How much Mustaine paid his band members - Chris Poland, Marty Friedman, Nick Menza, Dave Ellefson

This is my overview video on how much money Dave Mustaine paid the musicians in Megadeth.

[@ValdaPeacock]

I used to be a flight attendant and had megadeath on plane from Australia to LA.I can confirm one Dave Mustaine sat in first class for the trip whilst his band sat in economy.I always found this a bit strange,but this video explains a lot.

[@plamenpenkov2865]

@@ValdaPeacock Sounds like sth Dave would do alright. Megadeth ws never a 'band' in the classical term. It was a one man supervillain project designed to defeat 'the other band', the one with the good guys 🤣 But he always failed because he kept hiring good guys who kept leaving him because they are not interested in his petty feuds and his ahole attitude.

[@epasternak4206]

Megadeth as music awesome, Dave as a human not so much it seems. I remember reading he wanted to buy Jackson guitars ha, they laughed in his face and told him to F,,K off

[@MichaelSchaefer1]

I'm going to tell Dave what you said!

[@leonshreds]

what year was that

[@mier37]

I have a similar story. Megadeth played at the amphitheater in West Palm Beach this past summer. They had about a two week break after the concert. Dave's son flew down from Nashville to pick him up on a private jet to return home while the other band members had to pay to fly home commercially.

[@777Eliyahu]

Ellefson remarks in his autobiography that the most money he ever made in one year was half a million dollars following the release of Countdown. That’s a lot of money, but not what I expected from a guy in a massive successful band.

[@ObsidianLife]

People have no understanding of how money is made in the industry...especially now...where there's NO money to be made...

[@777Eliyahu]

@ yeah, it’s a brutal business, and artists routinely get taken advantage of, unless they are wise enough or represented well enough to get favorable terms. These days an artist can only hope to make a living if they become a major concert draw, or if they get a viral tik tok song.

[@joshoconnor5005]

@@ObsidianLife but it’s not like sports where they announce that this player signed a contract for x amount of dollars over the next two year period. Music has always been mostly silent about how much musicians are making so we just assume that they are all multimillionaires.

[@louiekrousoratis6787]

And Dave always complains that metellica used his music even though they compensated him

[@colincampbell7126]

Dave mustaine is a greedy, cold - hearted MF, and he complained about Metallica...

[@TheMadArab138]

I have a feeling that Marty talked to Kiko about how much more money he could make in Japan and that’s why he left Megadeth and is now planning a tour with Marty in Japan.

[@stevemuzak8526]

If you good at something never do it for free.

[@azharkhan8796]

Angra (with Kiko) is quite huge in Japan.

[@MartinMaat]

It does put all that "I want to spend more time with my family" stuff in perspective. I sounds to me like Kiko is a class act who just won't be part of any back and forths in public about money. He chose the most polite way of saying FU to Dave.

[@CalebePriester]

Very likely.

[@83442handle]

things kiko and marty never said for 400!

[@Azazagoth]

It's insane that Chris made more with The Circle Jerks than with Megadeth. He is such an incredible guitar player. Metalopolis is a killer album!

[@karsguitarchannel6088]

Chris Poland's Ohm is another beautiful record! Check it out here on youtube guys

[@ObsidianLife]

Did you buy it? I did. If you didn't, you don't think its a killer album...

[@unknownkingdom]

Not reqlly because apparently the money was made from.guitar trading and not from the tour itself, as stated in the vid.

[@worldalvin]

Poland is one of the best artists in the World

[@anthonyperkins5856]

FACTS

[@Judge-k9p]

Sometimes hearing all the behind the scenes crap in the music industry really kills the magic of it all.

[@shanggosuave1891]

That's why it's called the music business ; there's the music side and there's also the business side.

[@karsguitarchannel6088]

Well I still love some Megadeth songs and albums and watch their live performances.

[@metaltek-kp5cs]

​@@shanggosuave1891 No shit sherlock, everyone knows the business side of the industry is slimy, specifically between the band and label. That doesn't mean it's not surprising to hear how fellow band members were treated.

[@DamageInc86]

Yeah, it really loses its luster after a while. When you see how these fuckers really act, and then how they change once they get even a minimal amount of success. Even local dudes I've been involved with have changed, and all of the sudden act differently towards me.

[@DogSlobberGardens-i7f]

@@metaltek-kp5cs I think I see your point. We pretty much expect the suits at record companies, and managers and lawyers, to be scumbags. But it's extra shitty when it's one musician screwing over another musician.

[@HEELMACHINE]

It’s funny how Mustaine has always complained about being fired from Metallica while he treats his band mates the way he does.

[@revolutionday1]

Richard Patrick from Filter is the exact-same way. He got hosed by Trent Reznor while in Nine Inch Nails, but shits all over his own touring musicians and collaborators.

[@JoeCostantini74]

Trying to heal the wound I suppose

[@ricdale7813]

Friedman makes buckets of cash in the Japan Regional market. He is on tv shows,radio shows, ball games, commencements,etc...... He is one of the top Western Music personalities in Japan and has been for 15 years. Marty gels with the Japaneses culture and the diet of food and people he surrounds himself with is noteworthy and may explain how he continues his fountain of youth into his 60's.

[@XxSypherxX91]

Dave Moostaine

[@adampugsley7035]

It kills me every time he says it

[@leehingle9793]

​@@adampugsley7035agreed. Great video, but learn the pronunciation of the main guy the video is about🤷🏻‍♂️

[@humanbeing2420]

subsidirary

[@karsguitarchannel6088]

@@leehingle9793 Sounds like Mustang. I asked Shawn why he pronounces 'MOO' STAINE and he said that he lives in Hollywood and in that area everybody pronounced it like that before.

[@josephreelz7617]

@@karsguitarchannel6088 That’s BS. No one ever pronounced his name like that anywhere.

