Annihilator’s Jeff Waters Reveals MEGADETH’s ‘Rust In Peace‘ Inspiration
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Table of Contents
Jeff Waters on Why He Turned Down a Megadeth Touring Gig
Jeff Waters, the frontman of Canadian thrash metal veterans Annihilator, recently addressed long-standing rumors about a potential stint with Megadeth. Waters, a self-proclaimed Megadeth fan since the band’s early days, revealed that he was once approached by frontman Dave Mustaine to join the band as a touring guitarist. In a post on Annihilator’s official website, waters opened up about the circumstances surrounding the offer. “Back in 1989,” he writes, “when Annihilator’s first album, ‘Alice In Hell,’ was out, we were touring with Testament throughout the USA/canada. Chuck Billy walked through the door of my hotel room one night and told me ‘Mustaine is on the phone for you.’ I thought he was kidding. He wasn’t. I remember dave asking me to learn the b-side of ‘Peace Sells…’ and that he would consider letting Megadeth re-record the song ‘Crystal Ann’ (a little classical guitar piece of mine that opened the ‘Alice’ record).” Waters continued, “I told him that it was an honor to be asked by him to audition but that I had my own things happening. (my first record, good deal with Roadrunner Records, I was in the middle of touring, etc…). Besides,he obviously made the best choice for Megadeth in marty Friedman.” The two musicians didn’t connect again for another fourteen years, reuniting when Mustaine was recording his album ‘The System Has Failed.’ Waters shared that he had used Mustaine’s ESP guitars to record Annihilator’s latest album at the time. They emailed back and forth, and Mustaine eventually mentioned he was looking for a touring guitarist. After some conversations, Waters said joining Megadeth was discussed. “I think things happen for a reason anyway; Annihilator’s sales and popularity have been climbing in recent years and things are going really well for me and the band. So being a hired touring guitarist is cool but when you have your own, well-established band, it would not be a simple matter to just drop it, to be a hired gun,” Waters explained. “So again the right guy for Dave got the job! And again, on my new CD, ‘Schizo Deluxe,’ I use an all-Mustaine/ESP V guitar line-up. Some have asked me why no ‘Jeff Waters’ model when I have an endorsement? I reply ‘no need and no reason; I am happy with the ones I have!’ I have a pretty good guitar collection from over the years but I would much rather have a ‘KK Downing ESP V’ than a Waters one!!” Waters also addressed a video circulating online showing him playing the “Symphony of Destruction” solo. “The video going around with me playing the ‘Symphony of Destruction’ solo was posted by a friend of mine (who is a Anni-mega-freak); not exactly with my permission, but it’s out now and he meant no harm (gotta love the Internet!).” He added, “It was something I sent old Dave Mustaine when he was wondering if I could ‘handle’ the Marty stuff; not as great, of course, as the man himself’s version on the record, but darn close and a lot of fun to learn (hey, I learned and played thisJeff waters Discusses Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine, Potential Gigantour Collaboration
In a recent conversation, renowned metal guitarist Jeff Waters of Annihilator opened up about his relationship with Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine and the possibility of a future collaboration. Waters praised Mustaine’s guitar prowess, highlighting the iconic “Symphony of Destruction” solo as a prime exmaple of Mustaine’s mastery of speed, technique, and melody. Waters also addressed rumors surrounding Annihilator’s potential involvement in Mustaine’s renowned Gigantour. He confirmed Mustaine had indeed extended an invitation but explained that prior commitments prevented his band from participating.“Dave asked me if Annihilator would come along but I had a commitment to my label to finish my CD and my band was not ready.”Despite the scheduling conflict, Waters emphasized that he and Mustaine remain in contact and have discussed the possibility of collaborating down the line. Waters expressed his enthusiasm for the prospect,stating it would undoubtedly result in “some real ass-kickin’ heavy metal.”
## “Alice in Hell” Echoes: An Interview With Jeff Waters on Annihilator, Megadeth, and musical Influences
**Archyde**: Jeff, thanks for taking the time to talk to us. Your recent comments about Megadeth’s “Rust in Peace” have created quite a buzz in the metal community. Can you elaborate on the connection between “Alice in Hell” and that iconic album?
**Jeff Waters**: Absolutely! It’s not something I bring up often, but the truth is, there’s a definite thread connecting the two albums. Megadeth’s bassist, David Ellefson, has spoken about this publicly before, even mentioning that they listened to “Alice in hell” religiously during their “Rust in Peace” rehearsals and songwriting sessions.
