KERRY KING On Almost Becoming a member of MEGADETH & Why It Would not Have Labored Out: “Me And DAVE Would’ve Butted Heads Like No Tomorrow”

Earlier than Slayer grew to become one in every of thrash steel’s most enduring forces, guitarist Kerry King flirted with a path that might have taken him down a really completely different street – one which led by way of the earliest days of Megadeth. Now, in a candid new interview with Gastão Moreira of Bangers Open Air, King mirrored on his transient however notable stint as Megadeth’s second guitarist.

“Effectively, I like Mustaine to at the present time. I feel he is one of many best guitar gamers on the market – nonetheless,” King shared (by way of Blabbermouth). “So once I caught – I do not even keep in mind how I heard that he wished me to play second guitar to him. However I used to be flattered as a result of even again then, I assumed he was superior.”

King’s involvement with Megadeth got here at a formative time. He performed the band’s first 5 reveals however by no means formally joined. Requested whether or not he was already part of Slayer throughout this era, King confirmed, “Yeah, I feel we have been type of in between information.”

It’s straightforward to think about a timeline the place King left one in every of thrash’s “Massive 4” to assist construct one other, however when requested if he ever thought of leaving Slayer for Megadeth, he supplied a measured reflection:

“I am certain I most likely did, however Slayer is the place I belong. And in hindsight, I completely made the appropriate alternative ‘trigger me and Dave would’ve butted heads like no tomorrow. It is simply his persona. I imply, look how folks have been in his band. Fifty? And that is not me down-talking Mustaine. I like hanging with him for 20 minutes, and then you definitely go away and ‘I will see you in a 12 months.'”

In only a few phrases, King managed to acknowledge Mustaine’s affect whereas additionally reinforcing why his future was all the time with Slayer. Whereas it’s fascinating to think about a parallel steel universe the place King remained a founding member of Megadeth, his instincts – nevertheless sharp-edged – in the end aligned with the legacy he helped forge in Present No Mercy and past.