Megadeth

Last updated

Megadeth
Megadeth Live at The O2 2018-06-16.jpg
Megadeth performing in June 2018. Left to right: David Ellefson, Dirk Verbeuren, Dave Mustaine, and Kiko Loureiro.
Background information
Also known asFallen Angels (early) [1]
Origin Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Discography Megadeth discography
Years active
  • 1983–present (hiatus 2002-2003)
Labels
Members
Past members Full list
Website megadeth.com

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, [3] 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.

Contents

In 1985, Megadeth released their debut album, Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! , on the independent record label Combat Records, to moderate success. It caught the attention of bigger labels, which led to Megadeth signing with Capitol Records. Their first major-label album, Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? , was released in 1986 and was a major hit with the underground metal scene. Band members' substance abuse issues and personal disputes had brought Megadeth negative publicity during the late 1980s. Nonetheless, the band went on to release a number of platinum-selling albums, including So Far, So Good... So What! (1988), Rust in Peace (1990), and Countdown to Extinction (1992). These albums, along with worldwide tours, brought them public recognition. Megadeth's most recent album, The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead! , was released in 2022.

Megadeth has undergone multiple lineup changes throughout its 41-year career, with Mustaine being the sole consistent member of the band. The band temporarily disbanded in 2002 when Mustaine suffered an arm injury and re-established in 2003 without longtime bassist David Ellefson, who had taken legal action against Mustaine. Ellefson settled out of court and rejoined the band in 2010, but was fired in 2021 amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Megadeth's current lineup includes Mustaine, bassist James LoMenzo, guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari and drummer Dirk Verbeuren.

Megadeth earned platinum certifications in the United States for five of its sixteen studio albums, [4] and has received twelve Grammy nominations. Megadeth won its first Grammy Award in 2017 for the song "Dystopia" in the Best Metal Performance category. [5] The band's mascot, Vic Rattlehead, regularly appears on album artwork and live shows. Megadeth has hosted its own music festival, Gigantour, several times since July 2005, and held its first MegaCruise in October 2019.

As of 2023 the band sold more than 50 million copies of their albums worldwide. [6]

History

1983–1985: Formation and Killing Is My Business

Dave Mustaine formed Megadeth in 1983, after being fired from Metallica. Megadeth performing in San Antonio, Texas (27457595376).jpg
Dave Mustaine formed Megadeth in 1983, after being fired from Metallica.

On April 11, 1983, Dave Mustaine was fired from Metallica just prior to the band recording their debut album Kill 'Em All due to substance abuse and personal conflicts with James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich. As Metallica's lead guitarist since 1981, Mustaine had composed some of the group's early songs and helped hone the band into a tight live unit. [7] [8] Afterward, Mustaine vowed revenge by forming a band that was faster and heavier than Metallica. [9] On the bus trip back to Los Angeles, Mustaine found a pamphlet by California senator Alan Cranston that read: "The arsenal of megadeath can't be rid no matter what the peace treaties come to." [10] The term "Megadeath" stuck with Mustaine and he wrote a song with the spelling slightly changed to Megadeth, which, according to Mustaine, represented the annihilation of power. [11]

After arriving back in Los Angeles, Mustaine began the search for new bandmates for his band. He formed the band Fallen Angels, and the band's name was changed to Megadeth at the suggestion of the singer at the time, Lor Kane. [12] As the founder of the band, he added to the band his new neighbors David Ellefson and Greg Handevidt, who had moved from Minnesota to Los Angeles and played bass and guitar. [13] A demo was recorded by the lineup, though the band realized that they would have to retool some of the songs following the release of Metallica's debut album, in July 1983. [14] The only Metallica-era song that ended up on Megadeth's debut album was "Mechanix". [15] Songs from that time period included "No Time", "Self Destruct", "Hair Pin Trigger", "Speak No Evil", "Eye for Eye" and "Heaven Knows". [16] "Speak No Evil" was the original title of "Looking Down the Cross". [17]

While Handevidt would only last a few months, Mustaine and Ellefson formed a tight musical bond. Despite his enthusiasm, Mustaine had trouble finding other members to fill out the lineup. He and Ellefson auditioned about 15 drummers, hoping to find one who understood meter changes in music. After briefly playing with Dijon Carruthers, they selected Lee Rauch. Following six months of trying to find a lead singer, Mustaine decided to perform lead vocals himself. [18] Singers who temporarily joined the band included Billy Bonds [15] and John Cyriis, who would found Agent Steel after his firing from Megadeth. [19]

In 1984, Megadeth recorded a three-song demo tape featuring Mustaine, Ellefson, and Rauch. [20] [ failed verification ] The demo tape, Last Rites , was released on March 9, 1984. It featured early versions of "Last Rites/Loved to Death", "The Skull Beneath the Skin", and "Mechanix", all of which appeared on the band's debut album. [21] The band was unable to find a compatible second guitarist. Kerry King of Slayer filled in on rhythm guitar for several shows in the San Francisco area in the spring of 1984. [20] Afterwards, King went back to Slayer and Megadeth replaced Rauch with jazz fusion drummer Gar Samuelson; he officially joined Megadeth on October 24, 1984. [22] Samuelson had previously been in the jazz band The New Yorkers with guitarist Chris Poland. [23] After seeing Samuelson perform with Megadeth as a trio, Poland went backstage and suggested an impromptu audition as lead guitarist for the band; he joined Megadeth in December 1984. [9]

After considering several labels, Mustaine signed the band to Combat Records, a New York-based Independent record label that offered Megadeth the highest budget to record and tour. [20] In 1985, Combat Records gave the band $8,000 to record and produce its debut album. After spending $4,000 of the budget on drugs, alcohol, and food, the band fired the original producer and finished the recording themselves. [24]

Despite its low-fidelity sound, [25] Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! was relatively successful in underground metal circles and attracted major-label interest. [26] The band was calling itself State Of The Art Speed Metal. [27] Music writer Joel McIver praised its "blistering technicality" and stated that the album "raised the bar for the whole thrash metal scene, with guitarists forced to perform even more accurately and powerfully". [28] The front cover marked the debut of band mascot Vic Rattlehead, who regularly appeared on subsequent album artwork. [29]

Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! features "Mechanix", a song Mustaine wrote during his time with Metallica. Though Mustaine told the band after his dismissal not to use the music he had written, Metallica recorded a different version of the song, "The Four Horsemen", with a slower tempo and a melodic middle section. [30] The album also included a cover of Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walkin' ", at a faster tempo and with altered lyrics. Megadeth's version generated controversy during the 1990s, when its writer, Lee Hazlewood, called Mustaine's changes "vile and offensive". [31] Under threat of legal action, the song was removed from pressings released from 1995 to 2001. [32]

In mid-1985, on a bill with Canadian speed metal band Exciter, Megadeth played its first North American tour: the Killing for a Living Tour. Guitarist Mike Albert replaced Poland, who was battling drug addiction. [33] Although Albert was originally supposed to be a permanent replacement, [20] Poland rejoined Megadeth in October 1985, shortly before the group began recording its second album for Combat. [34]

1986–1987: Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?

