Is there anything sadder than an old rock star? Probably not. Look at Alice Cooper. The dude who used to guillotine himself on stage is currently shuffling around a golf course in Arizona. Or Roger Daltry. He led one of the most influential bands of the 20th century, and now he’s hawking Time/Life DVD sets. And let’s not even get into all the sellouts who are turning a quick buck leasing their angst-ridden anthems to commercials these days (yes, Bob Dylan, Iggy Pop, and whoever’s in charge of the Ramones catalogue, I’m talking to you).

But there’s at least one former rock ‘n’ roll rebel who’s staying true to his roots. That’d be Dave Mustaine, the man who cofounded Metallica, got kicked out of the band for drinking (kicked out of Metallica – how hardcore is THAT?), and then turned around and formed multiplatinum thrash metalers Megadeth. Sure, he might’ve gotten all blubbery during his reunion with the Metallica hacks in the 2004 documentary Some Kind Of Monster, but he deserves a pass on that one. Especially because when I saw him at the Baja Fresh on Sunset and Vine this Saturday, dude was definitely keeping the speedmetal spirit alive. You know how when you’re done you’re supposed to do everybody a favor and take your tray and your trash to the garbage can? Well, Dave doesn’t play by those rules. He and his bandmates sucked down their burritos, got up, and left the whole mess laying there like a pile of broken instruments. If that’s not metal, I don’t know what is.

– Chris May