[@ElkSlayer8172]

And Dave talked shit on JAMES AND LARS ABOUT THE WAY HE WAS TREATED

[@iceblue56]

Dave brought that on himself. That's like a coworker bulling other coworkers and next thing you know, the coworker bully gets fired & complains about it.

[@BrexonX]

And then he cried about getting kicked out for the last 43 years. 😂

[@iceblue56]

@@BrexonX Exactly. We've all had a Dave in our lives, one time or another.

[@ga121169]

Not the same circumstances. And, there are 3 sides to a story. Yours, mine, and the truth. So who really knows?

[@iceblue56]

@@ga121169 We're going off of what they both said. Even Dave has admitted what he did and was wrong about it. It's pretty simple.

[@Sideler74]

Fun fact: my guitar teacher in NJ was approached by an industry executive telling him “send in your press packet, Dave is looking for a lead guitar player”. My teacher had heard that Dave found this 18 year old prodigy, so he never send his packet into Mustaine. A few months later that same executive saw him out at a show in NYC & asked him how’s it going? He told him he never sent it in because if the 18 yr old prodigy, the executive said, no that guy didn’t pan out, send in your stuff asap. So he sent it in & Dave called him about a week afterwards. Dave said “I heard your tapes & if this next guy Marty doesn’t work out, you’re in”… he replied with “Marty Friedman”??? Dave said “Yea how’d you know that? He replied with “forget it…he got the gig” & in that moment right there he knew he had missed an opportunity because he thought one thing while reality was another.

[@jamestownstudios8543]

Jeff Loomis was the prodigy and I think he was only 16 at the time.

[@luckymchl2074]

I've always liked Megadeth, but I've never liked Mustaine. Does that make sense? Probably does to many people.

[@ACDZ123]

Well its the same with many bands. Look at gene Simmons as another example of what you're saying. Plenty of fans like kiss but dislike genes attitude

[@joshoconnor5005]

@@luckymchl2074 I’ve always liked megadeth but really came to love mustaine after listening to his book on audio.

[@johndoe480]

​@@joshoconnor5005And his genius guitar shredding

[@luckymchl2074]

@@joshoconnor5005 Touche. I should give it a listen. He's not the worst person in the world, but I do have issues with the way he seems to treat other people at times. Some of these people are the ones that got him to where he is. Like Ellefson and Friedman.

[@darkstar92772]

It makes sense to me. Separate the art from the artist.

[@patrickwoods2213]

They skipped over the part where Chris Poland sold the band’s equipment in order to support his drug habbit. According to Mustaine, that’s what happened in the early days. If that indeed is the truth, then I can’t blame Dave for kicking him to the curb.

[@ACDZ123]

Yeah there's always 2 sides of a story ..we're only hearing the blame Dave stories.

[@anthonyg.3503]

@@patrickwoods2213 They spent half the money the record label gave them to record the debut album on drugs and alcohol. They were all addicts so I'm sure alot of money was pissed away in the early days.

[@Nesh_down_under]

You’re bad as Dave 😆

[@carlosalbertogomez1391]

Well,then the rest of the band spent years making less money to keep mustaine drug habit.no difference in there

[@amasvodka]

At least he didn't physically assault the leader of his band, as someone else did.

[@anthonyg.3503]

I remember a fan named Larry back around 2004 came up with artwork that Mustaine just took and used on his guitar. Larry told people in the Megadeth forums that he was never compensated for his artwork. Larry was told that he should simply feel honored that Dave is using his artwork. That was the first time i truly realized that Mustaine would even screw his own fans over when it came to money. Around the same time frame Mustaine wanted artist Ed Repka to return to produce artwork for Megadeth. A deal never materialized because Repka and Mustaine couldn't agree over compensation.

[@Ishbu101]

There's two sides to a story then there's the truth...Reddit is specious at best

[@anthonyg.3503]

@Ishbu101 Very true, however, I met Larry at Gigantour and got his side of the story first hand. He didn't get paid for his artwork. Mustaine screwed him over. Ed Repka can tell you himself that Mustaine didn't want to pay him much thus ending negotiations. I knew many people from the megadeth forums whom I met at concerts over the years. Anyone who is a hardcore Deth fan knows how Mustaine operates with business dealings. I have more stories but I'll stop here.

[@83442handle]

@@Ishbu101 Reddit wasn't a thing then but it is interesting that Reddit is now used synonymous with the term forums or message boards.

[@JoeyKO757]

Sounds like Dave didn't learn anything from being kicked out of Metallica

[@83442handle]

I used to post there back at that time. I actually can't remember this story but it would not surprise me at all this occurred. This would be really on par for the course with how Mustaine operated with money historically. Megadeth is on it's 13th lineup right now. A massive reason for many of these are money related if you look into the history. Chris Poland complained about money as did Nick Meza and I believe Jimmy Degrasso and or Al Piterlli has issues as well which was the real reason Mustaine broke the band up completely in 2002 citing the arm injury when in reality he did that to get yet another clean slate and get hired guys to tour the next album(also album sales were dropping off bad then so money was getting tighter during this time as the record industry was going bust.

[@DarksaberForce]

I wish the Chris-Gar lineup continued on. That first group was amazing and my personal favorite.

[@jamescarter8311]

Marty-Gar would have been the ultimate for me. Loved Menza but Gar was really unique.

[@BertJones-u5b]

Peace Sells is the single, most perfect record ever produced.

[@TheEWFX29]

Yes that's my Megadeth. I was lucky enough to see that band a number of times and met Gar and got his autograph.