According to Mustaine, Megadeth was under pressure to deliver another successful album: "That sophomore offering is the 'be-all or end-all' of any band. You either go to the next level, or it's the beginning of the nadir." [35] Mustaine composed the music for the album, with the other members adding arrangement ideas. [36]

The album was produced on a $25,000 budget from Combat Records. Dissatisfied with its financial limitations, the band left Combat and signed with Capitol Records. Capitol bought the rights to the album, and hired producer Paul Lani to remix the earlier recordings. Released in late 1986, Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? has clearer production and more sophisticated songwriting. [37] Mustaine wanted to write socially conscious lyrics, unlike mainstream heavy metal bands who sang about "hedonistic pleasures". [38] The album was noted for its political commentary and helped Megadeth expand its fanbase. [39] The title track was the album's second single, and was accompanied by a music video that received regular airplay on MTV. [40]

In February 1987, Megadeth was the opening act on Alice Cooper's Constrictor tour, [41] and the following month began its first headlining world tour in the United Kingdom. The 72-week tour was supported by Overkill and Necros, and continued in the United States. [42] During the tour, Mustaine and Ellefson considered firing Samuelson for his drug abuse. [43] According to Mustaine, Samuelson had become too much to handle when intoxicated. Drummer Chuck Behler traveled with Megadeth for the last dates of the tour as the other band members feared Samuelson would not be able to continue. [44] Poland quarreled with Mustaine, and was accused of selling band equipment to buy heroin. [43] As a result, Samuelson and Poland were asked to leave Megadeth in 1987, with Behler becoming the band's full-time drummer. [42]

Poland was initially replaced by Jay Reynolds of Malice, but as the band began working on its next record, Reynolds was replaced by his guitar teacher, Jeff Young, when Megadeth was six weeks into the recording of its third album. [44]

1988–1989: So Far, So Good... So What!

With a major-label budget, the Paul Lani-produced So Far, So Good... So What! took over five months to record. The production was plagued with problems, partially due to Mustaine's struggle with drug addiction. Mustaine later said: "The production of So Far, So Good... So What! was horrible, mostly due to substances and the priorities we had or didn't have at the time." Mustaine clashed with Lani, beginning with Lani's insistence that the drums be recorded separately from the cymbals, an unheard-of process for rock drummers. [45] Mustaine and Lani became estranged during the mixing, and Lani was replaced by Michael Wagener, who remixed the album. [46]

So Far, So Good... So What! was released in January 1988 and was well received by fans and critics. [47] The album featured a cover version of the Sex Pistols' "Anarchy in the U.K."; Mustaine changed the lyrics, later saying that he had simply heard them incorrectly. To support the album, Megadeth embarked on a world tour that lasted for nearly eight months. The band (along with Savatage) opened for Dio on the Dream Evil tour and supported Iron Maiden on their Seventh Son of a Seventh Son tour, both in the United States. [48] They also headlined a North American tour with Warlock and Sanctuary (whose debut album Refuge Denied was produced by Mustaine), and a European trek with Testament, Nuclear Assault, Flotsam and Jetsam and Sanctuary. [49]

In June 1988, Megadeth appeared in Penelope Spheeris' documentary The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years . [50] The documentary chronicled the Los Angeles heavy metal scene of the late 1980s, and Spheeris, who had directed Megadeth in the video for "Wake Up Dead", decided to include them to feature a more serious band in contrast to the glam metal groups. [51] [52] Mustaine remembered the film as a disappointment, as it aligned Megadeth with "a bunch of shit bands". [53]

In August, the band appeared at the Monsters of Rock festival at Castle Donington in the United Kingdom, performing to an audience of more than 100,000. One show featured a guest appearance by Metallica drummer (and Mustaine's former bandmate) Lars Ulrich. The band was added to the Monsters of Rock European tour, but left after the first show due to Ellefson's drug problems, for which he was treated immediately. [54] Megadeth was replaced by Testament. [55]

Shortly after the Monsters of Rock appearance, Mustaine fired Behler and Young and canceled Megadeth's Australian tour. "On the road, things escalated from a small border skirmish into a full-on raging war," Mustaine later recalled. "I think a lot of us were inconsistent because of [drugs]." [56] During the tour, Mustaine noticed problems developing with Behler and brought in drummer Nick Menza as Behler's drum technician. As with Samuelson, Menza was expected to take over if Behler could not continue the tour. Menza replaced Behler in 1989. [57] Young's dismissal resulted from Mustaine's suspicions that he was having an affair with Mustaine's girlfriend, an allegation Young denied. [58]

The band was unable to quickly find a suitable replacement for Young. Although 1989 marked the first time since its inception that Megadeth did not tour nor perform at least one show, they recorded a cover version of Alice Cooper's "No More Mr. Nice Guy" which appeared on the soundtrack to the Wes Craven horror movie Shocker . [59] The video was directed by Penelope Spheeris, who recalled the filming as a "Herculean task" as Mustaine was unable to play guitar because of his drug addiction. [50] During the March 1989 auditions for a new lead guitarist, Mustaine was arrested for driving under the influence and possession of narcotics after crashing into a parked vehicle occupied by an off-duty police officer. [60] Mustaine entered court-ordered drug rehabilitation shortly afterwards, and became drug-free for the first time in ten years. [50]

1990–1991: Rust in Peace

With Mustaine sober, Megadeth continued searching for a new lead guitarist. Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash had been jamming with Mustaine and Ellefson, and although it seemed that he might join Megadeth, he remained with Guns N' Roses. [61] Dimebag Darrell of Pantera was offered the job, but the deal fell through after Mustaine refused his request to recruit his brother, Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul, as he had already hired Menza. [62] The offer was also extended to Criss Oliva who also declined as he did not want to leave Savatage. [63] Jeff Loomis, who would later go on to form progressive metal titans Nevermore, also auditioned though Mustaine deemed him too young to join as Loomis was only 18 at the time. [64]

Megadeth performing at the Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham, Alabama, in July 1991 Megadeth1991AL.jpg
Megadeth performing at the Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham, Alabama, in July 1991

Marty Friedman filled the guitarist position at the recommendation of Ron Laffitte, a member of Capitol management. Laffitte had heard Dragon's Kiss , a solo recording by Friedman when he was in Cacophony. [65] Mustaine and Ellefson were satisfied with Friedman's style and thought that he understood Megadeth's music. [66] With Friedman in the group, the band completed what fans consider the definitive Megadeth lineup. [67] The revitalized band entered the studio at Rumbo Recorders in March 1990 with co-producer Mike Clink to begin Megadeth's most critically acclaimed album, Rust in Peace . Clink was the first producer to complete a Megadeth album without being fired. [68] Its recording was documented in Rusted Pieces , a home video released in 1991 with six music videos and an interview with the band. [69]

Released in September 1990, Rust in Peace debuted at number 23 in the United States and number eight in the United Kingdom. [70] [71] Mustaine had developed a writing style with a rhythmically complex, progressive edge, and the songs featured longer guitar solos and frequent tempo changes. [72] Described as a genre-defining work by Decibel , [65] the album solidified Megadeth's reputation in the music industry. [18] It features the singles "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" and "Hangar 18", both of which were accompanied by music videos and became live staples. Rust in Peace received a Grammy nomination in 1991 for Best Metal Performance, [5] [73] and was the group's third platinum album, certified in December 1994. [74]

Early in 1990, Megadeth joined Slayer, Testament, and Suicidal Tendencies for the successful European Clash of the Titans tour, featuring several American thrash metal bands. [75] An American leg began the following year featuring Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax, with Alice in Chains as a supporting act. The tour was considered a multi-headliner, as the three main bands alternated time slots. [76] In addition to the Clash of the Titans tour, Megadeth (along with Testament) supported Judas Priest on their Painkiller tour in North America late in 1990 and appeared at the second Rock in Rio festival in January 1991. [77] In July 1991 the song "Go to Hell" was featured in the film Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey and on its soundtrack. [78]

