Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (song)

Last updated

"Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!"
Song by Megadeth
from the album Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!
ReleasedJune 12, 1985 (1985-06-12)
RecordedDecember 1984 – January 1985
Studio
Genre
Length3:05
Label Combat
Songwriter(s) Dave Mustaine
Producer(s)

"Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!" is a song by the American thrash metal band Megadeth. It is the second track from their debut studio album of the same name, Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! , which was released in 1985 by Combat Records.

Contents

Music and lyrics

"Killing Is My Business..." is divided into two distinct musical sections: a mid-tempo heavy section, and a fast tempoed, thrash section. [3] [4] The song alternates between the two during its three minute runtime. [4] The song is in the key of C#, and has swing styled drums. [5] The vocals are double tracked, with the two tracks having an octave difference in pitch. [3] [6]

The lyrics for the track were inspired by The Punisher comic book. [7] [8] [9] Holy Wars... The Punishment Due would later continue the story of this song. [7] The song tells the story of an assassin who completes a job, and then kills the man who hired him. [6]

Controversy

The song caused media controversy when a man named David J. Lefever posted an online request to a radio station to play the tune, saying "Watch the national new (sic) tomorrow I am going to go a shooting spree in Appleton WI," and that the song was "good music to go postal and kill a bunce (sic) of people to". [10] [11] The DJ's who were operating the station immediately contacted the police. [12] Lefever was quickly apprehended and arrested due to the threat of a shooting spree. [9] [10] [12]

Personnel

Production and performance credits are adapted from the album liner notes except where noted. [13]

Megadeth

Production

2002 remix and remaster

The Final Kill 2018 remix and remaster

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Megadeth</span> American thrash metal band

Megadeth is an American thrash metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1983 by vocalist/guitarist Dave Mustaine. Known for their technically complex guitar work and musicianship, Megadeth is one of the "big four" of American thrash metal along with Metallica, Anthrax, and Slayer, responsible for the genre's development and popularization. Their music features complex arrangements and fast rhythm sections, dual lead guitars, and lyrical themes of war, politics, religion, death, and personal relationships.

<i>Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!</i> 1985 studio album by Megadeth

Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! is the debut studio album by American thrash metal band Megadeth, released on June 12, 1985, by Combat Records. At the beginning of 1985, the band was given $8,000 by Combat to record and produce its debut album. The band was forced to fire their original producer and produce the album by themselves, after spending half of the album's budget on drugs, alcohol, and food. Despite the poor production, the album was a well-received effort that obtained strong reviews in various music publications. Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! played an essential role in establishing thrash metal as an authentic subgenre of heavy metal music. It explores themes of death, occultism, and violence.

<i>Peace Sells... but Whos Buying?</i> 1986 studio album by Megadeth

Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? is the second studio album by American thrash metal band Megadeth, released on September 19, 1986, through Capitol Records. The project was originally handled by Combat Records, resulting in the original mix of the album being co-produced by Randy Burns. Capitol Records then bought the rights to the album and hired another producer named Paul Lani to mix it himself. The recording of the album was difficult for the band, because of the ongoing drug issues the members had at the time. Drummer Gar Samuelson and guitarist Chris Poland were fired shortly after the album's promotional tour for drug abuse, making Peace Sells Samuelson's last Megadeth album. Poland reappeared as a session musician on Megadeth's 2004 album The System Has Failed. The title track, noted for its politically conscious lyrics, was released as the album's second single and was the band's first music video. The album's cover art, featuring the band's mascot Vic Rattlehead in front of a desolated United Nations Headquarters, was created by Ed Repka.

<i>So Far, So Good... So What!</i> 1988 studio album by Megadeth

So Far, So Good... So What! is the third studio album by American thrash metal band Megadeth, released on January 19, 1988, by Capitol Records. It was the band's only album recorded with drummer Chuck Behler and guitarist Jeff Young, both of whom were fired from the band in early 1989, several months after the completion of the album's world tour. So Far, So Good... So What! features music performed at fast tempos with technical ability; lyrically, frontman and guitarist Dave Mustaine addresses a variety of topics, including nuclear holocaust and freedom of speech.

<i>Countdown to Extinction</i> 1992 studio album by Megadeth

Countdown to Extinction is the fifth studio album by American thrash metal band Megadeth, released on July 14, 1992, through Capitol Records. It was the group's second studio release to feature the "classic" lineup of Dave Mustaine, Marty Friedman, David Ellefson and Nick Menza, with all of them contributing to songwriting on the album. The album features some of the band's best known songs such as "Symphony of Destruction", "Sweating Bullets", and "Skin o' My Teeth", which enjoyed significant chart success and made a great musical impact.

<i>Cryptic Writings</i> 1997 studio album by Megadeth

Cryptic Writings is the seventh studio album by American heavy metal band Megadeth. Released on June 17, 1997, through Capitol Records, it was the band's last studio album to feature drummer Nick Menza. His departure would mark the end of the band's longest lasting lineup to date, having recorded four studio albums. Megadeth decided to produce the record with Dann Huff in Nashville, Tennessee, because they were not satisfied with their previous producer Max Norman. The album features twelve tracks with accessible song structures, specifically aimed for radio airplay. The lyrics were also altered, in order to make the music more inclusive for wider audience. These changes were met with mixed opinions from music critics, who noted the band moving away from their thrash metal roots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Mustaine</span> American musician (born 1961)

David Scott Mustaine is an American musician. He is the co-founder, frontman, primary songwriter and sole consistent member of the thrash metal band Megadeth. Mustaine has released sixteen studio albums with Megadeth, sold over 38 million records worldwide, with six albums platinum-certified, and won a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2017 at the 59th Grammy Awards, for the title track of their fifteenth studio album, Dystopia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Ellefson</span> American bass guitarist

