When on the road in the US recently, MetalHammer.co.uk caught up with MEGADETH’S Dave Mustaine for a quick catch up about how 2009 has been for him and the Megadeth machine and what 2010 may hold.

But instead of a 15 minute chat, Hammer and Dave were talking for well over an hour in what is one of the most candid interviews Dave has ever done. In part 1 of what is now a four part interview, Dave talks about his faith, his work with and opinion of producer Andy Sneap and how he is feeling about the future.

“I’m excited with what’s going on in my band. I’ve got my book coming out too. We’ve got this tour coming up with Slayer. I’ve got almost my entire next record ready to start recording so I can start packing my bags. Andy [Sneap] and I are going to be working together again on this one and we’ve forged an excellent relationship…He made recording more fun. I was still going through a lot of stuff too, you know with my personal life, all the touring caused my children to grow up without me around and that was very hard for me. You’re out working all the time and you have a family at home you want to stay loyal to, but you’re thinking all I do is go to work and send home a pay check. I don’t get to see my family, I don’t get to spend time with them. I know they’re there but I don’t get to realize them.”

Read part 1 in full here.