1992–1993: Countdown to Extinction

The music for Megadeth's fifth studio album was written in two different sessions. The first session occurred after the conclusion of the Clash of the Titans tour, while the second session happened in the fall of 1991 following a one-month break. [79] Recording sessions for the album began in January 1992 at Enterprise Studios in Burbank, California. Max Norman was chosen to produce, as the band was pleased with his mixing of Rust in Peace. [80] Megadeth spent nearly four months in the studio with Norman, writing and recording what became the band's most commercially successful album, Countdown to Extinction . [81] The album, whose title was suggested by Menza, features songwriting contributions from each band member. [82] Ellefson explained that the band changed its approach to songwriting for this album, beginning to write more melodic songs. [83]

Released in July 1992, Countdown to Extinction entered the Billboard 200 chart at number two and was certified double platinum in the United States. [3] [4] [85] It received a nomination for Best Metal Performance at the 1993 Grammy Awards, [86] and its title track won a Genesis Award from the Humane Society in 1993 for raising awareness for animal rights issues. [87] Ellefson later said that he and Friedman were disappointed that Megadeth did not win the Grammy: "It was such a bizarre moment, because it was as if the amount of work it had taken to ramp up to that hopeful night was literally gone in a second." [88]

A world tour in support of the album was launched in late 1992, with Pantera and White Zombie as supporting acts. [88] The tour included a North American leg in early 1993, with Stone Temple Pilots as the opening act. One month into the leg, the remaining shows, including dates in Japan, were canceled when Mustaine returned to substance abuse, ending up in a hospital emergency room. [89] After seven weeks in rehab, Mustaine emerged sober again and the band returned to the studio to record "Angry Again". The song is featured on the soundtrack of the 1993 film Last Action Hero and received a Grammy nomination in 1994. [90]

During mid-1993, Megadeth performed at a number of shows with Metallica in Europe. The first was at Milton Keynes Bowl in England, and included Diamond Head. [88] In July, Megadeth was added as the opening act for Aerosmith's Get a Grip Tour, but was removed from the bill after three shows. [91] Aerosmith said that Megadeth was "dumped" because of Mustaine's erratic behavior, while Capitol Records said it was due to "artistic restrictions". [92] After the canceled US tour, Megadeth returned to the studio to record "99 Ways to Die", which appeared on The Beavis and Butt-Head Experience , a compilation album released in November featuring songs interspersed with commentary by the main characters of the animated series Beavis and Butt-Head . The song was nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 1995 Grammy Awards. [93] During these sessions, Megadeth recorded a cover version of Black Sabbath's "Paranoid", which appeared on the Black Sabbath tribute album Nativity in Black ; it was nominated for a Grammy the following year. [94]

1994–1995: Youthanasia

In early 1994, Megadeth reunited with producer Max Norman for the follow-up to Countdown to Extinction. With three band members living in Arizona, initial work began at Phase Four Studios in Phoenix. [95] A few days into pre-production, problems with Phase Four's equipment forced the band to look for another studio. Mustaine insisted on recording in Arizona, but no suitable recording facility could be found. At Norman's request, the band built its own recording studio in Phoenix in a rented warehouse, later called "Fat Planet in Hangar 18". [96] During the studio's construction, much of the pre-production songwriting and arrangements were done at Vintage Recorders in Phoenix. [42] At Norman's suggestion, the tracks on Youthanasia had a slower tempo than previous albums, at about 120 beats per minute. [97] The band abandoned the progressive approach from its previous albums and focused on stronger vocal melodies and more accessible, radio-friendly arrangements. [98] For the first time, Megadeth wrote and arranged the entire album in the studio, including basic tracks recorded live by the entire band. The album's recording was video recorded and released as Evolver: The Making of Youthanasia in 1995.

After eight months of studio work, Youthanasia was released in November 1994. It debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 and charted in several European countries. [99] The album was certified gold in Canada the day it was released, [100] and was certified platinum in the US two months later. [4] Megadeth hired fashion photographer Richard Avedon to enhance the band's image. Avedon had the band members exchange their jeans and T-shirts for a more conscious appearance. [101] To promote Youthanasia, the band played a Halloween show in New York City called "Night of the Living Megadeth", which was broadcast live on MTV. [97] In November, the band performed twice on the Late Show with David Letterman , playing "Train of Consequences" on the first appearance and "A Tout le Monde" on the second. [102] [103]

An eleven-month tour began in South America in November 1994. In 1995, Megadeth played in Europe and North America with several opening acts, including Corrosion of Conformity, Korn and Fear Factory. [104] The tour culminated with an appearance at the Monsters of Rock festival in Brazil, co-headlining with Alice Cooper and Ozzy Osbourne. [105] In January 1995, Megadeth appeared on the soundtrack of the horror movie Demon Knight with the song "Diadems". [106] In July, Megadeth released Hidden Treasures , an extended play featuring songs which originally appeared on movie soundtracks and tribute albums. [107]

1996–1999: Cryptic Writings and Risk

After completing the extensive world tour in support of Youthanasia, Megadeth took time off in most of 1996 and nearly broke up. [108] During this period, Mustaine began work on MD.45, a side project with vocalist Lee Ving of Fear. The majority of the songs on the album were intended for Megadeth, but due to the band almost disbanding, Mustaine decided to use them for MD.45 instead. [108] The duo hired drummer Jimmy DeGrasso, who had played with Alice Cooper on the South American Monsters of Rock tour earlier that year. [109] Marty Friedman built a studio in his new home in Phoenix and completed his fourth solo album, released in April 1996. [110]

In September 1996, Megadeth went to London to work on songs for the next album. The songwriting was closely supervised by new manager Bud Prager, who contributed musical ideas and lyrics; many lyrics and song titles were changed at his request. [111] Regarding Prager's influence, Mustaine later wrote: "I figured maybe this guy [Prager] could help me get that intangible number one record I so badly wanted." [112] The album, recorded in Nashville, was Megadeth's first collaboration with country pop producer Dann Huff, who had met Mustaine in 1990. [113]

Cryptic Writings was released in June 1997. The album peaked at number ten on the Billboard 200, [70] and was eventually certified gold in the United States. Its lead single, "Trust", became Megadeth's highest charting song on the Mainstream Rock Tracks at number five, [114] and was nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 1998 Grammy Awards. [115] Although all four singles from the album entered the top 20 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, [116] press response to the album was mixed. The album featured a diverse set of songs which the Los Angeles Times described as a "rousing balance" between older material and experimental songs. [117] Asked about the album's eclecticism, Mustaine said that Cryptic Writings was divided into thirds. One part was based around faster, more aggressive material, another was "radio-orientated music like Youthanasia", and the final third was more melodic. [110]

After more than a year since the band's last concert, Megadeth returned as a live act in June 1997, beginning a world tour with the Misfits and touring in the United States with Life of Agony and Coal Chamber. [105] In July, the band participated in Ozzfest '98 but, halfway through the tour, Menza reportedly discovered a tumor on his knee and left to undergo surgery. [118] Jimmy DeGrasso, who had collaborated with Mustaine in MD.45, was hired to replace Menza for the remainder of the tour. [119] Though initially meant to be a temporary replacement, DeGrasso joined the band permanently after the tour. Mustaine later said that he dismissed Menza from the band because he believed the drummer had lied about having cancer. [62]