[@darkkrenaissance42]

Stories like this are exactly why Metallica went on to be such a solid, tight group that earned respect as well as a shit ton of money,,,, while Megadeth went on a hit and miss run for decades

[@muccisebastian9300]

Lars is as much of a douche as Dave

[@ryanjacobson2508]

The cope is that Metallica had it easy because of all the $ they make... Well, they nearly fired Lars in 1985ish, but it's good they didn't because line-up stability is really important. And Lars had a huge hand in song-writing and arranging. Personal and artistic egos can are often the ruin of a band...

[@jamesharris4775]

Megadeth is far superior to Metallica in every line up ever

[@kommi1974]

​@@jamesharris4775😅😅😅

[@WellFedProductions]

Metallica treated Jason like shit

[@luckymchl2074]

When a top 20 best guitar player on the planet that helped you become one of the biggest front men in Metal tells you he wants $300K for a tour, you offer him more. WTF Dave? Megadeth with Friedman and Iron Maiden could have been the biggest tour of the 2000's.

[@CalebePriester]

Dude, the love of money is the root of all evil or something.

[@longshucksgaming]

Not to mention Dave mocked marty wanting to be flown around in first class as if he himself didn't travel first class and marty wasn't long since established in his own career to have paid his dues past economy flights

[@darrenm5239]

Really I never knew this. You tour with Maiden. That's royalty. Greed kills bands. What killed me from playing was watching Rockstar. Just get on stage and play for the fans. Insane.

[@CCS216]

I saw Chris with the Circle Jerks. I’ve been dying to figure out who he was forever. I appreciate you solving a 35 year mystery for me.

[@NPC-fl3gq]

Same, I saw them in the 90's and had no idea that was Chris playing 😂

[@CCS216]

@I saw them right after he joined the band in Denver, 1988ish. Keith said something to the effect of, “this is our bassist (Chris) from Megadeth, who joined us a few days ago, learned all the songs in three days.” Shocking he was making more with the Circle Jerks. They were small venues and tickets were like $8.

[@karsguitarchannel6088]

You are very welcome!! 😊✌

[@ryanjacobson2508]

​@@CCS216Keith is a cool guy, don't really care for his current politics but at least he has integrity.

[@bobravenscraft5376]

Chris made a killer album. POLAND RULES

[@CalebePriester]

Poland can play circles around Dave. It's crazy that even in old age Poland can still shred like none.

[@cormacio100]

2 albums

[@MicrophonesInTheTrees]

No, Dave - YOU sold out the friendship over a four figure sum.

[@WarrenDay-n8n]

High level narcissists don't really have friends.

[@robertmedrano2768]

It’s all about writing credit- so many get big heads later in careers just like Eddie Van Halen did to Michael Anthony

[@7tardis7]

Moo-stain. 😂

[@karsguitarchannel6088]

Sounds like Mustang. I asked Shawn why he pronounces 'MOO' STAINE and he said that he lives in Hollywood and in that area everybody pronounced it like that before.

[@pkj77]

very much muh-stain

[@rufus231]

@@karsguitarchannel6088 No excuse !

[@rufus231]

musty carpet with a stain in it.

[@7tardis7]

@@karsguitarchannel6088 lol so just because some hollyweirdos said it wrong he repeats it? I saw peace sells tour. I've never heard anyone pronounce it moo-stain... never.

[@riffgroove]

I just finished reading Friedman's book. In 2015, Megadeth tried to woo Marty baxk into the band with a tour opening for Iron Maiden ( that hadn't even been discussed with Maiden yet ) and the wage they were offering him per week was less than what he made in a day in Japan. He said he never would have met with them if they were going to lowball him like that. That being said, Marty holds no animosity towards Dave.

[@ACDZ123]

Any mention of the 1st class plane travel? That's a huge expense if that's true he demanded that as well

[@riffgroove]

@ACDZ123 No first class plane travel was mentioned. The band all traveled together by bus. Except by Marty, ironically enough. When Friedman finally announced to Dave he was going to be quitting the band after the current leg of their tour, Marty went home and had a panic attack that was so bad he ended up in the hospital. For days, he literally couldn't get to the bathroom by himself. Megadeth's management approved Marty flying directly to each show while the band traveled by bus until Al Pitelli was ready to play live.

[@ACDZ123]

@@riffgroove usually people who suffer panic attacks wouldn't dare fly ..

[@riffgroove]

@@ACDZ123 Flying doesn't induce panic attacks in people who aren't afraid to be on planes.

[@ACDZ123]

@riffgroove riff , if you've ever experienced a panic attack, you'll understand your panic involves getting out of claustrophobic spaces for fresh air ...fear of flying doesn't come into this.and I never said it induces a panic attack. That's you saying that

[@cdewhdpo]

Thank you for the video. But I really want to thank you very much for recommending Chris Poland’s “Album Return To Metropolis” It’s a mind blowing album!! WOW!!

[@karsguitarchannel6088]

You are very welcome, my pleasure! Have you listened to Mark St John's 'Magic bullet theory' album? I would highly recommend it as well. Amazing record! Especially, the track called 'Baghdad'. I love it. Sounds mystical... You can listen to the whole album here on youtube.

[@ThePatcore]

3:20, thats not what Ive heard Chris say.. He DIDNT want to go back to megadeth because he had just gotten off drugs and knew Dave was still doing heroine and that it wouldnt take long being around it before he would be doing it again too.. He told Dave he was thinking about it and came in and did the Rust in Peace demos and ultimately decided that his life (because he would die from overdose if he started using again) was more important and told Dave no thank you.. Dave was VERY angry when chris said no since the demos were already done and he (Dave) wanted to start on the album

[@brentjeralds777]

Funny how they leave the truth out.. rust in peace was before peace sells

[@papai9698]

@@brentjeralds777 what?

[@steelewindelliii3597]

@@brentjeralds777 Peace sells was '86, rust in peace '90.

