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With TH1RT3EN, Dave Mustaine and Megadeth have their strongest album in years. © Lucas Oleniuk/ZUMA Press/Corbis

Were it just for the Big 4 concerts alone - the turbo-fueled, dream lineup of Anthrax, Slayer, Megadeth and Metallica - Dave Mustaine could rest easy on a year well spent. But the metal legend did much more in 2011, issuing TH1RT3EN, Megadeth's most vital album in years, one which sees the triumphant return of founding bassist Dave Ellefson to the fold after an eight-year-absence.

Mustaine admits that, although he secretly hoped that Ellefson would rejoin at some point, it wasn't the plan when he began TH1RT3EN. "It's just one of those things that happened because it was supposed to," he says. On the subject of the acrimony that existed between him and Ellefson during their separation, Mustaine says, "We all make mistakes. I've made plenty of mistakes that are right up there. But in God's world, everything is perfect."

The Dave Mustaine of 2011 is a relatively reflective one - and indeed, introspection appears to come easily to the maverick musician these days. During the course of our interview - and this is only Part One (Part Two will come soon) - Mustaine talked voluably on subjects ranging from his mended relationship with Metallica, welcoming Ellefson back to the band, songwriting, and how he comes up with such ginormous, panoramic riffs.

And this is just Part One of our discussion. Part Two will follow soon...

You played a few songs with Metallica the other night at their 30^th anniversary celebration. It must feel pretty nice to have mended all fences with them.

"You know, there's still going to be some dumb fucker who says to me, 'So, do you guys get along?' [laughs] I just know it. The world is full of idiots, and I seem to run into a lot of them.

"It does feel good, though. It was very cathartic to go up there last weekend. I was pretty unsure of what was going to happen. I wasn't nervous; I just didn't know what to expect. Those guys are a lot different from Megadeth. We like to know what songs we're going to do. They play pretty loose from the hip - which is cool.

"I was trying to figure out, Do I learn the demo versions of the songs or the Kill 'Em All versions of the songs? Well, I found out it was the Kill 'Em All versions. OK, do I learn my solos from the demos, or Kirk's solos? What solos should I play? Then, when I got there, Kirk said, 'You know, why don't you play all the solos?' And I was like, 'Oooh!' [laughs] I had to quickly go through my bag of tricks.

"In the end, I got up on stage, and everything came together. I was making it much too difficult for myself. It was fun, I had a good time, everybody smiled a lot. Gave out a bunch of high-five knuckles and hugs. Lars kissed me a couple of times...[laughs]

"It's neat that people are able to see what this whole thing is about. The media made this so ugly for so long. We all still really care about each other. Everything has come full circle. It's 30 years later, and here we are. It's really weird, the whole mythology to this."

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