Dave Mustaine, Rick Santorum: Megadeth Singer Supports Republican Presidential Hopeful

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Never one to hold back his opinions, Dave Mustaine has once again spoken out about the upcoming presidential election, telling Music Radar that he's pulling for Republican hopeful Rick Santorum. The Megadeth singer and guitarist says he was "oblivious" to the candidate until recently, when he was impressed by the former Pennsylvania senator's decision to cancel campaign events and visit his sick 3-year-old daughter in the hospital.

"You know, I think Santorum has some presidential qualities, and I'm hoping that if it does come down to it, we'll see a Republican in the White House ... and that it's Rick Santorum," Mustaine said.

He'd probably also settle for Mitt Romney, even though he's suspicious of the former Massachusetts governor's wealth, or Newt Gingrich, an "angry little man" he likes but doesn't see himself voting for.

"I'm just hoping that whatever is in the White House next year is a Republican," Mustaine explained. "I can't bear to watch what's happened to our great country. Everybody's got their head in the sand. Everybody in the industry is like, 'Oh, Obama's doing such a great job ...' I don't think so. Not from what I see."

Just as Mustaine feels the country needs a new leader, he fears the record industry has fallen into the hands of people only concerned with "recouping costs." What's more, Mustaine says, the government and its "taxations" and regulations regarding "what you can say and what you can't say" have stifled creativity. Asked whether rock 'n' roll has bitten the dust, Mustaine stopped short of reading a eulogy, though he did paint a rather grim picture.

"So, no, rock 'n' roll isn't dead, but the recording industry is like a bunch of bleached bones out in the desert -- not a lot of life to it," he said. "I mean, when you have guys running record labels who are younger than I am? Come on."

Check out the entire Mustaine interview at MusicRadar.com.

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