaine. He has a much different singing style. It's a lot more nasally

[@averymay4598]

To me, it's clear that James is singing.

[@MarekJergner]

He did sing in Metallica. The only thing he sang was "Killing Time!". That's it.

[@SeneekiKaant]

lol you'd have to be completely tone deaf to not be able to pick up on that signature James vocal in the original demo recording

[@Sk8rocka]

What I like about dave's rhythm section is that he changes a lot of 5th chords (powerchords) into 3rd chords and various other little things. 8:15 shows this quite well. I was pleasantly surprised when learning holy wars because it wasn't all powerchords, I mean he obviously uses them, but he mixes it up with other chords to create interesting changes in mood as opposed if you were to just play it all in 5ths.

[@Sk8rocka]

For the record though, he's not playing 3rds at 8:15, think it's 2nds and dissonant out of scale stuff. I'm not fantastic at music theory but he's definitely not a powerchord workhorse like so many metal guitarists back then.

[@lichaddergaming2789]

So awesome of you showing that vintage cassette of "Ride the Lightning" Brings back so many memories. I was 11 years old when that was released. Kudos

[@BugOperator]

"...I can't even remember what the name of that song was..." Suuuuuuuuuuure, Dave.

[@The_Last_Ninja]

To answer the question, no Dave didn’t sing and play on those records, however there is a rumour that he played the solos on St. Anger though….

[@daisycherry7242]

As soon as you played the higher pitched one, it instantly hit me as James. The fact that anyone thought it was Dave blows my mind, like it's so obvious that it's James.

[@jdaddy7001]

you've got my vote on the enhanced demo upload! And thank you for all your hard work

[@rottenberry4]

lars’ KZbin account

[@fuckfirstworldism9782]

Dave Mustaine used to play 1/4 step down and likely recorded that way for no life till leather

[@savagelouie7007]

I wish i was a teen in the 80s. It must have been a badass time from what I remember as a kid.

[@Brian-qg8dg]

History tends to side that metal was so big in the 80's.. I was there, trust me, it wasn't that big. Poppy dance etc music was freaking huge. Metal foe the moat part was pretty much always underground.

[@FilmThePoliceFTP]

I could tell it was James before it was fixed. Those of us deeply familiar with their music would know.

[@H.E.M.]

The way James sings flashed before my eyes he sings it lower towards the end. Dave doesn’t really do that he would’ve just screamed eyes and add a “ohhh” or a loud screech after it.

[@Sk8rocka]

I really don't know how people can think it's Dave. He's using different throat shapes at times, but he was new to singing.

[@Mattowarrior777]

it all comes down to the solos..if its hammett like vibrato its hammett, if not mustaine. I always knew the claims on youtube were a sham. There IS a cool rehearsal tape of Mustaine and Lars and James though flying around the web..great channel btw!

[@AFXAcid37]

Got a link for that video? Would love to see that.

[@MKDumas1981]

Mattowarrior777 Due to lack of writing time, Hammett used a lot of Mustaine's solos on Kill 'Em All (especially the outro solo to The Four Horsemen), but, everything on Ride the Lightning is Hammett.

[@Lopez-my1bo]

MKDumas1981 hammett didnt copy daves solos note for note he improvised a bit

[@AFXAcid37]

Dude, it's fucking 2017, stop living in 1985. You know how dumb this makes you look?

[@mitchringel4270]

John lydon he was superior at ONE style of playing, but metallica went in another direction with complex melodies/superior song construction, and solos that had more feeling than just tremolo picking wildly, and that's what makes a great guitarist. Mustaine will always play 3rd fiddle 🤘

[@97warlock]

Ride the lightning is still a very solid strong album to this day.

[@ironhammer8935]

Dave was thrown out of the band in april of 1983. The Ride The Lightning demo was recorded in september of 1983. Just before they began work on Ride The Lightning album in Copenhagen. Remaining songs were completed in the studio. Also the first time Dave was singing was only when he formed Megadeth. Before that he was trying to find the singer. Eventually he decided that he will do the vocals.

[@Okshake]

Yeah that's definitely James even the way he pronounces his words.. "YEAH, HEEEYEEERE YEAH!" "SOMEONE ELSE CONTROLLING MEEEEYEAAAH!"

[@megadethfan001]

Man, it's clearly James on vocals

[@scottmthw]

Both audio versions sound like James.

