The Megadeth Reunion Offer That Left Marty Friedman “Puzzled and Sad” Once He Got Over His Initial Anger

More than once has former Megadeath guitarist, Marty Friedman, openly expressed how important money was in deciding to reunite with his former band. Recently, he doubled down on his previous comments in his new autobiography, Dreaming Japanese. Released on December 3, Friedman’s autobiography goes in-depth about the band’s Rest In Peace reunion.

The reunion came to light when guitarist, Chris Broderick and drummer, Shawn Drover left the band in 2014. Subsequently, Friedman met with his former bandmate, Dave Mustaine, and then-bassist, David Ellefson at a 2015 show in California. However, when the manager, Ron Lafitte gave a salary offer to Marty Friedman, the show had no chance of happening.

Marty Friedman Gets Candid About The Offer

In his book, Friedman wrote, “Let’s just say he wasn’t even in the ballpark. Hell, he wasn’t even in the parking lot for the ballpark” and “The amount they offered was right around the first salary I got when I joined MEGADETH in 1990.” Given this lowball offer Friedman received, he was quite enraged with how his worth was viewed both by the band and their manager.

“Had I taken that offer, I would have been paid less in a week than I made in a normal day in Japan” and “I was stunned and angry and told them I couldn’t even consider it,” Friedman added. Regarding his quotes about Japan, Friedman moved from the US to Japan in 2003 to continue his music career.

Friedman was willing to take a “financial hit” for the sake of the tour as he believed “A reunion tour with Megadeath opening for Iron Maiden could open doors for [him] again in America.” Despite the new market he could tap into, he didn’t see this opportunity through.

Closing out the anecdote, Friedman wrote, “I was happy with my career in Japan, doing what I loved, making real money without the kind of drama that comes with Megadeath.” “When I got over my initial anger, I was puzzled and sad,” Marty Friedman concluded.

The saga between Friedman and his former band is an insight into Megadeath’s musical politics. Furthermore, it is an honest reveal about the back-door dealing in all of the music industry.

Marty Friedman at Tokyo American Club on July 2, 2022 in Tokyo, Japan per Getty Images.