Following the band's mainstream radio success with Cryptic Writings, Megadeth again worked with Dann Huff on its eighth studio album. The band began writing in January 1999, supervised by manager Bud Prager, who was credited with co-writing five of the album's twelve songs. [120] With high expectations following the chart success of "Trust", Prager convinced Mustaine to grant Huff even more control over the album's recording, a decision Mustaine later regretted. [121]

Risk , released in August 1999, was a critical and commercial failure and led to backlash from many longtime fans. Although its two predecessors incorporated rock elements alongside a more traditional heavy metal sound, Risk was virtually devoid of metal. [122] [123] About the band's musical direction, Dave Mustaine said: "We hit the nadir of our career with Risk, and I vowed after that we were going to get back to our roots. It took a little bit of time to do that." [124] Despite this, Risk was certified gold in the United States. [125] The album's lead single, "Crush 'Em", appeared on the soundtrack for Universal Soldier: The Return and was used as an entrance theme for NHL hockey games and professional wrestling events. [126]

Guitarist Marty Friedman left Megadeth at the end of 1999, citing "musical differences". Marty Friedman - 01.jpg
Guitarist Marty Friedman left Megadeth at the end of 1999, citing "musical differences".

On July 14, 1999, former drummer Gar Samuelson died of liver failure at age 41 in Orange City, Florida. [127] Eleven days later, during Megadeth's performance at Woodstock 1999, Mustaine dedicated "Peace Sells" to Samuelson's memory. That month, Megadeth also recorded a cover version of the Black Sabbath's "Never Say Die" for the second Nativity in Black tribute album. [128] The band began a world tour in support of Risk in September, playing with Iron Maiden during the European leg. Three months into the tour, Friedman announced his resignation from Megadeth, citing musical differences. [129] Mustaine later said: "I told [Marty] after Risk that we had to go back to our roots and play metal, and he quit." [130]

2000–2003: The World Needs a Hero, breakup, and hiatus

In January 2000, guitarist Al Pitrelli, formerly of Savatage and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, became Friedman's replacement. [131] Megadeth returned to the studio in April to work on its ninth studio album. A month into production, the band received an offer to join the Maximum Rock tour with Anthrax and Mötley Crüe. Megadeth put the recording on hold and toured North America during the second quarter of 2000. [105] Early in the tour, Anthrax was removed from the bill, allowing Megadeth to play an extended co-headlining set. [132] The tour, however, suffered from poor ticket sales. [133]

After 15 years with Capitol Records, Megadeth left the label in July 2000. According to Mustaine, the departure was due to ongoing tensions with Capitol management. [134] Capitol returned the band's newest recordings and released a greatest hits album, Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years , with two new tracks: "Kill the King" and "Dread and the Fugitive Mind". [135] In November, Megadeth signed with Sanctuary Records. The band returned to the studio in October to finish its next album, The World Needs a Hero , which was near completion when Megadeth joined the Maximum Rock tour six months earlier. Following the negative response to Risk, [136] Mustaine fired Bud Prager and produced the album himself. [137] The songs were written by Mustaine alone, except for "Promises", which had contributions from Pitrelli. [138] Two days before the release of The World Needs a Hero, Megadeth appeared in an episode of VH1's Behind the Music showcasing Mustaine, Ellefson, several past members, and Mustaine's old Metallica bandmates James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich. [139]

The World Needs a Hero was released in May 2001 and debuted at number sixteen on the Billboard 200. It was banned in Malaysia when the national government determined that the album's artwork was "unsuitable for the nation's youth". Consequently, the band canceled its concert of August 2 in Kuala Lumpur. [140] The album marked Megadeth's return to a more aggressive sound after the stylistic variations of its previous two albums, [138] but critics felt it fell short of expectations. [141] Mustaine compared the album to a huge ship at sea, turning and trying to right itself to get back on course. [134] Its lead single, "Moto Psycho", reached number 22 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. [142]

Mustaine dissolved Megadeth in 2002, following an arm injury that prevented him from playing guitar. Megadeth Summer Breeze Open Air 2017 18.jpg
Mustaine dissolved Megadeth in 2002, following an arm injury that prevented him from playing guitar.

A European tour with AC/DC in support of The World Needs a Hero began in mid-2001, followed by an American tour with Iced Earth and Endo in September. [139] Mustaine allowed fans to choose the setlist in each American city. [140] However, the tour was cut short following the September 11 attacks; all dates were canceled, including a DVD shoot in Argentina. The band instead played two shows in Arizona on November 16 and 17, which were filmed and released as Megadeth's first live release, Rude Awakening . [143] That year, Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! was remixed and remastered; the reissue featured modified artwork and several bonus tracks. [144]

In January 2002, Mustaine was hospitalized for the removal of a kidney stone and was administered pain medication that triggered a relapse of his drug addiction. Following his stay, Mustaine checked himself into a treatment center in Texas. While there, Mustaine fell asleep with his left arm over the back of a chair, causing compression of the radial nerve. He was subsequently diagnosed with radial neuropathy, which left him unable to grasp or make a fist with his left hand. [145] [146]

On April 3, Mustaine announced in a press release that he was disbanding Megadeth, as his arm injury rendered him unable to play guitar. [147] For the next four months, he had physical therapy five days a week, and slowly began to "re-teach" his left hand. [148] To fulfill contract obligations to Sanctuary, Megadeth released the compilation album Still Alive... and Well? . The first half of the album contains live tracks recorded at the Web Theatre in Phoenix, and the second half has studio recordings from The World Needs a Hero. [149]

Following nearly a year of recovery, including physical and electroshock therapy, Mustaine began work on what was to have been his first solo album. The new material was recorded with session musicians Vinnie Colaiuta and Jimmie Lee Sloas in October 2003. The project was put on hold when Mustaine agreed to remix and remaster Megadeth's eight-album back catalog on Capitol Records, [150] re-recording portions that were missing or altered without his knowledge in the original mixing. [151]

2004–2005: Reformation and The System Has Failed

In May 2004, Mustaine returned to his solo project. Contractual obligations to the band's European label, EMI, resulted in the recording's release as a Megadeth album. [152] Mustaine reformed the band and contacted the fan-favorite Rust in Peace lineup to re-record backing tracks. While drummer Nick Menza agreed to return, both Marty Friedman and David Ellefson were unable to come to an agreement with Mustaine. [153] Menza was sent home shortly after rehearsals began, a few days before the start of a tour supporting Megadeth's upcoming album. Mustaine said Menza was insufficiently prepared for the physical demands of a US tour, and "it just didn't work out". [154] This was the first album without Ellefson. Chris Poland, who played lead guitar on Megadeth's first two albums, was hired to contribute guitar solos to the new album, working with Mustaine for the first time since the 1980s. Poland opted to serve only as a session musician, wanting to remain focused on his jazz fusion project OHM. [155]

Megadeth's 2004-2006 lineup at Sauna Open Air Metal Festival 2005: From left to right: Shawn Drover, James MacDonough, Dave Mustaine, and Glen Drover. Megadeth at Sauna crop.jpg
Megadeth's 2004–2006 lineup at Sauna Open Air Metal Festival 2005: From left to right: Shawn Drover, James MacDonough, Dave Mustaine, and Glen Drover.