[@ScottishT.Warriorman]

Chris Poland is a seriously underrated guitar player. Him and Gar Samuelson were killer friggin' musicians on those first two Megadeth albums. I saw them live on the "Peace Sells..." tour in 1987 with Overkill and The Necros.

[@karsguitarchannel6088]

Awesome! Happy New Year✌😊

[@BertJones-u5b]

Poland is the best guitarist to ever play with Megadeth. His style was just wild. They've never surpassed the musicianship of the first two albums.

[@kevinmcintyre3072]

Cool.... I saw Megadeth for peace sells.... in 86 with Overkill and the necros.

[@ScottishT.Warriorman]

@@BertJones-u5b Marty Friedman was/is a beast as well. Check out his early works with Jason Becker (Cacophony).

[@MrBrian4109]

I read Ellefsons Biography, he said he was getting $250K salary but the other 2 were getting less than that.

[@joshoconnor5005]

@@MrBrian4109 did that include all expenses like travel, lodging and food or did he have to pay for that?

[@Mark-p1p5c]

@@MrBrian4109 wasn't Ellefson a founding member? 250k? That's really f'd up!!

[@Mark-p1p5c]

@@MrBrian4109 and not for nothing, but it should be at least somewhat an even split.

[@jamescarter8311]

@@Mark-p1p5c they weren't equal members. The reality is that Ellefson was replaceable, Moostaine was not. Dave Mustaine is Megadeth.

[@mattg082]

That’s sad….to be treated like a salary employee being an original member. At the end of the day I get that it’s Dave’s solo project. But I feel bad for current members…they have a great drummer. But $120k-$250k, and then you need to put your expenses in there… honestly that’s great for a new guy trying to get in the business. But not really for any established player, that’s been there and done that. I see that in a LOT of bands these days. The drummers are 25, maybe one OG member and the rest young hired guns. You bet if I had no foot in the door, I’d take 6 figures to tour. But being away from family for 1-3 years, just making $150-$200k on the road after being around in the band since the 80s…hell no. Especially if you can make that money elsewhere as a session. Or doing one off 6 month tours with other bands. Crazy the Circle Jerks were so nice and upfront. Seen them many times,and they are popular but nowhere on the headliner Megadeath is. Seems to me Dave needs to keep up with his cost of living, at that’s the final thing. If it doesn’t work out for him, to keep his lifestyle… why bother? But with that said, I’m sure there are other tensions there. It sounds like a lot of money in an office job. But on the road that money flys, and you never see your family or friends. It’s a big commitment!

[@ryant3600]

During that time with Poland Megadeth wasn't making tons of money, they were still playing clubs. The real money in a band is songwriting royalties, merch and Dave wrote most of the songs for Megadeth and owns the megadeth copyrights etc.

[@guanoguy4800]

Also pay for performing on the records. $200 a week touring sounds nuts though.

[@ryant3600]

@@guanoguy4800 Vinnie Vincent with KISS which was a way bigger band than Megadeth especially during the 80's, only got paid like 500 a week. Jake E. Lee signed on with Ozzy at 100 a week with some increases over time as he proved himself. Sharon also paid him 10 grand after Bark at the Moon came out in lieu of writing credit. Vivian Cambell got paid 100 a week with Dio at first as well but with the success of album sales w/ Holy Diver it increased to 400 a week for the tour.

[@camelius]

Correct. And Chris Poland was a heroin addict who was stealing gear and selling it to buy drugs.

[@mikeb.7183]

They were making much more than $200/week. $200/week was what they were having sent home the rest was being spent on the bus. No way was his habit $200/week, more like $200/night.

[@isaiahneilguitaristofficia549]

@@guanoguy4800$200 a week in 1986 is equivalent to $575 a week in 2024, not a whole lot of money however like the commentator said they were playing small venues and not stadiums and probably only had album sales at the time in hundreds of thousands at best, and Chris was shooting heroin so that’s why he came home broke I don’t know if he was not shooting heroin when touring with the Circle Jerks, which I don’t understand how he drastically made more money with a punk band, anyway a lot people don’t realize say for 2024 making $150,000- $250,000 a year for playing your instrument is immensely better than working a traditional job,that’s why musicians do it so they can be musicians and not some other traditional career path.

[@kiltedvet420]

the constant rotation of members is crazy

[@SH-oo5fd]

Great job on this video. Great layout✌️

[@guitarherocallahan3510]

Awesome vid, very informative!! Thanks ✌

[@karsguitarchannel6088]

Big thanks!!

[@AAAA-lt9hq]

Respect also to Marty for wanting to "take care of his people," (assuming it is his Japanese band that would not be playing while he is in Megadeth), but it is not really Dave's responsibility to support them.

[@scottwhite2757]

Thx Kar and Shawn wishing you both a Rocking Happy New Year. ✌️

[@karsguitarchannel6088]

Hi Scott, many thanks!! Happy New Year to you too 🎸😊🌅

[@ShawnStaplesFreeGuitarLessons]

Happy New Year!

[@intoit1074]

Funny how Dave bitches and moans about his royalties he’s owed in Metallica. He makes everyone in the world aware that pieces of his music was used on a few albums but decides to stiff Ellison and Poland the other people who’ve played with him on the exact same issue. It makes sense why Chris, Marty, Kiko and the others bow out and Dave will never have the prestige of his former band.

[@joshpointoh]

The worst part is when Dave cries about how sorry he is for not being a better band mate for his old Metalica crew. Sounds nice on a Gibson video about your legacy, but he couldn't be bothered to actually, ya know, just treat people better

[@JDStone20]

Just found your channel! Awesome video! Subbed!

[@karsguitarchannel6088]

Big thanks!! 😊 Happy New Year!