David Warren Ellefson is an American musician, best known for his long tenure as the bassist for thrash metal band Megadeth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peace Sells</span> 1986 single by Megadeth

"Peace Sells" is a song by American thrash metal band Megadeth from their 1986 album Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?, written by Dave Mustaine. The song was released as the band's second ever single in November 1986. "Peace Sells" was the group's breakthrough hit, and is regarded as one of the best songs in the history of heavy metal. Since 1985, the song has since been a constant at Megadeth concerts. According to David Ellefson, it became quickly apparent when playing the song live prior to recording the album that "Peace Sells" would be a hit. In 2006, VH1 ranked "Peace Sells" at number 11 on their list of the "40 Greatest Metal Songs" of all time. In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked the song number nineteen on their list on the 100 greatest heavy metal songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Poland</span> American guitarist (born 1957)

Chris Poland is an American guitarist, best known as the former guitarist of the thrash metal band Megadeth. Since 2002, Poland has been the guitarist of the instrumental rock/jazz fusion bands OHM and OHMphrey, among others, and has appeared on several projects and albums from a variety of different genres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gar Samuelson</span> American drummer (1958–1999)

Gary Charles "Gar" Samuelson was an American musician best remembered for being the drummer for thrash metal band Megadeth from 1984 to 1987, contributing to their first two albums, Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (1985) and Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? (1986). He is considered one of the most influential drummers of thrash metal, having pioneered the incorporation of jazz fusion into the subgenre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">These Boots Are Made for Walkin'</span> Song written by Lee Hazlewood and recorded by Nancy Sinatra

"These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" is a hit song written by Lee Hazlewood and recorded by American singer Nancy Sinatra. It charted on January 22, 1966, and reached No. 1 in the United States Billboard Hot 100 and in the UK Singles Chart.

"Mechanix" is a song by the American thrash metal band Megadeth. It is the eighth and final track from their debut studio album, Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!, which released in 1985 under Combat Records. "Mechanix" has been featured on many Megadeth releases, including multiple greatest hits albums, as well as live albums.

"Good Mourning/Black Friday" is a song by American thrash metal band Megadeth from their 1986 album Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?, written by Dave Mustaine. Despite not being released as a single nor having a music video filmed, the song has become very popular over time.

"My Last Words" is a song by American thrash metal band Megadeth from their 1986 album Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?, written by Dave Mustaine.

"Set the World Afire" is a song by the American thrash metal band Megadeth. It is the second track from their third studio album, So Far, So Good... So What!, which was released in 1988 by Capitol Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Use the Man</span> 1997 single by Megadeth

"Use the Man" is a song by American thrash metal band Megadeth. It was released as the third single from their seventh studio album, Cryptic Writings (1997). The song was one of the band's biggest hits, at #15 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

<i>Thirteen</i> (Megadeth album) 2011 studio album by Megadeth

Thirteen is the thirteenth studio album by American thrash metal band Megadeth. It was first released in Japan on October 27, 2011, and worldwide on November 1, 2011. It is the first Megadeth studio album since The World Needs a Hero (2001) to feature bassist and founding member David Ellefson, who returned to the band in 2010. Thirteen debuted at number 11 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 42,000 copies in its first week. The album broke into the top 20 in several other markets as well. It has sold about 120,000 copies in the United States as of December 2012. The album has received positive reviews from critics.

"Killing Time" is a song by American thrash metal band Megadeth. It was released as the sixth single from their sixteenth studio album, The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead!, on December 16, 2022.

References

  1. ↑ "Loud Rock". CMJ New Music Report : 45. February 11, 2002. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Killing Is My Business.. and Business Is Good! - Review". metal-archives.com.
  3. 1 2 Meyer, Frank (January 31, 2002). "Megadeth Killing Is My Business…And Business Is Good (Deluxe Edition)". KNAC. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  4. 1 2 Mikesn (January 1, 2007). "Megadeth Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!". Sputnik Music. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  5. ↑ Schoendorff, Ed. "SCORPION Q+A". Megadeth.com. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  6. 1 2 "Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good Songs Ranked". Return of Rock. October 8, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  7. 1 2 "MEGADETH Frontman Dave Mustaine Says Song "Holy Wars" Inspired by THE PUNISHER".
  8. ↑ Begrand, Adrien (April 30, 2002). "Megadeth: Killing is My Business... and Business is Good!". PopMatters . Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  9. 1 2 "Megadeth - Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!". Face Off Rock Show. June 11, 2022. Retrieved December 8, 2022. The album's theme song tells the story of a hired killer (why not?) And was influenced by the comic book series "The Punisher". This song managed to create problems for the band from the beginning, when a listener of a radio station asked to listen to the song and stated that it was "good music to freak out with and kill some people ...". The man was later arrested for questioning, because the police feared he would carry out a mass shooting incident.
  10. 1 2 The Hollywood Reporter Staff (September 2, 2011). "Megadeth Song Used in Internet Radio Terror Threat". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  11. ↑ Jay Allen Sanford (September 3, 2011). "Man Arrested After Requesting DJ to Play Megadeth Song". San Diego Reader. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  12. 1 2 "MEGADETH - 'KILLING IS MY BUSINESS' ONLINE RADIO REQUEST LEADS TO ARREST". Brave Words. September 1, 2011. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  13. ↑ Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! liner notes (2002 reissue). Loud Records. 2002. pp. 2, 7–8.
  14. 1 2 "KILLING IS MY BUSINESS...AND BUSINESS IS GOOD!". Megadeth.com. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.