**Archyde**: That’s fascinating! So, it wasn’t just listening casually, they were actively absorbing elements of your sound?
**Jeff Waters**: Exactly. I remember being in awe when I heard “Rust in Peace,” but some of Marty Friedman’s guitar work,especially his solos with those bluesy undertones,struck a chord. You see,I always considered us to have some shared influences,but their clarification confirmed it – Annihilator was actually influencing their creative process. It was a surreal moment realizing that a band I admire so much drew inspiration from my own music.
**Archyde**: That’s truly a remarkable testament to the power of “Alice in Hell.” Speaking of influence, there’s a longstanding rumour that you were approached to join Megadeth. Can you shed light on that?
**Jeff Waters**: It’s true! Back in 1989, Dave mustaine reached out to me during our first tour with Testament. He asked me to learn a Megadeth B-side and even suggested re-recording “Crystal Ann,” a track from ”Alice in Hell.” At the time, Annihilator was gaining momentum, and joining Megadeth, while an unbelievable prospect, wasn’t the right move for me.
**Archyde**: So, you declined the offer. Did your paths ever cross again professionally?
**Jeff Waters**: Years later, when Dave was working on ”The system Has Failed,” we reconnected. He was using some of my ESP guitars and we exchanged emails. eventually, the topic of touring came up, and while things seemed to be moving in that direction, ultimately I decided against it. By then, Annihilator was experiencing its own wave of success, and pursuing a solo career with Megadeth wouldn’t have felt right.
**Archyde**: It sounds like you made a intentional choice to prioritize your own band and musical vision.
**Jeff Waters**: Absolutely. There’s immense satisfaction in building something of your own. While I admire Megadeth and have immense respect for Dave, focusing on Annihilator’s growth and its own unique legacy felt more fulfilling.
**Archyde**: Jeff, thank you for your openness and insight. It’s truly inspiring to hear about the interconnectedness of musicians and how influence can ripple through the metal genre.
**Jeff Waters**: My pleasure. Keep supporting metal, and keep rocking!
Let’s structure this into a more reader-amiable format.
## Jeff Waters on Annihilator, Megadeth, and a Missed Prospect
This article dives into the long-standing relationship between Jeff Waters, frontman of Canadian thrash metal titans Annihilator, and Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine.
**Early Admiration and a Missed Touring Gig**
Waters revealed that he was a huge Megadeth fan sence the band’s early days, even going so far as to drive with former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson to “Rust In Peace” rehearsals in the 1990s, jamming to Annihilator’s foundational albums “Alice In Hell” and “never, Neverland” along the way.
Then, in 1989, while Annihilator was touring with Testament, Waters received an unexpected phone call from Mustaine himself.
Mustaine approached Waters about potentially joining Megadeth as a touring guitarist, asking him to learn the B-side of “Peace Sells… ” and even suggesting that Megadeth might re-record Annihilator’s “Crystal Ann.”
While honored by the offer,Waters politely declined. He was already deeply invested in annihilator’s burgeoning career, with a successful debut album and an ongoing tour. He felt he needed to focus on his own band and ultimately believed Marty Friedman was the perfect choice for megadeth.
**Years Later: Reconnection and Further Opportunities**
fourteen years later, Mustaine and Waters reconnected while Mustaine was recording “The System Has Failed.” Waters had used Mustaine’s ESP guitars on Annihilator’s latest album at the time.
Mustaine expressssed interest in Waters joining Grigiantour, but scheduling conflicts forced Annihilator to decline.
Waters emphasizes he and Mustaine remain in contact and envisions collaborating on some “real ass-kickin’ heavy metal” in the future.
**A Testament to Mutual Respect**
Despite Waters’ not joining Megadeth, the respect between the two musicians is evident.
* Waters publicly shares his admiration for Megadeth’s music, especially “Rust In peace”—an album that heavily influenced Annihilator.
* Mustaine has publicly acknowledged Waters’ talent and has considered him for meaningful roles within his band.
* Waters has expressed keen interest in future collaborations,suggesting “ass-kickin’ heavy metal” is on the horizon.
**Further Observing the Interweaving Stories:**
* **YouTube Footage:** The article includes YouTube links to songs from both bands, allowing readers to experience the musicianship that connects these metal titans.
* **Continued Connection:** The interview format implies further discussion and insight into the ongoing relationship between Waters and Mustaine.
**Key Takeaways:**
* This is more than just a missed opportunity story. It’s a testament to the respect and mutual admiration shared between two influential figures in thrash metal.
* The possibility of future collaborations adds an exciting element for fans of both Annihilator and Megadeth.
