Mike Albert Project
Can’t Be A “Yes” Man To Anybody

20.04.2012

*** ARCHIVE ITEM - DATED 2003 *** You never know what the next day brings for you. Sometimes you get the most unexpected things, and sometimes the most expected things never happen. Talking about unexpected, that’s just how our contact with Mike Albert was established, to make a long story short. For those of you who don’t know, Mike is a talented U.S.-based guitarist, who over the past 20-25 years has played with a variety of artists ranging from Frank Zappa to Megadeth! Now Mike has his own band called Mike Albert Project, and they’re about to release their second album “Feast Or Famine” on the global music market (well, the record’s gonna be out in the U.S, and we don’t really know about the rest of the world). In this e-mail interview, we decided to make a kind of overview of Mike’s career, but paying special attention to his time with Megadeth, for this is the band with history still containing a lot of blank spaces. We hope our work will help fill some of them.

(EDITOR'S NOTE - THE YEAR 2012: Those of our readers who have been following HeadBanger.ru for a long time are aware that the website was not born out of nothing. By the time it was established, all of our original authors had several years of experience with other Internet and print media. At that time we came up with a lot of materials, but, for various reasons, some of them are not available on the Internet at all at the moment, or are available in incomplete versions. The fifth anniversary of our webzine is the perfect moment to look back and put them online again. Why? First, because some of these conversations matter a lot to us personally. Second, we know that there is still interest in them on the side of our readers...) 

First, tell us some basic background facts about yourself. When and where were you born? When and under whose influence did you start to play guitar?

I started guitar at the age of 9. An aunt had a guitar at her house and I picked it up and I couldn’t stop trying to play the damn thing for the whole day. Seeing my infatuation on the instrument, she gave me the guitar and paid for lessons. In two years I was giving recitals.

How did you get into heavy metal? What was the first heavy metal album that you got?

I got into heavy metal when Black Sabbath first came out and that was the first heavy metal album I bought. That was the real thing; I know, I was there.

How did you get to know Chris Poland and Gar Samuelson? Can you tell us more about their jazz-fusion band The New Yorkers?

I got to know Chris Poland and Gar Samuelson at the end of high school. They came to LA from Buffalo NY.  They had a band called the New Yorkers. It was Chris Poland on guitar, Stu Samuelson (Gar’s brother) on guitar, Rob Pagliari on bass, and Gar Samuelson on drums. I had a band, “The Mike Albert Band” with me on guitar. Gilbert Roman on bass and Ernie Terrazas on drums. They were a challenge. They had all the people that loved jazz and we had all the people that loved ROCK! They were nice enough guys, but we had a huge competition going on. Do you like the New Yorkers or do you like Mike Albert? That was the big question. It was tie.

In the only interview we have read with you, you said that you “had been previously with CBS, MCA, and Mercury Records.” Can you tell us something about your career before joining Megadeth? We’re especially interested in your impressions from working with Frank Zappa.

I have been with CBS, MCA, and Mercury Records as a studio musician. The Mercury Records endeavor was with Frank Zappa “Reuben and The Jets” project, which was the ultimate learning experience. Frank Zappa was the musician’s musician. He could orchestrate a 40 piece band and tell the guy on the vibes to flatten on a G on the 45th bar off the top of his head. What a perfect pitch he had; what a genius.

Who asked you to join Megadeth? Was it Dave Mustaine or Megadeth manager Jay Jones? Did you accept the offer at once or did you have any doubts about it?

Jay Jones asked me to join Megadeth, Chris Poland had left because of personal reasons. I was playing in Huntington Beach, CA at the time and Jay brought down Mustaine and Ellefson, and the producer of the “Killing Is My Business” album. Mustaine told Jones, “What a guitar player!” I felt like he blew the top of my head off!” I got the audition, no problem! I accepted the offer for guitarist only after finding out who the hell they were! I had never heard of Megadeth, and nobody I knew did. The money he offered for the first tour and the energy of the first demo he gave me made my mind up to do it. “Go for it!”

Do you have any special memories about the Killing For A Living tour? Some outstanding shows maybe…What was the last date you played with ‘Deth?

My memories of the “Killing Is My Business” tour are conflicting. It was heaven and it was hell. It was either a great show or completely awful. Being the first tour, it was very unorganized. Being that I had much more experience in touring, Mustaine designated me co-leader of the band. Dave said, “Mike’s co-leader of the band. Any problems with that?” Ellefson and Samuelson, humbled, agreed. The last concert we did was as the Country Club in Reseda, CA.

Did Dave Mustaine influence your guitar playing? Or maybe you influenced his guitar playing?