[@SavedbyHim]

Thats why Megadeth will never be the band Metallica is. When you see them live you just know there's no chemistry

[@davidhoracek6758]

I love Metallica, but... Metallica has chemistry?? They're not really a band either. They assemble for a performance. Some bands like Rush actually stay friends even after they get rich, but never would I use Metallica as positive example of band chemistry on anything after Garage Days.

[@TheMrHavish]

@@davidhoracek6758 Kirk and Rob have their own little jam band. Wedding Band, I think it's called? I've read they sometimes do surfing trips as Kirk lives in Hawaii. Sure, they obviously take time apart to live their own lives when they're not touring (they all live in different parts of the country too), but from what I see in their pre-show rehearsals, they seem like they're on friendly terms.

[@nmnmnm9509]

​@@davidhoracek6758yes Metallica, is a real band Megadeth is like Dave 's Solo project. Metallica,Tool, Soad, Rammstein are real band

[@BertJones-u5b]

Metallica has been a model of consistency more than 40 years now. They made some garbage in the 90s, but everything else has been solid.

[@PhantomFilmAustralia]

@@BertJones-u5b Don't forget 2011. The year LULU was released.

[@RR1976]

Dave does great music based I think on the painful life he led. Unfortunately I think that also leads him to how he treats people.

[@danzemacabre8899]

I love Chris 10:19 Poland and he is right there with kiko and Marty as top lead in megadeth and personally my favorite, but the amount he was getting and the amount the whole band was getting I can imagine wasn't a whole lot and Chris had a drug problem and was known to take a guitar or two that wasn't his to pawn shops,I would hope he gets some kind of royalties on the first two albums because hes brilliant,and with all the bad blood ,hopefully Dave will see through all the crap and make amends, with that said. Daves band, Daves rules, they knew what was up before they joined, kiko, marty, and poland are all talented enough go on their own. Dave and the megadeth brand gave them quite a bit of notoriety that thousands of musicians would love to get regardless of pay, so if your in the band and feel your talent warrants more money then simply quit and move on ,which it seems marty and kiko both did, dave is megadeth ,megadeth is dave and really the only other musician who probably has right to claim more is dave ellefson. But who knows ,99.9% of us arent privy to the inner workings ,we only go by what information is public. and more times than not, that isnt enough.

[@karsguitarchannel6088]

Yes and they quit and did beautiful solo records. They also play in their own bands or with other artists.

[@teecuzbruh4058]

That Circle Jerks record VI was one of the best hard rock records IMO ever to come outta LA

[@ThePatcore]

4:20 Wrong again. It wasnt that Dave used the Demos without Chris's permission.. It was that Chris wasnt paid any royalties from appearing on those 3 songs. The other musicians were paid, just not Chris and Dave tried to justify it by saying he thought the fans would want to hear that Marty did some solos on the album the way he does, only because Chris wrote them, not Marty.. And once again Chris said thats fine, he just wanted to be compensated for appearing on the re-issue.. Dave refused. Then Chris tried to sue Dave for decimation of character by telling everyone that in the early days, Chris stole cymbals and other equipment from the band in order to feed his drug habit.. That went to court and Dave won because Daves attorneys presented a clip from VH1's "Behind the Music" where Poland admitted to taking the gear to sell for drugs. ok, you corrected yourself about the Rust demo.. It was about money not permission.

[@Dynamus79]

Idk what these guys are crying about. 150-250K per year to tour and play music in a constantly relative international band? i'd take it. I get that people want more money because it's Megadeth, but the main songwriter and owner of the name/business is ALWAYS gonna come out as top earner because they have more financial responsibility and risk. A lot of people don't understand how the pay breakdown actually works with bands and its articles like this that just show a very small side of what is really going on.

[@danzemacabre8899]

Sane words probably coming from a musician who has had to claw and scrape for every penny and plays for the love of making music ,non musicians won't understand it, they just see dollar signs. But playing with megadeth is a gig that will always pay off even after you leave or quit etc. The opportunities are endless. Other established bands will put you at the top of the list if they have a need for such services , the skill set to play in that band is at the higher end of the spectrum, if you are fortunate enough to have played in that band you should be able to sustain a decent standard of living with being a musician as your only income source,and that is a gift of a lifetime

[@Dynamus79]

@danzemacabre8899 Thank you! I am that musician! You sound like you definitely get it as well. Cheers!

[@michaelchmiel166]

So $200 would work for you? I call BULLSHIT

[@danzemacabre8899]

Same to you brother happy holidays

[@CalebePriester]

Why can't Dave allow the other musicians to write songs? I know why, because he wants all the royalties for himself.

[@KelvieCarlile-cf8em]

Who does Dave think he is, Ozzy Osbourne.

[@darkstar92772]

Sharon. He thinks he’s Sharon.

[@BertJones-u5b]

ozzy screwed over his songwriter a number of times, I've read. Refuses to even give the guy a credit.

[@kevincanales514]

Ozzy doesnt play instruments or write lyrics.

[@KelvieCarlile-cf8em]

@kevincanales514 he writes hooks and he comes up with melodies. Then he directs his musicians and then he screws them over.

[@ShreddingFinn]

I don't know a single successful famous artist who is known to pay their band a healthy salary, Dave should've given him what he wants the end result would've been bigger than anything they could've expected.

[@joemeli1605]

Metallica does just that? They pay well?

[@richardhudson4649]

@@joemeli1605 All the Metallica members are equity partners. They earn based on the money the band makes. They are not employees.

[@NickSwe]

Tony iommi, that's one dude that has been fair to everyone, if you didn't get paid the amount you wanted with him, then you simply were not supposed to get such amount to start with.

