In a bold and baffling new chapter of rock history revisionism, Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine has declared that he actually wrote the iconic riffs on Black Sabbath’s 1970 self-titled debut album — even though he was only 9 years old when it was released.
Speaking during a livestream Q&A titled My Riffs, My Rules, Mustaine claimed that the lumbering, ominous guitar work on songs like “Black Sabbath” and “N.I.B.” was “directly inspired by some stuff I was working on in my bedroom in La Mesa, CA with a toy guitar I got for Christmas.”
“You can hear little Dave all over that record,” Mustaine insisted, pointing to his own chest. “Those riffs, man… they came to me when I was in third grade, during math class. I called them ‘scary slow jams,’ but clearly Tony Iommi must’ve heard me through the cosmos or something and just… y’know… ripped me off.”
When pressed on how he might’ve shared his ideas with the members of Black Sabbath at age 9, Mustaine was vague but firm. “I don’t know, man. Maybe astral projection? Maybe they tapped into my aura? I’ve always had a strong aura,” he explained. “Anyway, point is — those are my tritones.”
Rock historians and Sabbath members have yet to respond, though bassist Geezer Butler reportedly muttered something to the press about “the daft ginger in America” before shaking his head and walking away.
Fans of both bands are divided over the claim. “On one hand, it’s insane,” said one Reddit user. “On the other, it’s Dave Mustaine, so it actually tracks.”
Mustaine says he plans to file formal paperwork with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to have his name added to the songwriting credits on the Sabbath debut. He also hinted at more revelations to come, claiming he “probably” also wrote the solo to “Stairway to Heaven” when he was 11 and “might’ve invented drop-D tuning by accident when I fell on my dad’s guitar.”
At press time, Mustaine was reportedly heard practicing a medley of Iron Man, Paranoid, and Hangar 18, muttering, “All my riffs, man. Mine. All mine.”