[@luckydominguez2654]

Dave never sing anything in Metallica, but good video, like your channel

[@11DNA11]

Sang backing vocals.

[@YLS8763]

lucky dominguez he also sang a couple songs at their early live shows

[@chrisinminneapolis2367]

lucky dominguez well being he wrote most of the songs and music on killemall i imagine dave sung many of those songs as he did live on stage in the very early days.

[@psnipentube2757]

there is a bootleg audio recording of him singing Am I Evil live with metallica

[@lemursven9195]

lucky dominguez sang on no life 'til leather

[@MrBX5]

On the Behind the Music documentary about Megadeth it was said that after 6 months without sucess in finding a singer, Dave just stepped up and sang while playing guitar and it was the first time he done that and it was really hard for him at first.

[@pauldianno6464]

the demos were recorded in a garage in late 1983. Call of Ktulu was originally called "When Hell Freezes Over".

[@xtwogplays]

It's clearly James on the demos.

[@matthewibach767]

I disagree that it was a low blow to use Mustaine's riffs after he left. He got royalties for it.

[@11DNA11]

He didn't give a shit about royalties. Those were his songs.

[@11DNA11]

And no. He wrote 5 of the 6 credited songs BEFORE he joined Metallica.

[@matthewibach767]

Mustaine also had the right to use the stuff he wrote, as he did with "Mechanix" and the intro to "Hangar 18"

[@Lopez-my1bo]

11DNA11 no he didn't idiot he only wrote 2 songs which were jump in the fire and mechanix before metallica

[@11DNA11]

Oh? He wrote Hangar 18, which Call of Ktulu is based on BEFORE he joined. Rust In Peace... Polaris was also written during his time in Panic. Idiot.

[@bobowrathsovine.]

I think the single note harmony lead intro was created by Mustaine as well. At least for what can be done on just one guitar at a time. It sure sounds like more a Megadeth style intro than Metalica intro. Perhaps Cliff helped with it in that some of the harmony is in 5ths, some note or 2 notes is in 4ths I believe. I know Cliff was the only music theory expert in the band. So he probably had a hand in the intro. With that I know there is no other choppy lead line as a rhythmic piece ever used like that on any other track for any of the 80's Metalica records. Megadeth had that kind of stuff quite often. Dave I'm sure just didn't remember since he didn't even remember the title Ride The Lightning especially when it was the title to the second Metalica album.

[@deletedhero5579]

Actually weirdly enough and as bizarre as it sounds Lars wrote that intro! Although cliff wrote the harmonies over the top of it! Dave said Lars created the intro by humming it so James or Dave could create it and cliff created the harmonies for it. The title ride the lightning was actually created by Kirk as was the awesome solo

[@bobowrathsovine.]

@@deletedhero5579 did Mustaine admitt that? If so then he's even more wishy washy than I've learned him to be.

[@deletedhero5579]

@@bobowrathsovine. I know it's hard to believe!

[@jeremiahbrown2837]

good vid man I enjoyed the hell out of it

[@Deth43]

i remember gettin that demo off of limewire in highschool, we all thought it was dave singing then, but its so obvious now 10+ years later after 1st hearing it that its james singing

[@mugendbzgts7150]

Dave Mustine wrote mostly the riff and james probably got Dave ideas

[@natelandherr5202]

You've earned my subscription

[@FreeRPGer]

Interesting enough, on Metal Blade's 1982 compilation, Metal Massacre 2, Lloyd Grant and Dave Mustaine are credited as playing guitar in "Hit the Lights," and James Hetfield is only credited as vocals. I remember when that came out. Now, James' voice on Hit the Lights sounds so high pitched, he definitely sounds like a kid. An interesting listen, for those who want to hear Mustaine with young Metallica. It's on KZbin.

[@MKDumas1981]

FreeRPGer He was a kid.

[@FreeRPGer]

Indeed, I was 15 in 1982, so they must've been close to the same.

[@OhHeyItsAlexx]

they were 17/18

[@redrumloa]

It's not Metal Massacre 2, it is the original Metal Massacre (1). I own the first pressing with Metallica spelled wrong as "Mettallica".

[@steveeatthesun2540]

still have all my metallica cassette ! nothing sound more better than and justice for all... on cassette in my opinion

[@SocialGameShare]

i love the first song on side B from Justice for all.. album , few years ago i was also have their all album (megadeth and metallica) but i sold it all! # in my opinion : cassette are suck!

