Megadeth

Megadeth is an American thrash metal band led by Dave Mustaine. The group was formed in 1983, disbanded in 2002, and reformed in 2004.

History

Shortly after lead guitarist Dave Mustaine was fired from Metallica due to alcohol problems and personality conflicts, Mustaine and bassist David Ellefson formed Megadeth. Mustaine became the band's singer and primary lyricist as well as lead guitarist. The band soon added drummer Gar Samuelson and temporary guitarist Kerry King (of Slayer fame). Later the same year, Kerry was replaced by Chris Poland.

Related Topics:
Metallica - Alcohol problems - David Ellefson - Gar Samuelson - Kerry King - Slayer - Chris Poland

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In late 1984, they were signed to Combat Records, and in May 1985 they released their first album, entitled Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!. The band had been alloted $8,000 to record and produce the album, but spending half of that budget on drugs left much to be desired in terms of sound quality. Even with its somewhat poor production, Megadeth's debut was a well-received album that blended elements of thrash/speed metal and punk rock.

Related Topics:
1984 - Combat Records - 1985 - Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good! - Speed metal - Punk rock

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In November 1986 they released their second album, Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?, which is regarded by many critics as Megadeth's finest hour and a ground-breaking thrash metal album. Better production and more sophisticated songwriting earned Megadeth immense respect and a place alongside Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax in the "Big Four" of thrash. Later the same year Megadeth signed with Capitol Records, who also bought the rights to Peace Sells... from Combat.

Related Topics:
1986 - Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? - Metallica - Slayer - Anthrax - Capitol Records

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Gar Samuelson and Chris Poland were fired from the band after a tour in Hawaii, amidst rumors of drug abuse by the entire band. Mustaine claimed that Samuelson and Poland had been selling the band's equipment to fund their drug habits. Because of this, Mustaine wrote the song "Liar" and dedicated it to Poland. The replacements were Chuck Behler on drums and Jeff Young on guitars.

Related Topics:
Chuck Behler - Jeff Young

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In March 1988, the new line-up released their next album, So Far, So Good... So What!. The album was widely panned and failed to capitalize on the success of Peace Sells..., with fans responding to only a few songs such as "Into the Lungs of Hell", "In My Darkest Hour", "Set the World Afire", and "Mary Jane". A cover of the Sex Pistols' "Anarchy In The UK" on the album was particularly derided and was seen as a symbol of the whole album's failure.

Related Topics:
1988 - So Far, So Good... So What! - Sex Pistols - Anarchy In The UK

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The lineup that had recorded So Far, So Good... So What! was short-lived, as Chuck and Jeff were fired in 1989, replaced respectively by Marty Friedman (Guitar) and Nick Menza (Drums). Before Marty Friedman was hired however, Megadeth recorded the song "No More Mr. Nice Guy" by Alice Cooper, this being their only song as a three piece Line up. The Mustaine, Ellefson, Friedman and Menza line-up became the most stable and successful of Megadeth's career, recording four well-received albums, and created Megadeth's reputation as a band that could not only play metal well, but also create more commercially acceptable offerings.

Related Topics:
1989 - Marty Friedman - Nick Menza

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In 1990, however, Megadeth showed no sign of weakening. The band's fourth album, Rust in Peace, is still regarded by many as one of the most technically sophisticated and exciting speed/thrash metal albums of all time. Megadeth's characteristically caustic and catchy lyrics and raw, fast thrash-metal riffs were finally captured with a clear, precise production, which allowed all the nuances of Mustaine's guitar compositions to be heard. Rust in Peace showcased a level of technical complexity reminiscent of progressive metal.

Related Topics:
1990 - Rust in Peace - Riff - Progressive metal

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In July 1992, Megadeth released the album Countdown to Extinction. It became an instant hit, reached #2 on the Billboard album charts, and went multi-platinum: Mustaine himself said that he measured his future successes against those of Countdown. The album featured noticeably simpler song structures, catchy melodic "hooks," and an increased emphasis on the singer's voice. Megadeth, however, successfully integrated these changes into their typical cynical, ironic and heavily political lyrical themes. The song Architecture of Aggression features the sound of CNN and ABC reporters excitedly watching and commenting on the opening shots of the Iraq war and Foreclosure of a Dream, a song discussing the recession and its particular effect on American agriculture, has the infamous "Read my lips" promise of George H. W. Bush (under the pressure from the U.S. Congress, this promise was later to be broken) of not raising taxes.

Related Topics:
1992 - Countdown to Extinction - George H. W. Bush

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Arguably the album was Megadeth's first true attempt at breaking into the mainstream rock market that Megadeth had never gained a major foothold in. Mustaine and the rest of the band members were frustrated, however, that Billy Ray Cyrus kept them out of Billboard's number-one spot with Achy Breaky Heart and also that they lost their Grammy nomination to Nine Inch Nails' Wish.

