Well, that was sudden. While Megadeth was supposedly recording a new album in 2015 to coincide with a tour next year, the four-piece are now a two piece, as guitarist Chris Broderick and drummer Shawn Drover left the band separately just hours apart. Drover, who was with Megadeth for the last decade, was the first to exit the band, releasing a statement stating he was pursuing his own music.
“After 10 years, I have decided to quit Megadeth to pursue my own musical interests. I want to thank Dave Mustaine and the entire Megadeth family, as well as thanking all the amazing Megadeth fans around the world!!! I truly appreciate all of you. Stay tuned for info on my next musical journey.”
Shortly after that, Broderick, who’s been with the band for seven years and three albums, announced his exit via a statement on his web site:
Due to artistic and musical differences, it is with great reluctance that I announce my departure from Megadeth to pursue my own musical direction. I want all of you to know how much I appreciate the amount that you the fans have accepted and respected me as a member of Megadeth for the last seven years, but it is time for me to move on. I wish Dave and everyone in Megadeth all the best. I am working on a few things of my own and hope that when they come out, you will all dig it.
Until then,
Chris. \m/
So that leaves just Dave Mustaine and David Ellefson, who himself took an eight-year hiatus from the band. Megadeth are enough of a brand name to continue on with a different drummer and guitarist, especially with Ellefson on bass, but the band seemed relatively stable, given that they’d had the same lineup for three albums. And while the reasons seem vague on Drover’s part, perhaps there was a financial disagreement that pushed out the newer members. Broderick will do fine for himself, having been in Jag Panzer for nearly a decade, as well as a live member of Nevermore. “Artistic and musical differences” sounds like code for he was tired of putting up with Dave’s shit.
Personnel problems appear to be a problem for Megadeth. Broderick is the sixth guitarist in the band, which features an impressive amount of alumni, including Marty Friedman, Al Pitrelli and Chris Poland. Drover was the fifth drummer in the band. It will be interesting to see what happens next, and to hear about whether the two left together or the other left as a result of the first leaving. 2013’s Super Collider, was the band’s on Mustaine’s Tradecraft label through Universal Music Enterprises. So far, there’s been no official statement from Megadeth or Mustaine.
[photo: Jeremy Saffer]