[@brianbelden2449]

Metallica? I think everyone in that band is paid very well. I believe even some of their former members are well compensated through royalties

[@shitfer]

​@@richardhudson4649 Jason wasnt. That was part of the rub. Sure he got credits, but when James stuck his face into Jason's business outside of the band it ended. If Jason was a partner he wouldnt have left me thinks. They immediately gave Trujillo a share in the band when he joined to avoid that mistake again. Hetfield and Mustaine are very alike (self absorbed). It's no wonder they couldnt work together. Both bands are shadows of their former self, but they're old men now. Marty's input is the most honest. That guy has his business wired tight. Good for him.

[@evangelosmindis739]

I thought Poland was fired because he stole band equipment and sold it to fund heroin addiction. This is what Mustaine made public anyway

[@VicSellsPeace]

These new stories are coming out from people decades after - Mustaine has been vocal from the beginning. A lot of those people are bitter; playing Mustaine’s music and bashing him publicly. Kings of Thrash by Ellefson and Poland is just a cover band of Mustaine’s music

[@StarvedForTime]

Dave "chump change" Mustaine strikes again.

[@mathew3268]

Killer video dude! Love me some Megadeth. Mustaine wrote some very important songs in Metal / Music history! Very talented group of musicians. ✌️

[@guitarguts666]

Regardless, it's Dave's band, it's always been his band, he named it, he enlisted Junior and regardless of whatever attitude he has had over the decades, that's on him. He's had great people and a worthy career and gave us all stellar music to enjoy.

[@AFx3144]

What is the source of these informations on payment and the allegedly disohnesty of Mustaine? I know that the source of the parts related to Marty Friedman is the Friedman's reports himself.

[@loki3292]

$150k to $250k a year isn't a terrible living wage for a gigging musician these days. Beats selling tires. Would be a cool gig for an up-and-comer to get his name out there, but to be honest, working with Mustaine doesn't sound like a lot of fun to me, or even particularly fulfilling. I'll stick to selling tires, thank you very much....

[@joefiganootz2425]

Megadeth has always been Dave's. Talent will come and go. I know as I progressed I expect more from an employer and if an old employer wants me back, it it going to cost more for my services- plain and simple. No hard feelings, that is business, and music is absolutely a fucking business. What Dave is paying sounds right to me because he can still attract the talent needed at the salaries he is giving, and the band is still wildly successful.

[@anthony-m9m1i]

How much did he pay Vinny Colaiuta? probably more than all the others put together just to do the session drums. I don't think he toured at all?

[@guitarofdestiny]

0:15 with inflation that's about 700 a week. I mean they weren't exactly selling out arenas at that point

[@karsguitarchannel6088]

Yes I agree. That was in the early days. It's just interesting to know how much the guys were getting paid in the early days.

[@JamesChatting]

True

[@JamesChatting]

And Chris was on drugs

[@praetulitautemodium5847]

They were all poor and practically homeless the reason Chris and gar were kicked out of the band in the first place was mostly because they kept pawning the bands gear for drug money

[@dixonite]

"It's still, We the People, rrrrrright"? Wrong.......

[@VanWailen]

In all honesty Megadeth is not selling millions of records a year anymore. I understand why Dave would only offer so much for a salary to his band. It’s a fact of life. Dave Lombardo was only making $80,000 a year in Slayer ten years ago. Again this is the reality of Metal bands that are not named Metallica or Slipknot.

[@MbisonBalrog]

I don’t think Slipknot that big

[@Highrollinhunter]

​@@MbisonBalrogdude Slipknot is huge they became an money maker like Metallica

[@VanWailen]

@@MbisonBalrog Slipknot is pretty big. Not Metallica big but up there.

[@logangodofcandy]

Lol I haven't even heard of slipknot since like 15 years ago.

[@VanWailen]

@@logangodofcandy how old are you? 17?

[@pancakesgo7995]

Shocking to hear these figures when you consider Metallica gross between $2M to $5M per show. I mean there's probably shows where they gross a million per band member after paying the production crew. None of this salaried performer BS.

[@logangodofcandy]

Just gotta have the right contracts with the venues and ticket sales. Mostly the ticket companies have a complete monopoly on every penny anyone makes.

[@danthemancushecan]

I met Chris Poland on the north side of Chicago back in 2013. I was going to see him in this jazz jam session (anyone who knows their Megadeth history knows that Chris Poland and Gar Samuelson were trained as jazz musicians when they were young). He was very nice and welcoming! He autographed my "Peace Sells.." album (that I framed). He complimented my Motörhead jacket. Was a cool experience. What a fucking guitar player!!!!

[@MOON-GOOSE-of-MAUI]

I was helping our runner at a Megadeth show back in??? 2017-18ish?? Anyway carried a couple cases of beer back to the dressing room (Dave was sober by this time) ...he was watching some yoga video on some shitty little VHS tv...and jumped out to shut it off...Chewed us out a bit about never getting alone time...which I understood..he was dickish for sure...but just did what his production manager had asked..

[@MOON-GOOSE-of-MAUI]

shit 2007 or 08 I meant...big difference!

[@user-otzlixr]

I would require more than 200 a week to listen to Megadeath that much…

[@guanoguy4800]

Yeah that’s nuts for a touring band with a record out.

[@maplesalt1482]

@@guanoguy4800 on a major label

[@Bogeyman19DidNotScareMyAss]

Like you command any money. GTFO.

[@tomz6594]

Do we have some numbers on what kind of money the band brought in during these times?

[@mario23sb]

Bad marketing move on Mustaine for not paying Nick and Marty what they asked for the reunion tour. Dave would’ve made a lot.

[@monsterzero1587]

Mustaine writes almost all the material and started the band…of course he should make most of the loot!!

[@ThePatcore]

Btw, it wasnt Nick Menza on the Rust in Peace demo, it was Chuck Behler.

[@hanhtar9062]

I thought Nick was in the band since the very beginning of the writing of Rust in Peace.

