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In the most recent episode of “The David Ellefson Show” video podcast, former MEGADETH guitarist Chris Poland joined ex-MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson and podcast co-host Joshua Toomey to discuss their lives post-MEGADETH, the challenges of recovery, industry politics, and the enduring camaraderie built over decades in music. Reflecting on his experiences with the Dave Mustaine-fronted band, Poland remarked (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): ”I have no regrets about everything that’s happened — except for one. I regret that Mustaine would often call me a liar while on stage. Initially, I didn’t think much of it, but then I realized it was a significant factor in why it was challenging for me to secure deals. I remember walking into Carvin [guitars] one day, thinking to myself, ‘These guitars aren’t bad. I want to speak with their A&R guy.’ After talking with him, he told me, ‘Dude, we don’t use people like you on our roster.’ It was like carrying around a 50-pound ball, dragged down by Dave‘s anger towards me at the time.”
Ellefson added: “You know, he did the same to [another former MEGADETH guitarist] Jeff Young. There were derogatory remarks from Dave that hindered Jeff‘s job prospects for a long time. Similar attempts were made to me. Thankfully, I just kept pushing forward. I was determined to ignore those comments and continue on my path.”
David went on: “It’s intriguing. There has always been this ‘former MEGADETH members unite’ dynamic, almost as if it happens unintentionally. When I returned to MEGADETH 15 years ago, Jeff was quite frustrated with Dave‘s comments in interviews, claiming Mustaine was whistling or singing solos to him during his time in the band. It became public, and Jeff was insisting we unite. I told him, ‘Hey, Jeff, I’ve just come back from San Diego. I literally just rejoined MEGADETH.’ This was in 2010. I remember discussing this with Dave, and I said, ‘I’ll handle it; I’ll take care of it.’ And I resolved the matter — as is often my approach. It feels like a gift I possess; I aim for peaceful resolutions and to move forward without grudges.”
Chris remarked: “It’s not about holding onto bitterness. I’ve just come to realize the extent of the damage that was really done.”
A little over three years ago, Poland confirmed in an interview with Sofa King Cool that the track “Liar” from MEGADETH‘s 1988 album “So Far, So Good… So What?” was penned by Mustaine about him, stating: “Oh, absolutely. Clearly, Dave was quite angry with me when I left the band — after he fired me, essentially.”
When asked if he felt resentment upon discovering he inspired the song’s lyrics, Poland replied: “Not at all. It’s like the pot calling the kettle black. When you point a finger, three are pointing back at you. I just rolled my eyes and thought, ‘Really?'”
Poland was part of MEGADETH from 1984 to 1987, contributing to the band’s iconic albums “Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good!” and “Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?” He also featured as a soloist on their 2004 album, “The System Has Failed”.
Back in 2004, Poland and/or his management filed a lawsuit against Mustaine over the inclusion of three “Rust In Peace” demos in the album’s reissue without Chris‘s consent. According to MEGADETH‘s webmaster, Mustaine added the demos out of a belief that Chris would appreciate the acknowledgment, showcasing how Marty [Friedman, MEGADETH‘s guitarist during some years post-Poland] had been influenced by Chris‘s solos. Chris also sought legal action for defamation after Dave referred to him as a “thief,” but Chris‘s attorney dropped the case upon discovering that Chris had indeed sold band gear for drugs, as noted by MEGADETH‘s webmaster. “There’s a confession in the VH1 ‘Behind the Music’ on MEGADETH,” the webmaster mentioned. Ultimately, Chris settled for $9,500, concluding his professional relationship with Dave and MEGADETH.
In a September 2020 interview with Darren Paltrowitz (host of the “Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz” podcast), Mustaine highlighted Poland, stating: “Chris Poland, as much as I find it hard to like him, was an exceptional guitar player. I wanted to offer him a chance during the 2004 reissues for ‘Peace Sells’ and ‘Rust In Peace’, planning to include that song in the ‘Rust In Peace’ reissue. Unfortunately, he got involved in a nuisance lawsuit, which ended our friendship. I thought, ‘What a waste.’
“There was a tiny hill near where we resided, and I considered buying that land rather than compromising Chris‘ friendship. I’m so disappointed that things turned out this way,” Mustaine added. “Because I would have loved to have him on the record. When people say, ‘Hey, this sounds like Marty Friedman,’ I wish to clarify that Marty Friedman took inspiration from Chris — Chris did it first.”
Poland previously addressed the legal complications surrounding the 2004 reissue of “Rust In Peace” in a 2018 interview with the As The Story Grows podcast, stating: “When I worked on ‘The System Has Failed’, [Dave] started including the demos in a re-release of ‘Rust In Peace’. I was unaware that I wouldn’t receive payment until after the release. I was shocked! I tried to reach out to Dave multiple times without success. Afterward, I contacted Dave‘s manager, who also ignored me. Eventually, when I insisted on involving my lawyer, the manager insulted me, claiming, ‘You just played a couple solos, what’s the issue?’ I asked, ‘What do you mean, ‘So what?’ Is everyone else getting compensated for this?’ He responded, ‘Chris, that’s beside the point.’ I insisted that we needed to make this right. It’s important to clarify; this wasn’t a nuisance suit—I made several attempts to resolve this, but they ignored me.”
For over 25 years, Poland‘s primary musical endeavor has been with the fusion band OHM:, which has released several albums to date.
Ellefson and Young currently perform together in a band named KINGS OF THRASH. Earlier this month, they released a single titled “Lockdown”, featuring a guest appearance by Poland.
Photo credit: Melody Myers (courtesy of O’Donnell Media Group)
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