As Megadeth prepared to make Rust in Peace, Dave Mustaine was still searching for a guitarist to replace the recently fired Jeff Young.

In a new Guitar World interview, Mustaine recalled first noticing future bandmate Marty Friedman thanks to a single CD sitting on the counter at Megadeth’s management office: Dragon’s Kiss (1988). Its black cover with bright orange lettering immediately caught his eye.

Mustaine also remembered Friedman’s look—specifically his hair, black from the roots to ear level, then bright red down to his shoulders. When Friedman arrived to audition, he didn’t inspire much confidence at first, walking in with a Carvin guitar, a brand Mustaine noted wasn’t widely respected at the time.

Any doubts disappeared once Friedman played. During the solo section of “Wake Up Dead,” he nailed it effortlessly, ending a long and frustrating audition process. Mustaine recalled thinking, “Oh my God.”

Before Friedman, the shortlist was stacked. Slash jammed with Mustaine and David Ellefson but stayed with his band. Dimebag Darrell was offered the role, but talks fell apart when Mustaine declined to also hire his brother Vinnie Paul, having already committed to Nick Menza. Criss Oliva passed, unwilling to leave Savatage, while an 18-year-old Jeff Loomis impressed but was deemed too young.

Friedman arrived without hype. He was recommended by Ron Laffitte of Capitol Records management, who had heard Dragon’s Kiss, Friedman’s solo debut following his time in Cacophony.