[@cybrunel1016]

Tape players had a tiny rubber band to move the wheels around like a drive belt.When the rubber band stretched over time, the speed of the player would gradually get slower and slower. That in turn affects the pitch of the overall recording.

[@jayyoutube8790]

Not once have I ever thought anyone but James was singing..

[@MetaITurtle]

dude yeah listening to music was a privilege. that comment alone just smacked me with nostalgia. i had forgotten how many times my dad almost ripped me to shreds because I would sneek and listen to HIS Metallica records. dont even get me started when the black album came out. i could only listen to it when he would put it on.

[@actofvengeance1205]

it most definitely James! I roadied for megadeth afew years ago iv spoken to Dave about this.its James I tell u!

[@mikemallory8580]

ratana paul oh yeah what year did you talk to him about it..hmmm

[@dizzlethedevil6845]

ratana paul yeah, stop lying...

[@tyr.4252]

ratana paul prove it

[@CJ_YT.]

Yeah.ah.

[@Sir_Catnip]

this comment reeks of bullshit lol

[@BlindBosnian]

When i heard "For Whom the Bell Tolls" for the first time,studio version,i could swear to God it was Dave who was singing

[@user-ny5vp9be8v]

Original was on Megaforce, not Elektra.

[@darkwizard2651]

That thumbnail is perfection

[@shure81]

8:11 Ride the Lightning was one of the coolest songs I've ever heard, at 12 or 13...now I'm 30 and this is the first time I've heard it played the way it was written...wow......what could have been...

[@H.E.M.]

Just listen to Wake Up dead. Pretty much Daves version.

[@mikeburczyk2634]

Many years ago, I had a demo called "fight fire with fire".........allegedly Dave played guitar on it, which could be possible since one of the songs on it is "the mechanix" with the megadeth lyrics. Also, the call of ktulu was called when the hell freezes over. Most of the songs on the demo were ones mustaine wrote, so that particular demo, I would say was him on guitar, and if that's the case, even then, it was definitely James singing.

[@cat_bicycle12]

I own cd vinyl and cassette of Rust in Peace

[@taggartknutson1640]

way better than ride the lightning.

[@4572dk]

Taggart Knutson \m/ \m/ \m/

[@wolf92xd20]

Taggart Knutson Opinion, not fact

[@taggartknutson1640]

fact

[@taggartknutson1640]

Wolf92xd kirk can't shred like Marty and Dave.

[@baberoot1998]

"Knock! Knock!" "Who's there!" "Dave!" "Dave's not here!"

[@docteur6667]

Demos recorded in august 83 (four months after Dave left). Same session as the "live" versions of 'Seek' and 'Phantom' were recorded for Jump in the fire B-sides. This was in SF in between shows on the KEA tour.

[@Dwendele]

Never mind the pitch, it's all James's phrasing and vocal nuances.

[@KennyKendall2001]

James is singing, it's just that he's using moe of Muscatine's vocal mannerisms/idiosyncracies in his style there than he did in later Metallica recordings.. It's fairly clear to anyone who has learned to play Metallica and Megadeth songs that the title track of the Ride The Lightning album was written by Mustaine - at least the guitar parts.

[@CraigGoldsberry-vx7re]

I edit my statement wherever it is on here.....I meant after Jon McGovney left ..not when Dave was thrown out

[@alvinyakitori8720]

What was the documentary you showed that talked about Dave talking into the microphone?

[@TheMedievalNerd]

Man, really interesting video. But I wish the mixing of the background musing was a few db lower. I genuinely have trouble focusing on your talking when James goes 'YEAH!' in the background. :)

[@greendayray]

is there a full show from that day on the green for metallica's set anywhere in existence?

[@charliekirby_]

Is Dave singing with heyfield on there no life til leather demo

[@erikboris5029]

Even with the higher pitched audio that's so clearly james singing. Don't know what people were thinking on that one.

[@coadekat]

On ride the lightning deluxe version they have the fixed demo and the vocals are definitely James

[@MrBlewvane]

In videos from their early days with Mustaine you can clearly see him doing backup vocals, so technically he did sing sometimes.

