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Dave Mustaine in double neck glory, headlining Megadeth's Gigantour in Ontario, Canada, 7 February 2012. © Michael Hurcomb/Corbis

When we caught up with Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine last December, the guitarist spoke at length about topics ranging from the band's astonishing new album TH1RT3EN, his renewed relationship with Metallica, songwriting, riffs and how he welcomed bassist Dave Ellefson back into the fold.

It was a jam-packed interview, but even so, when it was all over, there seemed to be much more to discuss - and when you have a raconteur as skilled as Mustaine, there's always the need for more. So we sat down with him again the other day during a break in the current Gigantour that Megadeth is headlining (the bill also includes Motorhead, Volbeat and Lacuna Coil).

This time, the talk focused mainly on Mustaine's connection to the guitar, but we were soon asking the politically savvy musician for his thoughts on the coming US presidential election, as well as his opinion of today's musical climate. As always, Dave speaks his mind.

How would you say you've changed as a guitarist through the years?

"Well, I've learned to play the guitar three times now. The second time when my arm went numb [the result of falling asleep with his arm over a chair while recovering from pain medication dependence], and then there was the surgery I had last year."

Your neck surgery…

"Right. I had to have my neck fused - the vertebrae in my neck - from the damage that headbanging has done over the years. It had degenerated the discs. When they were taking out one of the discs to replace it, they discovered a big bone fragment that had broken off and was pushing against my spinal column. It was very painful.

"I was laying in a hospital bed on 12 September, my birthday is 13 September, and the Big Four concert was supposed to be 14 September in New York. We sent messages to everybody that I had to get surgery and I couldn't make it.

"As this was happening, I heard some pretty horrible things that were said about me because I wasn't coming. The gutless coward who said these things shall remain nameless, but I know who he is. But still, I said to myself, 'I'll show you…' They got me wrapped up and put me in a brace, and I went to New York and played the show. There you go."

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