Music

Watch Megadeth's Dave Mustaine play on a slip-and-slide for his 55th birthday

by Richard Howard

Megadeth. A group created specifically to be louder, faster and more abrasive than its lead singer Dave Mustaine’s previous band, Metallica. Named after the unit quantifying one million deaths in a nuclear war. In the 80s and early 90s, the band’s uncompromising attitude and songs with titles such as “Set The World Afire,” “Take No Prisoners” and “Wake Up Dead” earned them (and Mustaine specifically) a reputation as one of the most intimidating players in the thrash scene (even with their skin-tight pants and planet-sized perms).

Now of course people mellow with age, and as a recovering alcoholic and born-again Christian, Mustaine is anything but a hellraiser these days. Still, you’ve got to admit it’s a little weird seeing the guy who once sang “I am more violent than violence, more deadly than death” giddily going down a slip ‘n’ slide on a Tennessee farm.

Yup… Mustaine had a little shindig for his 55th (!!!) birthday at his sprawling estate with his family and closest friends, and he shared his favourite moments live on Periscope. One of these was the whole bunch trying out a massive slip ‘n’ slide – and even though he mentioned thinking he “broke a rib” trying it before the camera was rolling, he returned for a triumphant belly-flop and graceful fade into the distance (skip to 5:40).

Before you get too worried, Mustaine has long admitted he’s “not a sober person” and will occasionally have a bevy. At least he knows where the good stuff’s at – the very Canadian beer he’s repping in the video is the Megadeth-themed À Tout Le Monde made by Quebec’s Unibroue. Respeck, Dave. Also, believe it or not, Dave’s belly slide is only the second least metal thing in the video. The first? Mustaine’s proclamation as a random dude tries his hand at the slip-and-slide: “That’s Brent – he’s my financial advisor.”