The System Has Failed was released in September 2004. Critics heralded it as a return to form; Revolver gave the album a favorable review, calling it "Megadeth's most vengeful, poignant and musically complex offering since 1992's Countdown to Extinction". [156] The album marked a shift toward the band's earlier sound; journalist Amy Sciarretto of CMJ New Music Report wrote that the album contained "neo-thrash riffing with biting, politically charged lyrics". [157] The System Has Failed debuted at number eighteen on the Billboard 200 [70] and was led by "Die Dead Enough", which reached number 21 on the US Mainstream Rock chart. [142] Mustaine announced that the album would be the band's last and would be followed by a farewell tour, after which he would focus on a solo career. [158]

Megadeth began the Blackmail the Universe world tour in October, enlisting touring bassist James MacDonough of Iced Earth and guitarist Glen Drover of Eidolon and King Diamond. Five days before the first show, Menza was replaced by Shawn Drover, who remained with the band as a regular member. [159] The band toured the US with Exodus and Europe with Diamond Head and Dungeon. [160] [161] In June 2005, Capitol released a greatest-hits compilation, Greatest Hits: Back to the Start , featuring remixed and remastered versions of songs chosen by fans from Megadeth's Capitol albums. [162]

In mid-2005, Mustaine organized an annual thrash metal festival tour, Gigantour. Megadeth headlined the inaugural tour with acts such as Dream Theater, Nevermore, Anthrax, and Fear Factory. Performances at the Montreal and Vancouver shows were filmed and recorded for a live DVD-and-CD set released in the second quarter of 2006. [163] On October 9, following the successes of The System Has Failed and the Blackmail the Universe world tour, Mustaine announced to a sold-out crowd at the Pepsi Music Rock Festival in Argentina that Megadeth would continue to record and tour. [164] The concert, held at Obras Sanitarias stadium in Buenos Aires in front of 25,000 fans, was filmed and released on DVD as That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires in 2007. [165]

2006–2008: United Abominations

In February 2006, bassist James MacDonough left the band over "personal differences". [166] He was replaced by James LoMenzo, who had worked with David Lee Roth, White Lion, and Black Label Society. [167] The new Megadeth lineup made its live debut headlining the Dubai Desert Rock Festival in the United Arab Emirates with Testament. [168] In March, Capitol released a two-disc DVD, Arsenal of Megadeth , which included archive footage, interviews, live shows, and many of the band's music videos. Due to licensing issues, soundtrack and non-Capitol videos were not included. [169] The second Gigantour began during the third quarter of 2006; Megadeth again headlined, this time with Lamb of God, Opeth, Arch Enemy and Overkill. [170] The 2006 tour included three dates in Australia, supported by Soulfly, Arch Enemy, and Caliban. [171]

In May 2006, Megadeth announced that its eleventh studio album, United Abominations , was near completion. Originally scheduled for release in October, Mustaine said that the band was "putting the finishing touches on it" and postponed its release to May of the following year. [172] He commented on the release: "Metal needs a really good old-school record again. I believe I have delivered." [173] United Abominations was the band's first album to feature Glen Drover, Shawn Drover, and James Lomenzo. It also has a newer version of "A Tout le Monde" entitled "À Tout le Monde (Set Me Free)". The 2007 version is a duet with Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil; it was recorded at a slightly faster tempo than the original and contains an extended solo. [174]

Released in May 2007, United Abominations debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200, selling 54,000 copies in the first week. [175] In March, Megadeth began a North American tour opening for the newly reformed Heaven & Hell. The band played with Down for Canadian shows and with Machine Head for the US dates. [176] A European summer festival tour followed. Late in the year, Megadeth returned to the United States to headline its Tour of Duty. [177] In November, the band brought Gigantour to Australia with a lineup including Static-X, DevilDriver and Lacuna Coil. [178]

Guitarist Chris Broderick joined Megadeth in 2008, replacing Glen Drover. ChrisBroderickbyTannerWolff.jpg
Guitarist Chris Broderick joined Megadeth in 2008, replacing Glen Drover.

In January 2008, Glen Drover quit Megadeth, stating that he was tired of the frequent touring and wanted to spend more time with his family. He also cited personal issues with other band members. [179] Drover was replaced by Chris Broderick, formerly of Nevermore and Jag Panzer. [180] Broderick was initially asked by Mustaine's management company at the end of 2007 if he would be interested in auditioning for Megadeth. After an informal meeting at Mustaine's house, Broderick was introduced as the band's new guitarist. [181] Mustaine complimented Broderick's playing skills and called him "the best guitarist Megadeth has ever had". [182] Broderick's former Nevermore bandmate, Van Williams, congratulated Megadeth on "getting one hell of a good player, more importantly they're getting a great guy to hang out with and a true friend". [183]

The new lineup made its live debut at the Helsinki Ice Hall on February 4. The 2008 Gigantour, with 29 North American dates, began shortly afterwards. [184] Mustaine wanted a shorter lineup, allowing each band a chance to perform well. The third tour featured In Flames, Children of Bodom, Job for a Cowboy and High on Fire. [185] Megadeth continued the Tour of Duty in South America and Mexico in May and June. A compilation album, Anthology: Set the World Afire , was released in September 2008. [186]

2009–2010: Endgame

In February 2009, Megadeth and Testament were scheduled on the European "Priest Feast" tour, with Judas Priest as headliners. [187] At this time, Metallica, who had been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, invited Mustaine to attend the ceremony. Mustaine was informed that he would not be inducted to the Hall of Fame because such honors were granted only to those members who received recording credit on a Metallica album. [188] Mustaine congratulated the group respectfully, and honored his commitment to the European tour with Judas Priest. [189] In April, Megadeth and Slayer co-headlined the Canadian Carnage. This was the first time they had performed together in more than 15 years. Machine Head and Suicide Silence opened for the four shows that occurred later in June. [190]

In May, Megadeth finished recording its twelfth album, Endgame . [191] The release date for Endgame was announced on the Megadeth official website, and Metal Hammer was the first to review the album track-by-track. [192] Megadeth began its Endgame tour in October, and finished it in December. The tour featured a number of supporting acts, including Machine Head, Suicide Silence, and Warbringer. [193] In January 2010, Megadeth was set to embark on the American Carnage tour with Slayer and Testament, but the tour was postponed due to Tom Araya's back surgery. [194] Several weeks later, Megadeth's "Head Crusher" was nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 2010 Grammy Awards, the band's eighth Grammy nomination in 19 years. [195]

Original bassist David Ellefson rejoined Megadeth in 2010 after an eight year hiatus and remained in the band until 2021. Megadeth - 2017216231435 2017-08-04 Wacken - Sven - 1D X MK II - 1221 - AK8I0437.jpg
Original bassist David Ellefson rejoined Megadeth in 2010 after an eight year hiatus and remained in the band until 2021.

