Mustaine Eyes Retirement Over Neck Problems

Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine is eyeing an early retirement from the band - due to persistent problems with his neck.

The 48-year-old rocker takes the blame for his own health issues, and admits he's punished his body for decades by thrashing his head around during performances.

He tells Metal Hammer: "Yeah, retirement is a concern. It has to do with the limitations of my body. I’ve got stuff going on with my neck. I try not to make it obvious but the range of motion in my neck is becoming very limited. I don’t think it has as much to do with wear and tear, as it does with the lack of preparation. There were so many years where I would go out there and just start headbanging. I didn’t think, 'OK Dave, you’re an elite athlete, you do metal calisthenics (exercises) with your left hand... so why don’t you limber up the rest of your body?'" But the rocker hasn't given up on his music career just yet, and hopes his new exercise routine will alleviate his aches.

He adds, "Over the last two years I’ve really started to take a different approach to my health, my fitness... my life. For the last year I’ve been on a really strict regiment and I try to take really good care of myself so I can play better."

Meanwhile former Megadeth guitarist Jeff Young has slammed frontman Dave Mustaine in an open letter, accusing him of "dissing, exaggerating and just plain lying" about his bandmates.

Young appeared on the band's 1988 album So Far, So Good... So What! and admits he's spent 20 years fuming about Mustaine's self-important stance.

And after reading a recent interview with the rocker in Guitar World magazine, Young is finally speaking out.

He writes on his official MySpace blog: "Over the years, this tragic cat has made a hobby of dissing, exaggerating and just plain lying on some level about nearly every talented musician that has passed through his dysfunctional little ensemble. Literally, spitting in the face of the very folks that covered for his drugged out, sloppy-a** and helped make him successful."

Young follows with a letter to Mustaine, continuing, "Let's be clear for the record: You were not in the studio with me during any of my tracking... not one song - not one second. You know it and I know it. You need to stop blatantly lying to your fans and in the media. Perhaps, next time you look in the mirror... you'll pause to consider why you feel the need to continually perpetuate ridiculous bulls**t and belittle others in order to make yourself seem more significant or talented?

"You consider yourself a 'genius' yet after all these years, you're still not smart enough to comprehend that when you diminish others, you diminish yourself most of all. Consider the giant glass house you've built for yourself and put your silly little stones down, once and for all. At the very least for all the players that helped create all the success you now so arrogantly and selfishly enjoy."