Well no one outside of those in the know saw this one coming. In the last few hours Megadeth long time drummer Shawn Drover and guitarist Chris Broderick have both issued separate statements announcing their departures from the big four thrash metal legendary band.
Megadeth, who over the years have gone through an enormous amount of line up changes have had a relatively stable line up for the past few years, with no changes in personnel since original bassist David Ellefson rejoined the group in 2010. Shawn Drover had been part of the band almost since the start of Megadeth’s reformation in 2004, having been brought in to replace Nick Menza who had himself rejoined the band. Chris Broderick was brought in to replace Shawn’s brother Glen Drover, who was the first guitarist in the “reformation era” of Megadeth.
Shawn Drover was the first to break the news with this statement:
“After 10 years, I have decided to quit Megadeth to pursue my own musical interests. I want to thank Dave Mustaine and the entire Megadeth family, as well as thanking all the amazing Megadeth fans around the world!!! I truly appreciate all of you. Stay tuned for info on my next musical journey.”
A couple of hours later Chris Broderick released the following statement on his official website www.chrisbroderick.com, citing “artistic and musical differences”:
Due to artistic and musical differences, it is with great reluctance that I announce my departure from Megadeth to pursue my own musical direction. I want all of you to know how much I appreciate the amount that you the fans have accepted and respected me as a member of Megadeth for the last seven years, but it is time for me to move on. I wish Dave and everyone in Megadeth all the best. I am working on a few things of my own and hope that when they come out, you will all dig it.
Until then,
Chris. \m/
Whether Chris Broderick and Shawn Drover have both left collectively as a result of differences with Mustaine (and Ellefson?) or whether one has left because the other has left, or an entirely different set of circumstances remains to be seen. Whenever there is an official statement from Dave Mustaine on this news we will bring it to our readers. Megadeth most recently headlined the closing night of the 2014 Bloodstock Open Air Festival in the UK and are working on the follow up to last years’ critically panned album Super Collider.