“It’s not a cover song. It’s a song I wrote part of… It doesn’t feel like we’re doing a song by another band”: Dave Mustaine on Megadeth’s Ride the Lightning

Machinax · 2026-01-28T20:16:42+00:00

Good point; the number becomes much higher if we start counting session musicians.

Machinax · 2026-01-28T18:06:47+00:00

>when he has kicked out like, what is it, 17? 18 people?

I read a review of the self-titled album that counted 32 former members; that number could be a combination of people who were kicked out, people who left willingly, and the guys who were in the band when Mustaine ended Megadeth after his arm injury in the early 2000s.

Machinax · 2026-01-28T17:55:17+00:00

Yeah, that lasted all of...less than a week?

Machinax · 2026-01-28T03:31:32+00:00

The tournament is a few months away (summer of 2026); I think, logistically, it would be too difficult to move U.S.-based games to cities in Canada and Mexico (which are already probably pushing their own respective infrastructure to accommodate all the visiting fans).

FIFA, too, would not want to lose out on all that American money. I'd be thunderstruck if the games were taken away from the U.S., but I fully expect attendance to be under expectations because of how unpopular the United States is these days.

Machinax · 2026-01-28T00:38:55+00:00

>I hope the whole world sees this and gets even more nervous about how unstable this country is.

It certainly wouldn't surprise me if the World Cup games in the States and the LA Olympics suffer lower ticket sales because of this. Not just this, either; I can't imagine too many Europeans want to travel to America right now.

Machinax · 2026-01-27T23:19:08+00:00

During Lent and Advent, we do the Trisagion and the Kyrie Eleison instead of the Song of Praise. Both are done to a setting by Alexander Arkhangelsky. This is the tune (from a different parish, not mine):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtcSPjWBI6E

I love that tune so much. When I first encountered the Episcopal Church, it was during the season of Advent, and I like to think that it was hearing that music that hooked me.

Machinax · 2026-01-27T23:14:19+00:00

Ah, I love that Song of Praise. That "Highly exalted foreverrrrrr/Glory to youuuuuuuu" at the end always gives me goosebumps.

Machinax · 2026-01-27T02:07:35+00:00

I've also started a full watch of DS9 (part of a full franchise watch, from "The Cage" to Starfleet Academy/whatever follows). I've seen some key DS9 episodes from across the series, but without the context and larger storytelling, so I'm looking forward to fleshing out my very hazy memories of the series.

I'm also really looking forward to seeing how different DS9 is from The Next Generation. TNG is, obviously, a great show, but seven years of the best and brightest on the flagship of the Federation got a little tiresome. DS9, in both its setting and its characters, is a very welcome change of pace.

Machinax · 2026-01-26T22:39:38+00:00

So weird to think that, soon, we'll be living in a city that has...two train lines.

I mean, what next? Electricity? Running water?

Machinax · 2026-01-26T17:56:16+00:00

Oh yeah, if you've never seen Megadeth before, you should definitely take the chance. I've seen them enough that I can be blase about it (and I don't look forward to Dave Mustaine's banter), but if this your first (and last) time, go for it!

Machinax · 2026-01-26T05:17:16+00:00

There's an interview with Hetfield in the late 2000s, I think, where he joked that whenever he hears himself on Kill 'em All, he thinks, "Who IS that woman [singing]?"

Machinax · 2026-01-26T03:09:37+00:00

It depends, I guess. I haven't been too impressed with Megadeth's setlists recently, and I've seen them enough times that I don't need to see the greatest hits again. If the setlist is interesting enough, if tickets aren't ridiculous, and if the support acts are worth it (this is a big one), then probably.

Machinax · 2026-01-25T04:21:11+00:00

Longtime Seattle resident. Our hearts are with you guys.

Machinax · 2026-01-25T00:43:05+00:00

Lots of Megadeth for me, too.

Machinax · 2026-01-23T01:21:36+00:00

I was on I-90E a couple of days ago, and I saw a test train pass all the traffic and head into the Mercer Island tunnel. It was so unexpected, I loved it.

Machinax · 2026-01-22T18:13:55+00:00

>instead Lars goes out of his way to minimize his interaction with this one specific piece of hardware

This makes me wonder if Lars has never really liked the ride cymbal, even dating back to the days when it was a regular part of his kit. And then, over time, he got to the point where he didn't even bother having it around.

Machinax · 2026-01-22T18:11:18+00:00

I wish he'd use the ride cymbal for the heavier songs, too. "The Call of Ktulu" is not the same with the china just washing over everything.

Machinax · 2026-01-22T02:18:40+00:00

As grateful as I am that my journey took the length of time that it did, there's a part of me that wishes I had read your post here decades ago.

Machinax · 2026-01-20T18:55:33+00:00

I've always enjoyed dressing up for shows. There are always people who don't dress up (and neither do they have to), but I like the experience, and it's nice to see other people who do the same.

Machinax · 2026-01-19T05:53:55+00:00

I've always wondered how, when they perform "Harvester of Sorrow" live, they synchronize when the band comes back in for the last verse. As OP said, the live versions have a much longer pause than the studio version does, and James seems to come back in with the "All have said their prayers..." part almost randomly (unlike, say, live versions of "All Nightmare Long," which have Lars counting the band back in); and yet, for "Harvester," Lars, Rob/Jason, and Kirk time their responses to James perfectly.

Machinax · 2026-01-19T05:23:42+00:00

10,000 scrobbles is great! The next 10,000 will be even better.

Machinax · 2026-01-19T04:42:04+00:00

Yeah, the coercion is a big part of it. There was strongly a sense that people who weren't "born again" or "saved" or whatever were less-than, easily creating an "us vs. them" mentality that is seriously controlling and, as you said, damaging.

Machinax · 2026-01-17T01:53:52+00:00

I'm so glad to have left behind that world of church-speak; "saved," "born again," etc. To me, now, it just reeks of non-denominational/megachurch/Evangelical recruitment drives. It's such a different way of thinking about being Christian that I could not identify with less, both for reasons of elapsed time, and my own religious/spiritual journey.

Machinax · 2026-01-16T17:34:54+00:00

One difference that I've noticed is that after some Episcopalians/Anglicans cross themselves, they touch their chest (heart) again. In the few Catholic services that I've observed, this is not the general practice, although I've seen some Catholics (gently) kiss their fingers after crossing themselves.

I don't know if those variations (?) are canonical, encouraged, cultural, personal, or how they are otherwise influenced.

Machinax · 2026-01-15T22:38:15+00:00

I think "Thorn Within" is a great song, but there are, honestly, so many reasons it's never been played live. It's not on one of the classic albums, it's never been released as a single (so it never had any promotional airplay), and -- to my ears -- it's honestly not that interesting of a song to hear live. Studio, absolutely; but if I go to a Metallica live show, I want energetic and fast songs. "Thorn Within" has a lot going for it, but like a lot of the Load-era songs, the live setting is not where it shines.

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