In March, Megadeth embarked on the Rust in Peace 20th Anniversary Tour, which took place in North America and had support from Testament and Exodus. During the tour, Megadeth played Rust in Peace in its entirety. [196] Prior to the start of the tour in early 2010, original bassist David Ellefson rejoined Megadeth after eight years. In an interview for Classic Rock , he stated that Shawn Drover contacted him, informing him that bassist LoMenzo was leaving the band, saying "if ever there was a time for you and Dave [Mustaine] to talk, now is it". [197]

Megadeth, along with Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax, collectively known as the "big four" of thrash metal, agreed to perform on the same bill during mid-2010. These performances were part of the Sonisphere Festival and were held in a number of European countries. [198] One such performance in Sofia, Bulgaria, was filmed and released as a full-length video entitled The Big Four: Live from Sofia, Bulgaria . [199] These shows continued the following year in the United States. The first took place in Indio, California, and was the only scheduled show in the United States at the time, [200] although a second American production was held at Yankee Stadium in New York City shortly afterwards. [201]

In July 2010, after the European "big four" shows, Megadeth and Slayer commenced the first leg of the American Carnage Tour, where Megadeth played Rust in Peace in its entirety, while Slayer performed its album Seasons in the Abyss , both of which were released in 1990. [202] From these shows onward, Vic Rattlehead started making sustained onstage appearances, to improve the visual facet of Megadeth's live performances. [203] Shortly afterward, the two bands united with Anthrax for the Jägermeister Music Tour in late 2010. [204] During the final show of the tour, Kerry King joined Megadeth on stage at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Hollywood to perform Megadeth's "Rattlehead". It was the first time that King had performed onstage with Megadeth since 1984. [205] Megadeth and Slayer again shared the stage for the European Carnage Tour in March and April 2011. [206] Megadeth also headlined the fourth annual Rockstar Mayhem Festival in July and August the same year. [207]

In September, the band released the DVD album Rust in Peace Live , recorded at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. [208] Later that month, Megadeth released "Sudden Death" for the video game Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock . [209] The song was commissioned by the publishers of the Guitar Hero franchise, who wanted the track to feature dark lyrics and multiple guitar solos. [210] It was nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 2011 Grammy ceremony. [211]

2011–2014: Thirteen and Super Collider

Megadeth returned to its own Vic's Garage studio in 2011 to record its thirteenth album, to be produced by Johnny K, because Andy Sneap, the producer of Megadeth's previous two albums, was unavailable. [212] The album was titled Thirteen and featured previously released tracks such as "Sudden Death" and "Never Dead". [213] The album was released in November 2011, and charted at number eleven on the Billboard 200; its lead single "Public Enemy No. 1" received a Grammy nomination for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance, but did not win. [214] Shortly after the album was released, Dave Mustaine stated that, after a four-year hiatus, there would be a new Gigantour tour in early 2012. [215] The lineup consisted of Motörhead, Volbeat, and Lacuna Coil alongside Megadeth. [216] After the conclusion of Gigantour, Rob Zombie and Megadeth embarked on a nine-date co-headlining US tour in the summer of 2012. [217]

In September 2012, it was announced that Megadeth would re-release Countdown to Extinction in honor of the album's 20th anniversary. To mark the occasion, Megadeth launched a tour in which the band performed the album live in its entirety. [218] One performance, filmed at the Pomona Fox Theater, was released as a live album, Countdown to Extinction: Live, the following year. [219] Another track from Thirteen, "Whose Life (Is It Anyways?)", was nominated for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance at the 2013 Grammy Awards, but lost to Halestorm's "Love Bites (So Do I)". [220]

Shawn Drover and Chris Broderick sign autographs aboard the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Helena (SSN-725). Flickr - Official U.S. Navy Imagery - Shawn Drover and Chris Broderick, members of the band Megadeth, sign autographs in the crew mess aboard USS Helena.jpg
Shawn Drover and Chris Broderick sign autographs aboard the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Helena (SSN-725).

In August, Megadeth announced the recording of its fourteenth album with producer Johnny K. [221] At the start of 2013, Megadeth left Roadrunner Records for Mustaine's newly founded label, Tradecraft, distributed through Universal Music Group. [222] [223] The album, Super Collider , was released in June and debuted at number six on the Billboard 200, the band's highest chart position since 1994's Youthanasia. [224] Critical reaction to the album, however, was largely negative. [225] Shortly after the release of Super Collider, Mustaine stated that he had already started thinking about a fifteenth Megadeth album. He said this had been spurred by the death of Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman, which gave him a sense of mortality. [226] Mustaine elaborated: "You know, time is short. Nobody knows how long they're gonna live. You see what happened with Jeff Hanneman, so I wanna write as much as I can while I can." [227]

The 2013 edition of Gigantour featured Black Label Society, Hellyeah, Device, and Newsted as opening bands. [228] At the final show, Jason Newsted, Metallica's former bassist, joined Megadeth onstage to perform "Phantom Lord", a song Mustaine had co-written during his stint with Metallica. [229] Early in 2014, Megadeth was slated to play the Soundwave festival in Australia, but pulled out over a disagreement with tour promoter A. J. Maddah concerning the band's sideshows with Newsted. [230] Icon, an eleven-song compilation of Megadeth's Capitol-era material, was released as part of Universal Music's Icon series in February. [231]

Megadeth encountered several setbacks throughout 2014. After Ellefson's brother died of cancer in May, the band cancelled its June tour dates to allow him to mourn. [232] The August concert in Tel Aviv was canceled due to an armed conflict between Israel and Gaza. [233] Megadeth was scheduled to appear on Motörhead's Motörboat cruise in late September, but withdrew because of Mustaine's complications following his cervical spine surgery. [234] In late November, Drover quit the band after ten years, wanting to pursue his own musical interests, but has said he is grateful for the career Mustaine gave him. [235] This was quickly followed by the departure of Broderick, due to artistic and musical differences. [236] Ellefson denied rumors that Megadeth would disband, and said he and Mustaine would continue working on new music. [237] Mustaine said that one of the reasons for Broderick's and Drover's departure was the frustration caused by Megadeth's fan base demanding a reunion with Friedman and Menza. [238]

2015–2018: Dystopia

Kiko Loureiro, em Fort Rock, DystopiaTour 2016.jpg
Dirk Verbeuren 2016.jpg
Kiko Loureiro (left) replaced Chris Broderick in 2015, while Dirk Verbeuren (right) replaced Chris Adler the following year.

Lamb of God drummer Chris Adler and guitarist Kiko Loureiro of Angra were brought in to perform on Megadeth's fifteenth studio album after Mustaine unsuccessfully attempted to reunite the Rust in Peace lineup. [239] In October 2015, Megadeth streamed "Fatal Illusion" off the album Dystopia , which was released in January 2016. [240] In support of Dystopia, Megadeth embarked on a North American tour in February and March with Suicidal Tendencies, Children of Bodom and Havok (though Havok was soon removed from the tour by Megadeth's management following a dispute over a contract). [241] Mustaine announced that Adler, who was performing with both Lamb of God and Megadeth, was no longer in the band due to scheduling conflicts between the two bands. He was replaced by Dirk Verbeuren from Soilwork, on Adler's recommendation. [242] A second US tour took place in September and October, with support from Amon Amarth, Suicidal Tendencies, Metal Church, [243] and Butcher Babies. [244] Former drummer Menza died of a heart attack on May 21, 2016, while performing with OHM at a jazz club in Los Angeles. [245]

Asked about any further Big Four gigs, Mustaine called for "the powers-that-be" to help put together a new Big Four tour in 2017 as all the respective bands were promoting new albums. [246] Dystopia's title track won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance at the 2017 Grammy Awards, the band's first win after 12 nominations. [5] Mustaine, Loureiro, Ellefson, and Verbeuren attended the ceremony; however, album drummer and award recipient Chris Adler [247] did not. While accepting the award, the house band played Mustaine's former band Metallica's "Master of Puppets" causing some controversy among fans. [248]

In a June 2017 interview with No Brown M&Ms, Mustaine said that Megadeth would enter the studio at the end of the year to begin working on their sixteenth studio album. [249] A month later, Mustaine stated on Twitter that he had begun "collecting ideas" for the new album, but stated that they would "probably" enter the studio in mid-2018 to begin recording it for a 2019 release. [250] The band joined with Scorpions for a co-headlining tour in the fall of 2017. [251]

In 2018, Megadeth marked their 35th anniversary by re-releasing their 1985 debut album Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!, dubbed Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! - The Final Kill on June 8, 2018, as a deluxe package containing remastered versions of all songs to Mustaine's intended vision, a re-cut version of "These Boots" lyrically adjusted to Lee Hazlewood's version, rare live performances of songs off the album during Alice Cooper's Live in the Flesh Tour and the 1984 three song demo. [252]

2019–2023: Ellefson's second departure and The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead!

