Megadeth’s Million-Dollar Mistake: Why Guitar Legend Turned Down Reunion Offer
When Megadeth needed a guitarist in 2015, they turned to their former star player Marty Friedman. The timing seemed perfect – the band had just lost two members, and fans were eager to see the classic lineup that created their famous album Rust In Peace back together.
But money issues quickly killed the dream of seeing Friedman play with Dave Mustaine, David Ellefson, and Nick Menza again. As Metal Injection writes, Friedman was shocked by the salary they offered him.
“Let’s just say he wasn’t even in the ballpark. Hell, he wasn’t even in the parking lot for the ballpark. The amount they offered was right around the first salary I got when I joined Megadeth in 1990. If I’d had any idea they would lowball me like this, I never would have met with them in Anaheim”, Friedman reveals in his new book Dreaming Japanese.
The Missed Opportunity
The guitarist explains he might have accepted less money than usual because touring with Megadeth as Iron Maiden’s opening act could have helped his career in America. But the offer was too low: “Had I taken that offer, I would have been paid less in a week than I made in a normal day in Japan.”
“When I got over my initial anger, I was puzzled and sad”, Friedman admits. The band went on to record their next album with different musicians, and since drummer Nick Menza has passed away, fans will never get to see the classic lineup perform together again.
