A r t i s T ~ i n F o { m u s i c } - CampusRoX.com

M E G A D E T H

Formed 1983, Los Angeles, California

THE BAND

Dave Mustaine - born Sep. 13, 1961, La Mesa, California, guitars, vocals.
David Ellefson - born Nov. 12, 1964, Minn., bassist.
Chris Poland, guitars.
Gars Samuelson, drums.

When guitarist Dave Mustaine was booted out of Metallica early in its career, he formed Megadeth, which continued his former group’s thrash-metal style with even more speed and intensity.

Mustaine was seven when his parents divorced, and his family wound up living in poverty in the Southern California suburbs. During his teens, Mustaine’s mother was often away, leaving him with his sisters and their abusive spouses; he told a journalist that a brother-in-law once punched him in the face for listening to Judas Priest. Mustaine’s revenge was to join a heavy-metal band, and in 1981 he became a founding member of Metallica, from which he was fired two years later in a power struggle over leadership and allegations of his drug use. Mustaine, who is notorious for his outspokenness and mood swings, formed Megadeth that same year with Minnesota native Dave Ellefson.

Mustaine and Ellefson hoped to create a jazz-oriented progressive strain of heavy metal based on chops as much as emotional aggression. Megadeth’s first album, Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good, succeeded in that regard and garnered mainly positive reviews, even from critics normally hostile to heavy metal. Mustaine’s drug use, meanwhile, deepened with his discovery of heroin. Still, the band’s subsequent albums, Peace Sells... But Who‘s Buying? and So Far, So Good... So What? (#28, 1988), continued in the band’s celebrated lightning-speed, chops-heavy style.

In 1990 Mustaine was arrested for impaired driving and went into a 12-step program for his drug and alcohol problems; he has since remained clean and sober. The same year, Megadeth released Rust in Peace, which reached #23. Mustaine’s former band, meanwhile, paved the way for thrash-metal when its self-titled album of 1991 skyrocketed to the top of the charts; Megadeth followed in Metallica’s footsteps the next year with Countdown to Extinction, which went to #2.

Mustaine’s newfound sobriety hasn’t kept the guitarist from getting into trouble: In 1993 Megadeth was dumped from its opening spot on Aerosmith’s tour when that group tired of Mustaine’s misbehavior. Megadeth returned in 1994 with Youthanasia (the album’s press release was written by novelist Dean Koontz), which debuted at #4.

1985 -- Killing Is My Business.., and Business Is Good (Combat)
1986 -- Peace Sells... But Who’s Buying? (Capitol) (- Poland; - Samuelson; + Jeff Young, gtr.; + Chuck Behler, drums)
1988 -- So Far, So Good... So What? ( - Young; - Behler; + Marty Friedman [b. Dec. 8, 1962, Washington, D.C.], gtr.; + Nick Menza [b. July 23, 1964, Ger.], drums)
1990 -- Rust in Peace
1992 -- Countdown to Extinction
1994 -- Youthanasia

THE MEGADETH TIMELINE:
1982

Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield form Metallica.
Dave Mustaine leaves Panic and joins Metallica.
Ron McGovney is hired as Metallica's bassist
March, Metallica's first gig at Radio City in Anaheim
March, Metallica opens for Saxon on their "Denim and Leather" tour
April, Brad Parker (a.k.a. Damian Phillips) is hired as Metallica's second guitarist. He leaves band after one gig, Metallica's only as a five-piece band.
May, James Hetfield takes up rhythm guitar in addition to vocals.
June, "Hit the Lights" is included on Metal Massacre compilation
Rare demo album No Life 'til Leather is released.
December, Cliff Burton leaves Trauma to replace Ron McGovney

1983

March, Cliff Burton's first gig with Metallica
April, Dave Mustaine is fired from Metallica, Kirk Hammet leaves Exodus to replace him
Metallica's first album, Kill 'Em All, is released
Dave Mustaine gets together with bassist David Ellefson, guitarist Kerry King, and drummer Lee Rash to form Megadeth
Kerry King assists Megadeth on tour and then returns to Slayer
Lee Rash is replaced by Gar Samuelson
Chris Poland is hired to fill the gap Kerry King helped with.
Hawaii (Marty Friedman's second band) releases One Nation Underground
December 31st, Mustaine becomes Megadeth's singer

1984

November, Megadeth is signed to Combat records
Hawaii releases Loud Wild and Heavy

1985

May, Megadeth releases Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!
Hawaii releases The Natives Are Restless

1986

Cliff Burton dies in bus accident
November, Megadeth releases Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?
Capitol Records signs Megadeth, gets rights to Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? from Combat
Overkill opens for Megadeth on "Wake Up Dead" tour
Chris Poland and Gar Samuelson are fired after last show of tour in Hawaii

