Revolver spoke with Megadeth leader Dave Mustaine backstage at Ozzfest Meets Knotfest, which took place back in September in San Bernardino, CA.

Asked to talk about his memories of Black Sabbath and if he’s ever “had a good time” with the members of the band, Mustaine states:

“There’s different ways to explain that… I remember participating in a golf tournament with Frank Sinatra, and got a golf club from the event, and I knew that Ozzy (Osbourne) was a big Frank Sinatra fan, so I gave him that golf club, and he hugged me. And everyone freaked out, because he did that. And apparently, if Ozzy hugs you, you're in the family forever, which is great. Also, when we were in South America, Tony (Iommi) and I spent some time exercising after he was in his - convalescing from his treatment, he was doing a lot of walking and stuff like that, and he asked me if I wanted to go with him for one of the days, to go walk and talk. It was really life-changing for me, because he's such an icon to all of us. And again, although it's not really that much of an influence guitar-playing-wise, musically I loved his music and I love him as a person. He's just a very wonderful human being.”

Megadeth have been nominated for a 2017 Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance for the title track from their new album Dystopia.

“Last time we were nominated I was at the awards talking with Kenny G and I said how we’d been nominated a lot, but hadn’t won it yet. He said, ‘Don’t feel bad, it took me 21 times to win my first one!’ This has been such an incredible year for Megadeth. With so many milestones, and so many individual and group awards, to now have this honor of being nominated again is the grand finale to the most perfect campaign. We are very appreciative and thankful to all of our peers and contemporaries that are voting for the 2017 Grammy’s.” – Dave Mustaine, founder Megadeth.

Megadeth kicked off 2016 with their new album release, Dystopia. The album debuted No. 3 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, alongside Adele and Justin Bieber, No.1 on the Hard Music/Top Rock Chart, No. 2 Top Album Sales Chart, peaked at No. 27 at radio, and marked the highest charting album for Megadeth since 1992’s Countdown To Extinction, which debuted at No. 2.

Always discovering and presenting new experiences for their fans, Megadeth debuted a special edition package featuring a groundbreaking Virtual Reality experience.  The band headed into a customized VR set-up with director Blair Underwood where they performed and filmed songs from their album within the fallen city of a dystopian world modeled after the world created in Megadeth’s music video for “The Threat Is Real.”  Their cutting-edge package, campaign and partnership with new technology company earned them the prestigious Silver Clio for their collaborative project in the world of music marketing and advertising. Megadeth joined other Silver Clio winners including Walt Disney Records for Star Wars, Intel for Lady Gaga, Coke, KitKat, Samsung for Rihanna, JBL and more.

For the remaining days of 2016, Megadeth is the featured performer and also nominated for Album of the Year Song of the Year, Best Guitarist and Best Drummer at this years’ Revolver Music Awards being held in New York on December 13th. Mustaine will also receive the Lifetime Achievement award. Megadeth will also perform on Late Night With Seth Meyers on December 15th.

In between the Megadeth’s touring schedule, Dave Mustaine oversaw production and launched Megadeth beer A Tour Le Monde in October. The Belgium style Saison Ale, is in partnership with Unibroue, one of the most highly awarded breweries in North America. The first batch is already completely sold out. Dave Mustaine just returned from Japan where he hosted the Classic Rock Awards. In addition to his hosting duties, he joined Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Johnny Depp, Joe Perry, Rudolph Schenker and others for an all-star performance to the sold out audience at Ryogoku Kokugikan Stadium. Meanwhile, David Ellefson was also promoting Landfill Harmonic, a documentary which includes the story of Megadeth travelling to Paraguay to meet and perform with young artists (and Megadeth fans) who play classical music on instruments constructed from recycled metal and wood found in a landfill.