[@justinreynolds3935]

Not surprised one bit. These artists pay peanuts for the members to have a taste of fame. Sad but Dave is megadeth. And he's the boss. Same as the owners of corporations who pay minimum wage to people who keep the business going at the lowest levels. Dave is a multi millionaire. He can afford to pay better. But that's how this business goes man. I'm sure the current members make good money but aren't millionaires. Dave ellefson def has made millions. I'm sure of it.

[@karsguitarchannel6088]

Yeah, I also think that in the 90s when Ellefson was Dave's business partner, Ellefson made several million dollars.

[@aqqlex1904]

It’s a business. Not only for fun. Yes, Marty and Nick great musicians but it might be just not efficient for DM/Megadeth to pay such a huge salaries. Also having such a success, you can also hire amazing musicians who can play even better than original line up for less money. It’s business. Big companies do not pay huge salaries usually.

[@michael4591]

It is the age of streaming. Artists don‘t make money from that shit anymore guys. This is why I still buy records.

[@theironsheik6322]

ok boomer

[@jthunderbass1]

I have respect for Dave Mustaines accomplishments. I’ve never accomplished what he has. Tremendous respect for that. The closest I’ve come to anything to do with him is that I did a stagehand gig he was the headliner for. It was a very good show. He’s a great guitarist. He is very good at singing in his style. All that being said, with the amount of respect I have for his accomplishments, he does appear to be challenging to work with. That is probably because he has a very specific vision for where things are going. This is probably what has made him as successful as he is.

[@Fuxerz]

Moral of this rock story. Make your own band. Pay your due to get to the big stage. Then get your own gig.

[@69spook]

Most fail....😮

[@sergiomichelmusic]

I vouch for this.

[@sergiomichelmusic]

​@@69spookthey were not meant to make it, then.

[@AAAA-lt9hq]

8:08 Nick = $7,500/week x 52 = $390,000/year Marty = $15,000/week x 52 = $780,000/year Ellefson = $4,000/week x 52 = 208,000/year $1,378,000 a year, largely for nostalgia, when Mustaine could find a backing band of talented musicians for much less. Not sure $1,378,000 is feasible in today's music business where albums don't sell. This would force Megadeth to play large shows at the largest venues, as Metallica now does, and they do perhaps 50 shows a year. They end up being boxed into shows where they know they will make money. I can see Dave's business logic for saying no. It's sad that Ellefson went from a 20% partner to earning the least even at the high end. When you consider Mustaine has been a professional musician for over 40 years and has an estate of about $20 million, he has averaged about $500,000 a year. He writes part of all the songs, a burden that would be lessened if he allowed input from others, but he does not want to pay royalties. From Dave's view, his business, his risk, his reward, and those who work for him are talented if replaceable people who are lucky to get the gig. The others know they are temps who are lucky to be making that amount as musicians. Some have more creative aspirations than others (Friedman, Broderick). A few like Kiko are lucky to get on with Dave well enough to be allowed a bit more freedom than most of his workers.

[@RKelley187]

I know back line guys who make more than Ellefson did.

[@tritontransport]

Well Dave used to be a bad alcoholic and was well known as treating the band members like 💩. That’s why it’s been a revolving door of guitar players. You could even tell that when Friedman made a guest appearance last year at the Budokhan, it was a really awkward situation for them both. Jon Oliva beat the crap out of him on a Dio tour when Megadeth and savatage were the opening acts. Dave is a bit more mellow these days but still not the most cordial guy around. I have a feeling Kiko left for more than just “family reasons” 🥴

[@jimmythepirate494]

I like Dave and I am a huge MEGADETH fan, but, he is a blatant hypocrite. He treats his members like Metallica treated him, but, for no reason except to spite Metallica for doing it to him. Lots of genius musicians out here with zero brains, we call their prouduct 'autisim metal'. Dave Mustaine and Marilyn Manson are prime examples of 'autism metal'.

[@jerodrobinson4040]

I mean, Dave did Start the Band. Plus I highly doubt People in Japen know who these Dudes are without Megadeath...

[@73zetelhado]

Funny that mr D.M behavior reminds me a gold fish swimming in a glass tank .copying what he so much hated .metallica used his stuff on the first album .money's corrupts the holiest souls

[@waynedavis724]

I'm not surprised by any of this, I remember happening to catch an interview with Mustaine speaking about his shift to Christianity, he wasn't focused on the teaching of Jesus, he was more focus on his new-found moral superiority, once again it was all about him

[@MIGELGLORIA]

REST IN POWER NICK😢🕯⭐️🕊🤘🏻

[@Ledmetacdc]

You know what I kinda get it, but chris Poland was a drug addict and kind of an unreliable narrator. Yes, there are some members of megadeth who were very unhappy. There were others who said they really enjoyed the experience but just had to move on for life reasons, like kiko loureiro and james Lomenzo prior to his return. When you join a band that's basically a solo act, you should not expect to get equal treatment to the artist who runs it. Your job is to support them. Yes, that's difficult. That's why most solo acts have long histories of rotating members in and out. The Marty and nick thing is honestly ridiculous to even include in this discussion. The amount of money involved was absolutely insane to consider, and most bands don't have the liquidity to pay people like that. It's not the 90s, they only get paid for touring and merch anymore.

[@CalebePriester]

Megdeth was my favorite band when I first starting liking Heavy metal and whatever, it was the first musical genre I started to like, Heavy Metal. Megadeth was my favorite band, but I always got bothered by the fact that there was so many line up changes and it was never consistent. They started great and as time went by the sound was just more soft and polished, whatever. But one day it just hit me, you know? Dave Mustaine is an a hole, you know? That's who he is. He can talk about Jesus and whatwver and day long, but still he is an a hole. He is his biggest antagonist. He could have shined in Metallica, but he ruined his chance. Then he formed Megadeth and he could have been bigger than Metallica, but no, he had to fire every musician and that is bad in long term success. I don't like the fact that the line up keeps changing. I can't create a connection with the band when I know all the musicians will be fired and new ones will come for the next album. This is not a band. This is his solo project.