On May 10, 2019, Megadeth entered the studio in Franklin, Tennessee, to begin pre-production of the next album, once again teaming up with Dystopia co-producer Chris Rakestraw. [253] On June 17, the band announced that all shows scheduled in 2019 (with the exception of the MegaCruise) would be cancelled due to Mustaine being diagnosed with throat cancer; [254] of all the cancelled dates, the band was scheduled to support Ozzy Osbourne on the North American leg of the No More Tours II tour, [255] which had been postponed from the summer of 2019 to the summer of 2020 due to Osbourne sustaining an injury while dealing with pneumonia. They were replaced by Marilyn Manson instead. [256] Despite Mustaine's illness, the band vowed to continue working on their new album. [257] On November 6, Mustaine shared a video on Instagram teasing a track from the band's upcoming album, [258] which was originally set for release in 2019. [259] On July 17, Megadeth announced their partnership with Gimme Radio and Richard Childress Racing on the No. 2 Gimme Radio Chevrolet Camaro, which was driven by Xfinity Series driver Tyler Reddick at the New Hampshire 200 on July 20. [260] On August 21, the band announced that they would embark on their first tour since Mustaine's illness in January and February 2020, with Five Finger Death Punch and Bad Wolves supporting on the European tour. [261] [262]

The band was originally scheduled to perform on the first-ever MegaCruise to coincide with the release of the next album, [263] due to sail on October 13, 2019, from Los Angeles and hit ports of San Diego and Ensenada before returning on October 18, including performances by heavy metal acts such as Lamb of God, Anthrax, Testament, Overkill, Corrosion of Conformity, Queensrÿche, Armored Saint, Metal Church, Suicidal Tendencies, DragonForce, Doro, John 5, Death Angel and Toothgrinder, [264] [265] [266] [267] however, Mustaine was not present due to his illness. It was instead a live performance featuring members of each respective band playing Kiss songs. [268] [269]

Bassist James LoMenzo rejoined Megadeth in 2022, after his replacement David Ellefson was dismissed from the group the previous year. HF2022Megadeth 5.jpg
Bassist James LoMenzo rejoined Megadeth in 2022, after his replacement David Ellefson was dismissed from the group the previous year.

Megadeth was originally scheduled to embark on a co-headlining tour in North America with Lamb of God dubbed "The Metal Tour of the Year" in the summer of 2020, with Trivium and In Flames as support acts, [270] but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tour was rescheduled for the summer of 2021, [271] with Hatebreed replacing In Flames due to the latter being forced to withdraw from the line-up due to international visa issues caused by the pandemic. [272] Megadeth re-entered the studio in Nashville in mid-2020 to resume recording their new album, tentatively planned for release in 2021. [273] [274] [275] While hosting a Masterclass "Front Row Live" for fans via Zoom on January 9, 2021, Mustaine announced the title of the band's sixteenth album would be called The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead! , however he indicated that the title might be subject to change. [276]

In May 2021, sexually explicit videos of Ellefson were leaked to social media. The videos, reportedly recorded by a 19-year-old fan whom Ellefson was in correspondence with, led to initial accusations of child grooming. Ellefson and the fan denied these claims in separate statements and maintained their encounters were consensual. [277] On May 24, Megadeth issued a statement announcing Ellefson's dismissal from the band. [278] Ellefson later confirmed that he had actually been dismissed ten days earlier on May 14; the videos originally surfaced on May 10. [279] Following the controversy, Mustaine stated that there would be no chance for Ellefson to rejoin the band, while Ellefson said he would pursue legal action against the leaked video. [280] [281]

On Mustaine's Gimme Radio program The Dave Mustaine Show on June 17, he said that the bass tracks recorded by Ellefson in May 2020 would not appear on the upcoming album and would be re-recorded by a different bassist, [282] which was completed a short time later, but did not say who it was. He also revealed a song title from the album called "The Dogs of Chernobyl". [283] Mustaine confirmed soon after that a new bassist was chosen with a picture showing the neck of the bass guitar and the unknown member being shown on the floor behind a chair, however, he did not reveal the name, but would announce it soon. [284] Former bassist James LoMenzo filled in for the band's tour, [285] while Steve Di Giorgio of Testament performed as a session bassist on The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead!, which was released in September 2022. [286] LoMenzo was announced as the band's official bassist in May 2022. [287]

After several teasers, [288] "We'll Be Back", the first single from the record, was released on June 23, [289] along with the tracklist, followed by next singles "Night Stalkers" and "Soldier On!", released on July 22 [290] and August 12 [291] respectively.

On February 27, 2023, Megadeth was joined by former guitarist Marty Friedman where they performed three songs at the Budokan in Japan. This marked Friedman's first performance with the band since 2000. [292] On June 23, former drummer Lee Rausch died at the age of 58. [293]

2023–present: Kiko Loureiro's departure and upcoming seventeenth studio album

On September 6, 2023, it was announced that lead guitarist Kiko Loureiro would temporarily be leaving the North American portion of the tour and that he would be replaced by Teemu Mäntysaari. [294] On November 20, 2023, Mäntysaari joined Megadeth as their lead guitarist, after Loureiro announced he would be extending his absence from the band. [295] On November 28, 2023, Loureiro confirmed his exit from Megadeth in a podcast interview. [296] Loureiro later said that “I had two viable options: to be in Megadeth or not. I chose my personal life. No regrets”. [297]

In a December 2023 interview on The SDR Show, Mustaine revealed his intention to release at least three more studio albums as Megadeth, with the first to be released in 2025: "If it takes two years between an album — let's just say it does, if I'm able to put them out fast — it'll probably be three years, but let's just say it's two years. And I put an album out. We've still got about a year left on this one, at least. So that'll take us into '25." [298]

Controversies

Mustaine has made numerous inflammatory statements in the press, [299] usually regarding issues with former Metallica bandmates. The feud stemmed from his ejection from the band, how it was conducted, and disagreements on songwriting credits. [300] Mustaine expressed his anger in the movie Metallica: Some Kind of Monster , [301] in a scene he later disapproved of as he felt he was mischaracterized, and that it did not represent the full extent of what happened during the meeting. [302]

During a live performance of "Anarchy in the U.K." at a 1988 show in Antrim, Northern Ireland, Mustaine dedicated the song to "the cause" of "giving Ireland back to the Irish!" [nb 1] Before the final song, Mustaine said, "This one's for the cause! Give Ireland back to the Irish!" [68] This elicited a riot and fighting among the audience between Irish Nationalists, the majority of whom are Catholic, and the predominantly Protestant, British Unionists in attendance. The band had to travel in a bulletproof bus back to Dublin. [132] This incident served as inspiration for the song "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due". [304]

