Could Marty Friedman Ever Rejoin Megadeth? “I Don’t Think That’s Realistic”
In the wake of Kiko Loureiro‘s departure from Megadeth and the recruitment of Wintersun’s Teemu Mäntysaari, fans of the classic thrash metal band wondered aloud almost in unison about whether or not Marty Friedman would give up his solo ambitions to rejoin the band. They were also emboldened by the prospect of him coming back after a couple surprise guest appearances at live shows, but it’s looking like Marty’s gone for good.
While speaking with Finland’s Chaoszine (as transcribed by Blabbermouth) about his performances with Megadeth at Tokyo’s Budokan and at the Wacken Open Air, Friedman poured some cold water on any idea that he might rejoin his old band Megadeth.
“Oh, it was fantastic. Budokan was the one thing that was kind of like unfinished business within the relationship between me and Dave [Mustaine, Megadeth leader], which has always been fantastic and still is. But there was just that one little thing that was there that was just kind of left hanging there. And Dave was so gracious to invite me to play at the Budokan in Japan, and it was just a great, great way to tie things up — wonderful for me, wonderful for the band.
“But the fans, watching the fans who were there that night, it was just really something special, something unusual. The look of the fans was different from a normal show. People were in disbelief, and people were laughing and crying and big smiles and it was just kind of a really special event and I’m really glad that it happened.”
Looking back on his time performing with Megadeth at Wacken, Friedman said that was “kind of more coincidental” of an occasion.
“That was kind of more coincidental because Megadeth was playing there and I was playing there on — I forgot who [played the festival] first, [if I played] the day before the day after — but we were both in the same place, and [we said], ‘Let’s do it again.’ And it was a thrill there as well.”
Marty Friedman was a member of Megadeth from 1990 to 2000. During that time, he was featured on every studio record from Rust In Peace to Risk.
When asked what he thought about Loureiro’s assertion that Friedman should rejoin Megadeth, he admitted that it was extremely unlikely to ever happen and that he was never approached by Dave Mustaine about the prospect of him coming back at all.
“No, and I don’t think that’s realistic. I don’t know anything about it. I don’t think Dave would think that I would be a candidate to join the band, or rejoin the band, and it’s certainly not something that I thought of. I think they’re absolutely doing just fine the way they are.”