Did Dave influence my guitar playing? That’s a tough question. I had been playing much longer than him, and technically there was no competition. “Technically” is not everything. I was in the band for that reason but he was a genius behind the conception of Megadeth, which is much more than that. He had some innovative ideas on playing power chords I had never before seen. I use them to this day. As far as me influencing him, I gave him ideas on vibrato and slurs and techniques he had never seen before, so he said. As far as David Ellefson, I showed him different bass lines for blues, fusion, and I turned him onto some bass players out of the genre of rock that he really appreciated. He always thanked me for that and promised to help me with any of my future projects. Maybe I should hit him up now!

What was your favorite song to play with Megadeth?

My favorite song with play with Megadeth was “Looking Down the Cross” and “Mechanix.” You know what? Any song that got audience off was our favorite song. That means we did our job right.

In retrospect, do you now see your time with Megadeth as a mistake? What would you have done differently if you had the chance?

My time with Megadeth was never a mistake. Everything in life is a learning experience. I learned from them, they learned from me.

What songs did you co-wrote for the “Peace Sells…” album? What was the “another cover song” that Dave wanted to do?

“I Ain’t Superstitious” would not have been on the “Peace Sells” album if not for me! Mustaine wanted to cover the song “War”, an R&B classic from the early 70’s. I talked him out of it. He learned it off my album; he never gave it back to me. I think a section of “Wake Up Dead” he got from me. He had called me up and said he was going to give me credit for one of my songs he used for one of his. He backed out when his attorneys informed him he had no legal obligation. He told Jay Jones, “Tell Mike Albert to try and sue Capital Records. Ha!” I was screwed again! In fact, towards the end of the first tour, the record company flew out to a gig of ours in Long Beach, CA. They wanted to do a second live album with a mobile unit. The band was extremely happy. I wasn’t. I told Dave, “You don’t do a live second album on the first album’s material when it hasn’t even sold!” It was the kiss of deth! They just wanted to get out of the 2 record contract as cheap as possible. We had been doing songs off the “Peace Sells” album at thirty plus concerts and this material had to be heard in a studio context. Dave asked me, “Mike, are you sure?” I said, “FUCK YES!” He told Combat Records, “No live second album!” They couldn’t believe it. I think I made the right decision, do you? Maybe it’s time somebody gives me some fucking credit for that!

What’s your opinion about the remixed and remastered version of “Killing Is My Business…” Some people say that changing stuff so dramatically is blasphemy and that classics should remain in their original form…

I think “Killing Is My Business” remixed/remastered version is done very well but loses some of the rawness of the original. Mustaine and Ellefson first heard the album in my apartment on my stereo (the manufactured album) and I complained about the production. The new album is a little bit too sterile. Having played all those songs in a live situation, I think my opinion is valid. It has its high points but because of the bad production of the original, only so much can be done. I like the fact that it was dedicated to Gar Samuelson. That makes me feel good and I think it does to Dave and Dave. The best thing about the remix is you can finally hear, Gar.

How did it happen that you lost all your recordings related to your time with Megadeth?

Every show that we did live on that tour was recorded and I know they’re still out all over the world. I never liked hearing live shows I had done before, especially with that band at that time period. It was so unpredictable. Now I would like to hear it to accept if we were that good, or we were that bad!

What is your opinion about Dave Jr. and Gar Samuelson as musicians and human beings?

I play so much better than that now and so do Mustaine and Ellefson as musicians so why the hell should I care? My opinion on Dave Jr. and Gar Samuelson is that they are both the easiest going and genuine, real musicians with heart. They are the ones who gave Mustaine the foundation for his dynasty.

How did your time with Megadeth influence you from the human standpoint? Did your departure from the band make you bitter and upset, or was it just another short-time job for you?

As far as my leaving the band making me bitter or upset, I’m bitter because I was barely given recognition for whatever contributions I had given them. When Gar and myself released a press release about us starting our band, Metalist, I heard Dave say, “I’ll never give Mike Albert any more credit period. Them starting a band is like the monkeys running the circus.” When Gar told me what he said, we both laughed. One thing I was upset about was not getting any writers credits. That hurt financially.

And once again could you please tell us what were the reasons you were out of Megadeth? Was it really because Chris came back or there were some other reasons?

I left Megadeth when we came back off the first tour. There was NO MONEY. Dave Jr. was living in his van, Mustaine was living with his girl, Gar was living off his girlfriend and I was in debt. The money we made went fast. I refused to rehearse for the new album. I said I had to have money or forget it. Poland came back on scene and said, “I don’t care about the money. Like Albert, just give me some gear (amps & guitars) and my job back!” that was it, good or bad. Mustaine is a very intimidating guy but I don’t get intimidated easily. Our personalities clashed and we probably would’ve killed each other. (We were both Black Belts, him in Lima Lama and me in Jeet Kune Do.) I can’t be a “yes” man to anybody. NOBODY!

Can you tell us more about the band Metalist that you and Gar put together? Did you do any recordings (demos/rehearsal tapes)?

