Megadeth

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Image:138 logo.gifImage:Mega logo old gold.jpgMegadeth is an American thrash metal band led by Dave Mustaine. The group was formed in 1983, disbanded in 2002, and reformed in 2004.

Contents

History

The Early Years

Shortly after lead guitarist Dave Mustaine was fired from Metallica due to alcohol problems and personality conflicts, Mustaine and bassist David Ellefson formed Megadeth. As Mustaine himself says, "I could only focus on one thing [after being kicked out of Metallica]: I wanted blood. Theirs". 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 after severe personality clashes with bandleader Mustaine.

The Debut Line-up

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.

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.

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.

So Far, So Good...

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. 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). "SFSGSW", as the album is affectionately dubbed by online fans, boasted a very technically skilled lineup- Jeff Young's technique as a guitarist was nothing short of astonishing- but the songs themselves were quite lackluster, leading to the lineup's ultimate demise.

The Rust In Peace Era

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.

Image:138 photo.jpg 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.

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.

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.

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.

Taking the Risk

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.

In 1999 computer game development company 3D Realms announced that they'll be using various unreleased Megadeth tracks on their promotional album "Duke Nukem: Music To Score By". Megadeth also recorded a rendition of the famous Duke Nukem theme song "Grabbag", originally composed by Lee Jackson.

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 Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years (2000). This compilation included two new tracks that they were contractually obliged to give to Capitol.

From Capitol to Sanctuary

Image:Pic band25.jpg

In 2001 Megadeth signed a deal with Sanctuary Records. Shortly thereafter, they put out a new album, entitled The World Needs a Hero, which received a very mixed reception. Some fans called it a return to form, based on great new songs like "Recipe for Hate... Warhorse" and "Burning Bridges". Other fans were annoyed by the album's willingness to recycle past glories through clichéd songs like "Return to Hangar" (which touted itself as a sequel to the classic "Hangar 18" from Rust In Peace but showcased the same lyrical meter recited over a much simpler riff) and "Dread and the Fugitive Mind" (which was far too similar to "Sweating Bullets" from the monumentally successful Countdown to Extinction for the liking of many fans).

The World Without Megadeth

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.

The Return Of Megadeth

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."

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.

On The same month, 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.

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. Shawn Drover was hired to be Megadeth drummer 5 days before the "Blackmail The Universe Tour" first show.

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.

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.

Megadeth Lives On

October 09, 2005 - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Pepsi Music Rock Festival
In 2004, Dave Mustaine said that "The System Has Failed" would be the last Megadeth record before he went as a solo artist. After The inaugural launch of Gigantour, Dave Mustaine finally made up his mind regarding the future of Megadeth.

Before playing this special version of "Coming Home", (with the song's lyrics changed from the original "I'm coming home to Arizona" to "I'm coming home to Argentina") Dave Mustaine said "I told you earlier tonight that I was gonna let all of you know first before the rest of the world what our decision was - whether or not we were gonna continue with Megadeth or not."
Immediately after the song ends, Mustaine said "The answer is yes." The crowd erupted in joy, and Megadeth started playing "Symphony Of Destruction" accompanied by the crowds screaming "Megadeth! Megadeth! Aguante Megadeth!" (loosely translated as "Megadeth! Megadeth! Keep Megadeth Alive!")

As posted in Megadeth Official Website: "MEGADETH will continue as a band. MEGADETH will record a new album. MEGADETH will continue to play."

Dave Mustaine also mentioned that he has been working with his bandmates (The Drovers and MacDonough) on writing the next Megadeth record really soon.This was also confirmed by Mustaine during a Megadeth concert in Puerto Rico on October 15, 2005, 6 days after the one in Argentina.

Lyrical themes

Aside from Megadeth's unmistakable guitar style, there are several recurring lyrical themes across their albums. War and military themes — particularly nuclear war (as in "Set The World Afire," originally titled "Megadeth") — is a common theme for many of the bands songs. In fact, the band's name is a play on the word megadeath, a term coined by the US military to mean one million deaths. However, beyond nuclear war, topics for Megadeth songs include the military-industrial complex (Architecture of Aggression), the aftermath of war (Ashes in your mouth), and the Israel Palestine conflict (Holy Wars... The Punishment Due). The video clip for "In My Darkest Hour" was banned from MTV as it was interpreted to have been written about suicide, a theme which arose more blatantly in "Skin o' My Teeth" and "A Tout Le Monde".

Politics is also a common theme to many Megadeth songs. Mustaine is scathing in his assessment of Tipper Gore, the PMRC, and music censorship in the song "Hook In Mouth", attacks gambling in "Train of Consequences", takes an environmentalist stance in "Countdown to Extinction", and shuns dictators in songs like "Warhorse", "Symphony of Destruction", and "Ashes in Your Mouth". Mustaine's general cynicism about politics shines through on tracks like "Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?" and "The World Needs A Hero". "Blackmail the Universe" includes an Alex Jones soundbyte.

While Megadeth has recorded songs about relationships, they tend to be songs either about breaking up, or have a dark twist. "Trust", "Almost Honest", "Addicted To Chaos", and "1000 Times Goodbye" are examples of the former. Examples of the latter include "Promises", an eerie ballad from beyond the grave, and "Last Rites / Loved to Death", a song about a man who is angry that he can't have the woman he loves, and seeks to kill her. The one exception to this was the Risk track "I'll be there", and is often held up as an example of what was "wrong" with that particular album's pop-rock influences.

Controversy

In May 2005, during preparation for the band's "Gigantour" festival, Dave Mustaine threatened to cancel non-related shows in Greece with Rotting Christ and Israel with Dissection which in turn caused the two black metal bands to cancel their appearances.

Both groups' supposed "lyrical subject matter" (past or present) and Mustaine's identification as a born-again Christian was said to be the reason. However, skepticism had arisen about actual intentions, since Megadeth had upcoming tours scheduled with other bands of a sacrilegious or semi-sacrilegious nature (including another gig with Dissection) and because many of Megadeth's vintage songs had questioned the institutions of organized religion.

Discography

Members

Former Members

See also

External links

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