Mustaine

Mustaine is a surname best known for Dave Mustaine, an American heavy metal musician and songwriter born in 1961. He is the founder, primary guitarist and vocalist of Megadeth, one of the leading bands of the thrash metal movement. Before forming Megadeth, Mustaine was an early guitarist for Metallica from 1981 until 1983, contributing to early material before his departure.

After leaving Metallica, Mustaine formed Megadeth, releasing Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (1985) and Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? (1986), establishing a reputation for intricate riffs and political lyric themes. The band achieved broader success in the late 1980s and early 1990s with Rust in Peace (1990) and Countdown to Extinction (1992), the latter producing mainstream hits and commercial growth.

Megadeth continued to release albums across subsequent decades, undergoing lineup changes but maintaining Mustaine's leadership and songwriting. The band won a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2017 with the track Dystopia, marking a high point in its later career. In 2022 Megadeth released The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead!, continuing Mustaine's ongoing work as a recording artist.

Mustaine is known for his rapid, aggressive guitar style, complex song structures and politically and socially conscious lyrics. He has been a prominent figure in the metal scene for decades and is regarded as an influence by many metal guitarists. He has publicly discussed his Christian faith and its impact on his life and music.