1987

February, Megadeth opens for Alice Cooper's "Constrictor" tour
Megadeth tours with Mercyful Fate
Chuck Behler hired as Megadeth's drummer
Jay Reynolds of Malice helps out Megadeth until they find a suitable replacement for Chris Poland, guitarist Jeff Young
Marty Friedman's and Jason Becker's Cacophony releases Speed Metal Symphony

1988

March, Megadeth releases So Far, So Good... So What!
Megadeth opens for Dio on European tour
Megadeth featured in acclaimed documentary, Decline of Western Civilization 2: The Metal Years
August, Megadeth plays Castle Donnington with KISS, and Iron Maiden as the headliner
Megadeth opens for the "Monsters of Rock" tour.
Marty Friedman releases his first solo album, Dragon's Kiss
Megadeth cancels Australian tour
Dave Mustaine helps produce Sanctuary's Refuge Denied

1989

Cacophony releases Go Off!
Jeff Young and Chuck Behler are fired
Mustaine is arrested for impaired driving, forced to clean up in 12-step program
July, Nick Menza, is hired as Megadeth's drummer

1990

January, Megadeth covers Alice Cooper's "No More Mr. Nice Guy" for Wes Craven's Shocker soundtrack, their only song as a three-piece band
Jason Becker is diagnosed with Lou Gehrigs's disease, Cacophony officially breaks up
February, Marty Friedman is hired as Megadeth's lead guitarist
October, Megadeth releases Rust in Peace
October, Megadeth joins Slayer, Suicidal Tendencies, and Testament for "Clash of the Titans" tour

1991

March, Megadeth opens for Judas Priest, in support of their new album Painkiller
April, Dave Mustaine gets married to Pamela Anne Casselberry
April, Rusted Pieces video is released
July, Megadeth's "Go to Hell" featured on Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey soundtrack
US "Clash of the Titans" tour featuring Slayer, Anthrax, Megadeth, and opener Alice in Chains

1992

May, Megadeth's "Breakpoint" featured on Super Mario Bros soundtrack
July, Megadeth releases Countdown to Extinction
November, Exposure of a Dream video is released
Megadeth tours the USA with Stone Temple Pilots
Dave Mustaine covers Democratic national convention for MTV
Marty Friedman releases Scenes, with Nick Menza on drums
Dave Mustaine's son, Justis, is born

1993

Dave Mustaine makes a guest appearance on Diamond Head's Death and Progress
February, Dave Mustaine overdoses in a getting high attempt. The quote on MTV's "Night of the Living Megadeth" regarding it was a joke.
Megadeth plays Milton Keynes Bowl with Diamond Head and Metallica
Megadeth opens for Iron Maiden for a few dates on their European Tour
Aerosmith kicks Megadeth off their American "Get A Grip" tour, Jackyl takes their place
Pantera opens for Megadeth's "Countdown to Extinction" Tour
June, Megadeth's "Angry Again" featured on Last Action Hero soundtrack
November, Megadeth's "99 Ways to Die" featured on The Beavis and Butthead Experience soundtrack

1994

Halloween, Megadeth releases Youthanasia, plays on MTV's "Night of the Living Megadeth"
October, Megadeth covers "Paranoid" for Nativity in Black: A Tribute to Black Sabbath

1995

January, Megadeth's "Diadems" featured on Tales from the Crypt Presents: Demon Knight soundtrack
January to February, "Youth" worldwide tour with Corrosion of Conformity
March, Megadeth releases Hidden Treasures compilation in Europe
May, Evolver: The Making of Youthanasia video is released
July, Megadeth releases Hidden Treasures compilation in USA and Japan
July to August, "Reckoning Day" tour with Flotsam and Jetsam, Korn and Fear Factory
Marty Friedman releases Introduction, with Nick Menza on drums

1996

Dave Mustaine collaborates with Lee Ving of Fear on MD.45, The Craving
November, Marty Friedman releases True Obsessions (Shrapnel Records)
David Ellefson's son, Roman Alexander, is born
David Ellefson produces Helstar's reunion album, Multiples of Black

1997

June, Megadeth releases Cryptic Writings
Remix of Megadeth's "Almost Honest" included on Mortal Kombat Annihilation soundtrack

1998

January 28th, Dave Mustaine's daughter, Electra, is born
Megadeth takes part in "Ozzfest'98"
July, Nick Menza and Megadeth have parted ways
July, Jimmy DeGrasso is hired as Megadeth's drummer
October 23rd, David Ellefson's daughter Athena is born

1999

Megadeth enters the studio with producer Dann Huff in Nashville to record their follow up to Cryptic Writings.
Megadeth spend the summer playing radio shows, and eventually join Iron Maiden for a European tour in September.
"Crush 'Em" is released on the Universal Soldier 2 Soundtrack and eventually makes its way into NHL arenas and WCW.
Risk is released on August 31, 1999, and is certified gold a month later.