Gibson guitars set to release thrash metal legend Dave Mustaine Collection

Mar. 6—NASHVILLE, Tenn. — For 127 years, Gibson has shaped sound across generations and genres of music, becoming one of the most relevant, played and loved guitar brands around the world. Gibson is now officially announcing a new partnership with Dave Mustaine, the legendary guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, and Grammy-winning founder and leader of Megadeth who joins Gibson as a brand ambassador.

The new Dave Mustaine Collection will span acoustic and electric guitars across Gibson, Epiphone and Kramer.

Mustaine will join the Gibson Artist Alliance — a forum that includes legendary musicians, innovative movers and shakers, and new talent — to share in thought leadership, research and development, mentorship of the next generation of players, as well as philanthropic endeavors. In addition to the Dave Mustaine Collection, the guitarist will be featured in original content and special projects across Gibson, Epiphone and Kramer.

"One of first albums I ever bought was 'Kiss Alive,'" Mustaine said. "On the back of that LP was the Gibson logo, followed by 'Kiss uses Gibson Guitars because they want the best. Period.' Years later, I'm still that same fan, but now I've been playing, touring, writing, and performing around the world myself, and I can say that I could not agree more with that statement.

"As I was looking for a change in my guitars, I met with Cesar (Gueikian) and got his perspective on the vision and direction Gibson is taking. I saw passion, respect for the instruments, a focus on quality and a company that is led by guitar players. I feel I am finally at home with Gibson, and I am proud of what we're building together. I can't wait for the world to get their hands on the new Gibson, Epiphone and Kramer Dave Mustaine Collection guitars. This is a dream come true for me, don't (expletive) wake me up."

"It's an honor to welcome icon, pioneer and visionary musician Dave Mustaine to the Gibson family as our brand ambassador," Gueikian, of Gibson Brands, said. "Dave is one of the most influential metal icons and riff lords of all time, having paved the way for multiple generations of players to carry the flag for hard rock and heavy metal, from riff writers to shredders and everyone in between.

"Working with Dave is especially gratifying because he is a guitar nerd like me, who gets involved in every aspect of the development of the concepts and ideas we have been designing with him at the Gibson Lab. When I was as kid learning how to play guitar, I aspired to play Dave's riffs and I was one of the fortunate fans who attended their Youthanasia Tour concert at Estadio Obras Sanitarias in 1994, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where the 'Aguante Megadeth' chant was born over the song "Symphony of Destruction." That was an epic night that I will never forget. I look forward to bringing this partnership to life and unveiling the first stages of the Dave Mustaine Collection to the world."

Renowned worldwide, the thrash metal pioneer founded Megadeth 35 years ago, virtually inventing the thrash metal genre with the band's debut album, "Killing Is My Business ... And Business Is Good!" Megadeth have sold more than 38 million albums, earning many accolades along the way, including a Grammy Award and 12 additional Grammy nominations, and five consecutive platinum/multiplatinum albums, including 1992's two-million-selling "Countdown to Extinction."

Megadeth have headlined many of the biggest stages in the world and sold out arenas. Prior to founding Megadeth, Mustaine co-wrote many of the songs on Metallica's "Kill Em All" and "Ride the Lightning" albums as the band's original lead guitarist, which have certified sales totaling more than 14 million copies. Across the entirety of his recorded catalog, Mustaine has achieved a staggering sales tally of nearly 50 million albums worldwide.

Megadeth's last studio album, "Dystopia" (2016), debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart. The critically acclaimed album was featured in best albums lists from leading music magazines, including Rolling Stone's "20 Best Metal Albums of 2016" (No. 6); Revolver's "Top 20 Metal Albums of 2016" (No. 2); and Loudwire's "20 Best Albums of 2016" (No. 12) and "Best Metal Songs of 2016" (No. 2) for the title track. Megadeth won a Silver CLIO Award for their "Dystopia VR" album campaign, and the album's blistering title track earned the band a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.

In 2010, Mustaine released his New York Times best-selling autobiography, titled "Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir" in the U.S, UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. In September 2020, Mustaine released his second national bestseller "Rust in Peace: The Inside Story of the Megadeth Masterpiece" to coincide with the 30th anniversary of Megadeth's iconic thrash metal masterpiece "Rust in Peace."

In 2019, Mustaine was given a cancer diagnosis while he was on the road, and he approached cancer like he has dealt with all the hard blows in his life — with all his energy and passion focused on a singular goal. After intense treatment, he succeeded and his cancer is in remission, and all aspects of his life and business continue with his same intensity and perseverance. Nothing has slowed down for Mustaine who is currently working on Megadeth's 16th album for 2021.