Related Topics:
Billy Ray Cyrus - Nine Inch Nails

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The following album, Youthanasia, was delivered in 1994, and it also became a great success. Continuing the new direction indicated by Countdown To Extinction, Youthanasia featured a still-more-relaxed sound and generally slower songs — slower than some older fans could tolerate. The unusual Beats Per Minute (BPM) parity on the album is attributed to producer Max Norman, who apparently made Megadeth use around 120 BPM on every song in order to try and make Megadeth's music more acceptable to rock radio. This led to some backlash from long term fans and the "sell out" term was starting to show up.

Related Topics:
Youthanasia - 1994

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Their next album, entitled Cryptic Writings was released in 1997. This album had more pop influences than the previous ones, but its sound was still unmistakably Megadeth's. Nick Menza left the band in 1998, replaced by Jimmy DeGrasso.

Related Topics:
Cryptic Writings - 1997 - Pop - 1998 - Jimmy DeGrasso

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The pop influences were even more evident on the following album, 1999's Risk, which met lackluster sales. Shortly after its release, Marty Friedman left the band, and was replaced by Al Pitrelli formerly of Savatage. Looking for a way to end their contract with Capitol Records, the band released a greatest-hits collection entitled ' (2000). This compilation included two new tracks that they were contractually obliged to give to Capitol.

Related Topics:
1999 - Risk - Al Pitrelli - Savatage - 2000

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In 2001 Megadeth signed a deal with Sanctuary Records. Shortly thereafter, they put out a new album, entitled The World Needs a Hero, which was hailed by many fans as a fairly-successful return to form.

Related Topics:
2001 - Sanctuary Records - The World Needs a Hero

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On April 3, 2002, Mustaine announced in a press release that he was leaving the band, officially due to an injury that caused nerve damage to his left arm. The remaining members decided to dissolve Megadeth as a result. This seemed to mark the end of the band's nearly twenty-year career.

Related Topics:
April 3 - 2002

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Gradually, physical therapy helped Mustaine's arm heal. After writing his first consciously solo album and masterminding the reissue of Megadeth's catalogue (remixed and remastered), he contacted the members of early Megadeth to help record his new album originally titled Blackmail The Universe, but later renamed The System Has Failed (2004). Due to pressure from his record label he was forced to change this from a solo album to the final Megadeth album. This album features Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, Chris Poland (who had played with Megadeth in the 1980s) on lead guitar and session musician Jimmy Lee Sloas on bass. As Dave Mustaine said, "Megadeth is slowly rising from the ashes."

Related Topics:
Physical therapy - The System Has Failed - 2004 - Vinnie Colaiuta - Jimmy Lee Sloas

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Early July of 2004 saw the entire The System Has Failed album leaked onto the Internet. Mustaine is said to have been deeply upset by this, but the scheduled release date of September 2004 was maintained. The System Has Failed made its debut at #18 on the Billboard charts, and received overall positive reviews from critics, hailed as a return to Megadeth's 'golden days' of the late 80s and early 90s.

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Shortly following the release of The System Has Failed, Mustaine appointed Glen Drover, formerly of the King Diamond and Eidolon, as Megadeth's new guitarist. Additional line-up changes were James MacDonough, formerly of Iced Earth, on bass, and Shawn Drover (the brother of Glen Drover) on drums. Mustaine previously hired back the former drummer Nick Menza, but he later left due to an undisclosed reason.

Related Topics:
King Diamond - Eidolon - Iced Earth - Nick Menza

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In July 2004, Ellefson filed an $18.5-million lawsuit in the New York federal court against Mustaine and the band, claiming he was entitled to a greater share of the band's profits. In January 2005, the federal court dismissed the case, finding that Ellefson had released his claims in a May 2004 settlement agreement with the band. Mustaine and the band filed a counter suit against Ellefson in the California state court for breach of the settlement agreement. That suit eventually was settled.

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The Blackmail The Universe World Tour, running from late 2004 until late 2005 (with a staggered touring schedule), proved to be a true 'come back' and return to form for Megadeth, and their first large scale tour for several years. Previously Mustaine had also announced that it was the final Megadeth tour and that the band would be disbanding immediately afterwards; however, as of March 2005, Dave Mustaine announced the Gigantour, Megadeth's largest tour ever. This is surely a promise that the band will continue in its reformed state.

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In July 2005, the band released a greatest hits record entitled Back to the Start: Greatest Hits. This is a compilation of some of the bands greatest material.

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