News•July 3, 2016 12:48 PM ET•20,864 views

Dave Mustaine: Chris Adler has nothing to do with Megadeth

During a press conference on Friday, Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine made it known that Lamb Of God drummer Chris Adler was no longer involved with Megadeth. Adler played drums on the latest Megadeth album, Dystopia, took part in live shows for a few months following its release, and was expected to rejoin the band on the road again. Not so, according to Mustaine. Taking part in a press conference in Tel Aviv, Israel on Friday, July 1 prior to a Megadeth concert, Mustaine was asked by Ron Ben-Tovim of Machine Music about working with new blood like Adler and [Megadeth guitarist] Kiko Loureiro. Mustaine had this to say:

"Well, I think that if you're in the presence of greatness, it would be shameful not to allow that person to be great. But let me back up, though. Chris Adler is not with Megadeth; he's in Lamb Of God. He was a session guy. It was what you could call 'work for hire.' And he has nothing to do with us anymore, and he is with his band, which... I'm very grateful for his contributions. I'm grateful for him introducing us to Dirk [Verbeuren, current Megadeth touring drummer]. We still haven't announced who our new drummer is gonna be. [But] it won't be Chris Adler, because he's in Lamb Of God."