Marty Friedman Was “Puzzled and Sad” Over “Lowball” Salary Offer for Rust In Peace Reunion
There was a moment back in 2015 when the world could have gotten the return of the classic Megadeth lineup that gave us all Rust In Peace. We’re talkin’ Dave Mustaine on guitar and vocals, David Ellefson on bass and backing vocals, Nick Menza on drums, and Marty Friedman on guitar — it would have been epic. Yet disputes over pay ended up causing discussions to eventually break down.
It was a regretful situation that deprived the world of such an insanely awesome occasion, especially after guitarist Chris Broderick and drummer Shaun Drover left the band in 2014. Ultimately, Kiko Loureiro and Chris Adler joined the band to record Dystopia and the rest regarding the reunion that wasn’t became history.
In his autobiography Dreaming Japanese, Friedman outlined what went into the reunion talks and why he walked away from the negotiation process.
“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.
“Had I taken that offer, I would have been paid less in a week than I made in a normal day in Japan. I was stunned and angry and told them I couldn’t even consider it. I made a counteroffer, which was the bare minimum I could accept, and far less than I have received from any of the artists I’ve toured with in Japan.”
That’s wild. Could you imagine how much money Megadeth would have made with that lineup?! Friedman said he was It could have potentially made back everything Friedman would have gotten in his agreement. Still, hindsight is 20/20 and with Menza no longer with us, it’s a reality we will never get to experience ever again.
Looking back, Friedman said he might have been willing to take the lower than expected offer, but things were going well for him in Japan. Enough so that he eventually turned it down.
“I was willing to take the financial hit because a reunion tour with Megadeth opening for Iron Maiden could open doors for me again in America. And what followed could be a bigger tour than anything we had previously done. Even if they met my rate, the tour would have been a huge windfall for them. They easily could have agreed to that, and the reunion would have been on, but they said I wanted too much money.
“I was happy with my career in Japan, doing what I loved, making real money without the kind of drama that comes with Megadeth. They didn’t even acknowledge they had just lost their guitarist and drummer and needed me more than I needed them. When I got over my initial anger, I was puzzled and sad.”
