Dave Mustaine (born David Scott Mustaine on September 13, 1961 in La Mesa, California, United States) is a guitarist, songwriter, and singer. He grew up in various Southern California suburbs. As the central figure of Megadeth and a former Metallica lead guitarist and co-songwriter, he is one of a handful of people considered to have pioneered thrash metal and speed metal. In 1981 Dave Mustaine left his first band Panic to join Metallica as the lead guitarist.