Metalist never materialized because of our drug dependencies. We had the right material but the wrong ideals (no drugs). My new CD has some of our basic ideas for Metalist and I think our listeners will hear Gar’s influence.

What is your opinion about the Megadeth: Behind The Music video? Have you seen it? How much true to life is it?

Behind The Music is a good analogy of the early years and Dave was very honest. As far as the later incarnations of Megadeth, I’m not qualified to speculate on its accuracy so I have no comment.

Have you ever seen Dave Mustaine after you part ways? What feelings do you now have towards him?

Mustaine and I haven’t spoken since the end of the “Peace Sells” tour. He and Jr. called me up at 3:30 in the morning and asked me if I wanted to get back in the band again. Chris was in jail and they wanted me back. I was supposed to give them an answer the next day at Denny’s restaurant in Hollywood. I decided I would do it again, even though I knew it would not last too long. The next day they didn’t show so I called them. Scott Menzies answered the phone (the road manager) and said Poland got bailed out of jail. Screwed again!

What were you doing in the 1990s? We don’t really have any information about it.

In the 90’s I woodshedded writing about 80 new songs and also did movie soundtracks Tia Carrere “Hostile Intentions”, a Paul Rodriguez television special on ABC and played at the Greek Theatre in California. As the Musical Director for the whole concert as well as a concert at the Los Angeles Coliseum with rapper Ice Cube. I was going to continue the Metalist Project without Gar, as him and his brother Stu were working on their band, Fatal Opera! They wanted me to join the band but I couldn’t relocate to Florida from California. They had a couple records and Gar was playing even better than with Megadeth!

Can you tell us about Mike Albert Project? How and when was it formed? Who are the current members?

After Gar’s untimely death, I decided it wouldn’t be right to use the Metalist name so the Mike Albert Project was created. The Mike Albert Project is the direct incarnation of Metalist. The members are Jon Escobedo on bass and Tony Espinoza on drums. The style of music is a derivative of most styles of metal + rock. Metal and rock are never out of style. The only aspect which dates it are the vocal stylings. That’s why I decided to make the first recording instrumental. It is done!

Can you say a few words about the current line-up members?

I started with band in ’99 with the help of bassist Jon Escobedo, a solid and creative bass player. The next move was a drummer. Jon mentioned he had played with one of the best metal drummers in LA named Tony Espinoza. After one rehearsal with Tony, I realized, “What a band!” With the power of this killer drummer and bassist, I have to finish the Metalist conception.

What label will eventually release “Feast Or Famine”? Is it Kronik Records? Why did you choose this label?

I have completed the CD with Kronik Records. The owner of Kronik, Chris Lilly, heard it and said, “I want you guys to use my label.”

What has been the worst thing music industry people have done to you?

The worst thing the music industry has done is stifle the artist’s vision of his music. Creativity sacrificed for their commercial money grubbing greed. That’s why I went with Kronic Records. Chris gives me all creative direction.

What is your opinion on the following guitarists:
1)Kirk Hammet

He sounded best copying Dave Mustaine’s solos on their first album. I know he has it in him to make a statement on guitar, but I have never heard it! He can play!

2) Eric Meyer (Dark Angel)

They opened up for us a few gigs during the Killing tour. I really didn’t pay attention.

3) Chuck Schuldiner

Never heard him. Mustaine, Ellefson, Gar, Poland, never mentioned him.

4) Jeff Waters (Annihilator)

“I have heard.” “Great Guitarist.” I know Dave wanted him in Megadeth. I would jump on having him play in my band definitely!

What would be your response if Dave Mustaine invites you to take part in the Megadeth reunion? By the way, do you think that this reunion (with or without you) may happen sometime in the near future? BTW have you heard Dave announced he will do a SOLO CD early next year?!

If Mustaine asked me to do a reunion, it would be fun. I know it would probably be Jr’s idea or Chris Poland’s. I don’t think Mustaine cares too much for me but maybe he’d let past ego die; it was Megadeth after all, right?

To round up the interview, can you please say a few words to your Russian listeners?

I would like to tell the Russian listeners that I’m doing my best to try and get on a tour there. Request to hear my music and with your support we will be there to kick some ass. After all, Russia is my father’s homeland. Hoping to see all of you very soon.

In conclusion, I would like to make the following statements.
Dave Mustaine is one of the most innovative Godfathers of metal and in no way am I bad rapping any aspect of my time with Megadeth. We were young and went through a lot of problems in those early years. Chris Poland and me are still good friends and maybe Dave and David will be again. We were like family then, even though dysfunctional. Check out Chris Poland’s band OHM — (Chris Poland guitar, Rob Pagliari bass, Kofi Baker drums). Incredible!! Sincerely, Mike Albert

Mike Albert Project on the Internet: http://www.mikealbertproject.com

Felix Yakovlev, Roman “Maniac” Patrashov
June 11, 2003
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