[@BubbaZen10]

I met him and he was very nice. How he treats others may very well have something to do with how THEY treat him too.

[@CalebePriester]

@@BubbaZen10 I don't think so. A genuine christian must be nice to everybody, it doesn't matter how they are being treated, Jesus was massacred and he still blessed his killers. Dave lashes out, he's angry. By nature he is angry. I don't know, dude. You had a nice experience with the dude. Good for you I guess. Most don't. And when you say you met him? Did you actually talked to him? Actually made conversation? And not like: "I'm a fan, I like your music, I think you are awesome", etc. Because if you said that to him you were just complimenting him and that feels good for the ego and if you are kissing his arse of course he won't treat you like poop.

[@BubbaZen10]

@CalebePriester this will most likely be censored. You're a dumbfk. You're the type of person he would have a problem with, and you've made my point perfectly. Merry Christmas

[@raphaellall6270]

YES, it's his solo project? And you have a problem with that? He's made millions of dollars and earned a Grammy with his solo project...

[@CalebePriester]

@@raphaellall6270 Yes, I do have a problem with that because I think the music ends up suffering because a band is more than one people. A band is not only one person. My problem is that Dave presents his project not as a solo band like he should, but as a band. So I do have a problem with that, yes. And so what if they won a grammy? Billie Eillish also won a lot of awards, including grammy, and "her" music sucks. Megadeth doesn't suck musically, but this grammy thing it's so lame. This argument may work with another person, but to me it falls flat because I have no admiration for such premiations such as the grammy. If an artistt win a grammy that's because he was a good goy.

[@return2sender791]

I think the only person ive ever heard say anything good about mustaine is himself haha.

[@TheSonsofHorusx]

Damn, didn’t know there was a vintage electric guitar market back in the late 80s lol

[@Naniamania3]

Dave is definitely the Master of Puppets

[@VicSellsPeace]

These videos are basically made to seem like Mustaine is 100% a villain - when in fact, Poland was stealing gear for drugs

[@BertJones-u5b]

Once upon a time, Dave admitted, Chris was the better guitarist. Said Poland could play circles around him. I agree. Poland can, pretty much, play circles around anyone.

[@TheEWFX29]

First time I saw Megadeth was the beginning of the Peace Sells tour. Chris Poland played most of the solos. I saw them at the Living Room club in Providence RI. I saw them about a year later on the same tour and location and Dave was playing a lot of the solos then. I dont know what changed but it was a different vibe but still a great show.

[@BertJones-u5b]

@@TheEWFX29 I envy that.

[@aha3885]

The way he kicked of the band his best buddy, tell you what kind of guy Dave is.

[@LaurieValdez-zk3dy]

Rock and Roll lifestyle

[@LaurieValdez-zk3dy]

Could have Should have Would of

[@vonclod123]

Return To Metalopolis was a great album!! Poland is a very unique soloist. Damn The Machine was great too.

[@fumanpoo4725]

Greed sells...Dave's buying.

[@AFx3144]

In case everything reported here is pure truth, now I know exactly why Kiko left the band.

[@leehingle9793]

Who is this Moose Tain guy??

[@karsguitarchannel6088]

Sounds like Mustang. I asked Shawn why he pronounces 'MOO' STAINE and he said that he lives in Hollywood and in that area everybody pronounced it like that before.

[@Strommel1]

Poland is a big part of Peace Sells

[@CordPower]

Poland was and is..The Best, best megadeth Ever had,..and they had Godlike players in that band, pretty much always, money or not, no beating chirs, just listen to isolated tracks from peace sells, his parts, Unreal, and he is better now than ever, i think dave has always wanted him back and knows he made a mistake, Trust me, chris is the one getting the last laugh now.

[@bobravenscraft5376]

Butt he admits He could never play Marty's parts

[@anthonyg.3503]

@@CordPower I agree. Chris Poland was amazing in Megadeth.

[@riffgroove]

@@CordPower Poland wasn't a hair on Friedman's ass.

[@CordPower]

@@riffgroove you mean that the other way around, poland has a jazz background, listen to some of his work in his band ohm, as Awesome as friedman is, he is not quite as good, most megadeth and metal fans in general know the peace sells era was the Best, it's like jeff young said, there's a reason mustaine doesn't play much of early megadeth...because he can't.

[@riffgroove]

@CordPower No, most fans of the group consider the Rust In Peace incarnation to be the best version of the group. By a landslide. Jeff who?

[@kevinlittle9483]

Fuck!!!!! I'll play Bass for MEGADETH as a employee!!!! Hire me! Professional Bassist here with Metal influences...

[@kurtsicily]

Return to metalopolis, great!

[@drewjohnson4794]

I can't imagine how confused and upset Dave was in the couple years after making and releasing Risk, and then watching it flop. He was probably thinking, how come it hasn't worked when I sold out.

[@Davo-gj7gl]

Great video man 👍

[@karsguitarchannel6088]

Many thanks!! 😊✌

[@stevew6910]

Megadeth only plays around 60 min as headliners But one would think everyone would get around 2000 per show, Dave is paying more for the bus than the players,,,, All of which is write offs,,

[@imatellya2609]

Interesting and informative!

[@karsguitarchannel6088]

Many thanks!! ✌😊 Happy New Year

[@infinidominion]

Marty's response should've been a full balls fueled "FU AND YOUR MONEY, DAVE"

[@leonshreds]

great video thanks

[@karsguitarchannel6088]

Many thanks!! Happy New Year✌😊