[@jaynumber37]

Real Metallica fans know James voice . That is James 100%

[@brankopavic2896]

buddy, the video is pretty good, but the one that's singing is james

[@pkj77]

no Dave only sang backing vox on the 82 rehearsal cover of Killing time he did write at least one part of the melody though using his spider chords

[@michaelmontez6736]

You can tell that's James by the signature yowls and the end of words

[@guitaristsbanquet245]

Didn't dave write call of ktulu? I can't remember if you said anything about it but I heard you say he didn't play at all on ride the lightning. Maybe he wrote it, they took it and the rest is history?

[@bonhamclackey574]

James had a high voice on Hit The Lights on Metal Massacre. This sounds like his vocals on Metal Massacre.

[@daridane5603]

Dave don't write only the verse riff from Ride the Lightning. He also concieved the slow riff under the solo, as one can hear in the opening chords of The Mechanix.

[@KUDGHAT1]

their way and our way...he he he!

[@brettmarlar4154]

I would argue that the songs the Dave is credited with on were actually written way before he was fired. they also could have recorded aome of Ride the Lightning during the Kill Em All sessions but were left off due to them not fitting the rest of the album. This is something that commonly happens in during recording seasions.

[@Danfromoverthere]

I wore that tape out! Man brings back memories

[@OldVikingSchool]

The only vocals you'll hear from Mustaine on Metallica is the Killing Time/Sucking my Love cover demo from 82, you can clearly hear him sing the back up.

[@stevenmaloney474]

Not sure about the vocals but, that is absolutely a 100% Dave Mustaine signature guitar riff! Not the solo but, the rest of the guitar riffs definitely!

[@ahdbw8494]

Dave only started singing when Dave Ellefson suggested he did when they were writing for Killing is my Business. Megadeth

[@tomflake6141]

I remember in 85 thinking that Lars sang the song ride the lightning. Don't know where I got that from.

[@kartikchandrasekhar4181]

I like this. It's lucid and rational, unlike a lot of the other shit I see on here

[@aj101pf69]

I used to wear cassettes out I would listen to the old metallica so much.

[@comtederochefort3021]

I think the melody and the harmony in the beginning of "Ride the Lightning" were also composed by Mustaine. Otherwise, he wouldn't have put them, although a bit altered, at the end of "Looking down the Cross".

[@chrisstone-streetlightinte5629]

It can't be Mustaine....his signature snarl is missing and the inflection is clearly James.

[@drewamongstus]

i mean just from the added "-ahs" you can tell its james hetfield - nice video!

[@pusheadmetal]

Despite the pitch, it's obviously Hetfield. You can tell simply by how he annunciations his words, what syllables he puts emphasis on, etc.

[@skred6792]

I had 5 Ride the Lightning tapes lol. That demo I belive is DEFINITELY Dave on guitar and James on vocals. I've studied these guys for over 20 years and can recognize if Hammet, Hetfield, or Mustaine are playing a riff. That demo has the characteristic slidey growl of Dave rather than the chuggy sound of Hetfield you hear on the actual album. Also look at Dave's guitar lessons from around 2000 when he was playing a weird shaped LTD that looked like a weirdo BC Rich and you'll be able to fully connect this.

[@deletedhero5579]

Man you studied them for 20 years and were still wrong 😬

[@ericcurry-pitcher5037]

There are vids in cliff'em with Dave singing. If not that one the un authorized version, other early live bootlegs as well. Dave sings whiplash live in the early days.

[@seancollum285]

Ride The Lightning on cassette tape was my first album

[@bdwitt66]

KZbin versions still sound like James-ah! And the whole Ride the Lightning album is slightly tuned up above A440.

[@DSKim-ej5uf]

you're absolutely good.great video.I have really enjoyed watching it.guitar cover song.What do you think about this.Thank you for being friends with music.h

[@blvkfvng2727]

it's so funny how butthurt dave was all those years. you know damn well what song its used in dave.

[@prograven4844]

call of ktulu intro is written by dave i guess.. cos its the same chords he use on the intro to Hanger 18.. ?

[@tylerphelps2408]

It pisses me off when older people go on that younger people don't know what a cassette is, i was born in 2000 and I've been buying cassettes since i was 12. I even still buy them today and i have around 25/30.

[@emt5330]

It only took me about two seconds to realize it was James on either version. You can tell it's not Dave.

[@rakinruldude14]

if you've listened to metallica for a long time, since the early albums, you can easily differentiate the voice of james and dave.