Dave Mustaine Claims Influence Over Metallica, Slayer And Anthrax

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Published April 20, 2026 by Ned Tepper

Dave Mustaine has never been shy about his place in thrash history, and now the Megadeth frontman is doubling down, suggesting his guitar work helped shape not just Metallica, but Slayer and Anthrax too.

It’s a big claim, even by Mustaine standards, speaking with Brazil’s 89 FM A Rádio Rock, Mustaine pointed to his early crossover with multiple thrash heavyweights, framing himself as a connective thread in the genre’s formative years (per Lambgoat).

“Well, I’ve been very invested in the metal community. Kerry [King, Slayer guitarist] and I played together [during the two bands’ early days], and I showed him how to play Megadeth songs, which was before [Slayer] started having all their pivotal records. Kerry and I had a really great time together.”

Mustaine’s history with Metallica is already well documented, having contributed to early material before his 1983 exit, his brief link to Slayer came through Kerry King’s short stint in Megadeth during 1984.

Anthrax, though, is where things get murkier.

Bringing Anthrax into the conversation

Mustaine claims his influence extended east when he crossed paths with the New York thrash camp.

“And I wrote music in Metallica and I wrote music in Megadeth. So, I’ve been very influential with the guitar with these three bands. And when I met Scott [Ian, Anthrax guitarist] and the guys in Anthrax out in New York, same thing happened. Their first record was very different from the record they made after they met me and the guys in Metallica. So I think that’s great. I love all those bands.”

It’s a sweeping statement that reframes early thrash as more interconnected than fans might like to admit.

Legacy vs perception

Mustaine’s role in shaping Metallica’s early sound is widely accepted, his fingerprints are on some of their earliest material, the Slayer connection is more anecdotal but still grounded in real overlap, Anthrax is where the claim feels more like interpretation than fact.

Still, it speaks to how tight knit the early thrash scene really was, with bands sharing stages, ideas, and influence before the genre splintered into its own giants.

Megadeth’s next move

Megadeth aren’t slowing down either. The band is gearing up for a massive global run, including South America, Europe, and a return to Australia this November supporting Iron Maiden.