Here at YuppiePunk World HQ, we are rock nerds of the highest order, which is why we read the recently released memoirs from Sammy Hagar (““) and Dave Mustaine (““). Despite Van Halen and Megadeth residing on opposite ends of the hard rock spectrum, there are a number of similarities between the two books, both of which were penned with co-authors. Hagar’s “Red” reads like Sammy’s persona: happy-go-lucky and likeable, with not too much psychology or self-analysis. It’s a breezy trip through his three decades as a rock star and businessman, the latter of which he may have had more success at than music. Mustaine’s book is darker, cynical and at the end, religious, and Mustaine comes off as the angry headbanger he’s always seemed to be, still pissed at being fired from Metallica, bitter of others’ successes and a judgmental, egomaniacal curmudgeon. Though “Red” is the better read, Mustaine is the better author, it’s just that it’s hard to root for Dave because he’s such an a-hole. Here’s a side-by-side comparison on some of the similarities between the two tomes:

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