Controversial or misinterpreted lyrics have caused complications for the band. In 1988, MTV deemed that the song "In My Darkest Hour" encouraged suicide and banned the video. [305] The station banned the video for "A Tout le Monde" for the same reason, though Mustaine said the song was written from the perspective of a dying man saying his last words to his loved ones. [174] According to him, MTV considered the videos for "Skin o' My Teeth" and "Symphony of Destruction" a "little bit too harsh" and refused to play them. [306]

During a world tour in 2001, the Malaysian government canceled the band's show in the nation's capital because the authorities had a negative perception of the group's image and music. [307] The government deemed the band's mascot, Vic Rattlehead, as inappropriate and told the members that they would be arrested if they performed. [308] Dave Mustaine responded: "I recognize what the Malaysian government is trying to do, and it is admirable of them trying to protect the young people in the country. But it just shows the degree of ignorance and apathy that the government has toward the problem." [134]

In 2003, after recovering from an arm injury that threatened to end his career, Mustaine became a born-again Christian. [309] Minor controversy was sparked by Mustaine's announcement that Megadeth would not play certain songs live due to his conversion. [310] In May 2005, Mustaine allegedly threatened to cancel shows in Greece and Israel with extreme metal bands Rotting Christ and Dissection due to the bands' anti-Christian beliefs. This caused the two bands to cancel appearances. [311]

In July 2004, former bassist Ellefson sued Mustaine for $18.5 million in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Ellefson alleged that Mustaine short-changed him on profits including tour merchandise and publishing royalties. [312] The suit was dismissed in 2005, and Mustaine filed a countersuit alleging that Ellefson had used the band's name in an advertisement for musical equipment; [313] the suit was settled out of court. [314]

On May 10, 2021, sexually explicit videos of Ellefson were posted on Twitter. The videos, reportedly recorded by a fan that Ellefson was in correspondence with, initially led to accusations of child grooming. However, Ellefson and the other party both denied the accusations, and the fan publicly claimed they were a consenting adult and the videos were unknowingly released by a third party. The Scottsdale Police Department (SPD) was contacted by Ellefson, who sought charges for revenge porn. Ellefson took a polygraph test to affirm his claims and presented police with a photo of the fan's driver's license to prove their age. He also shared screen shots of Snapchat and WhatsApp messages related to the allegations. Ellefson's partner admitted that she had shared the video with some friends but wasn't sure how it got leaked out to others. The SPD report states the fan "was remorseful and agreed to send out a social media statement on...Instagram" that they were "a willing consenting adult during their mutual virtual sexual encounter." Ellefson then posted her statement and one of his own on May 10, asserting that the allegations of grooming were false. Ellefson stated he has not been extorted in any way, and he believes the videos of their consensual adult encounter were not intentionally leaked. [315] An official statement released the next day from Megadeth stated that the situation was being "watched closely". [277] Mustaine announced on May 24, 2021, that Ellefson was fired from the band. [316]

Artistry

Influences and style

Traditional heavy metal bands such as UFO, Black Sabbath, Budgie, Judas Priest [317] new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM) bands such as Raven, [318] Motörhead, Iron Maiden, Diamond Head, and Venom, and punk rock bands such as the Sex Pistols and Ramones had a significant influence on Megadeth's sound. [319] Hard rock bands such as AC/DC, [320] Queen, [321] and Led Zeppelin, [322] as well as German acts like Scorpions [323] and Accept, [324] were also influential on the group's guitar style. Although the music has roots in punk, [325] university professor Jason Bivins wrote that Megadeth followed the basic blueprint of Motörhead and Iron Maiden. He described the style as a mix of "the instrumental virtuosity of the NWOBHM with the speed and aggression of hardcore punk", while also drawing lyrical inspiration from the horror-obsessed punk band Misfits. [326] Mustaine has also listed albums by the Beatles and David Bowie as recordings that influenced him. [327]

Mustaine is the band's primary songwriter. He develops songs starting with a particular riff that, with modifications, becomes the central part of the song. [328] He has said that song fragments are composed separately, and then the band makes a compact structure from them. [329] Drummer Shawn Drover stated that Mustaine had saved many riffs over the years and that some recent material is based on those demo recordings. [330] Ellefson stated that the band constantly creates new material, and that making a recording begins with exchanging ideas after which the band enters the studio and discusses the concept, direction, artwork, and song titles. [331] The lyrics are usually written after the music is arranged. [332] Discussing the band's lyrics, Mustaine said that many of the themes are derived from literature, such as the novels of George Orwell. [333]

The music of Megadeth and its underground metal contemporaries from the 1980s featured harsh vocals, double bass drum patterns, staccato riffing, power chords, tremolo picking, and screeching lead guitar work; albums from this period were produced on low budgets. [334] After forming Megadeth, Mustaine followed the thrash metal style of his previous band, Metallica, with more emphasis on speed and intensity. [335] When asked to describe Megadeth's guitar style, Mustaine answered: "When you go to a show and see a guitar player who just stands there, that's a guitar player. A thrash guitar player is a guy who plays like he wants to beat the guitar's guts out." [41] Most of the songs are recorded in standard guitar tuning as Mustaine believes it to provide a superior melody to alternative methods of tuning. [336] In 2017, David Ellefson talked in an interview about how the band recently started to use a lower tuning saying: "it's just natural with age, for singers it can be a struggle, so rather than quit, than not play, how do you work it around? Well, let's drop the guitars, let's find a way to work around it." [337]

During the band's early days, Mustaine was the rhythm guitarist, while Chris Poland played lead. Poland performed only on Megadeth's first two albums at the time of the book's release; (he would go on to play on the 2004 album The System Has Failed ); music journalists Pete Prown and Harvey P. Newquist credit him with making the music more colorful because of his jazz influences. [18] According to former Metal Maniacs editor Jeff Wagner, the band's songwriting techniques peaked with the fourth album, Rust in Peace, which he described as a "flurry of precision and fluidity, making good on Megadeth's claim to being the world's state-of-the-art speed metal band". [338] Musicologist Glenn Pillsbury stated the guitar work on the album was a mixture of Mustaine's "controlled chaos" and the "technical brilliance" of Marty Friedman. [72] Studio efforts released in the mid- and late 1990s featured songs with compact structures and less complicated riffing. [339]

Megadeth's lyrics often focus on death, war, politics, and religion. [340] The lyricism centers on nihilistic themes, but occasionally deals with topics such as alienation and social problems. [85] The earliest releases featured themes such as occultism, graphic violence, and Satanism. [32] [341] Nuclear warfare and government conspiracy were preoccupations on albums such as Rust in Peace and Countdown to Extinction. [76] During Megadeth's commercial peak, Mustaine elaborated on more personal themes such as addiction and intimate relationships. For the lyrics on Cryptic Writings, Mustaine said that he wanted to write songs that had more appeal to a wider audience. [342] The title of United Abominations is a satiric play on the name of the United Nations; Mustaine criticized the organization's ineffectiveness on a number of songs on that album. [343]

Legacy

Having sold more than 50 million units worldwide, Megadeth is one of the few bands from the 1980s American underground metal scene to have achieved mass commercial success. [6] Along with contemporaries Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax, Megadeth is regarded as one of the core founding groups of thrash metal. [344] These bands are often referred to as the "big four" of thrash metal, [345] responsible for the genre's development and popularization. Loudwire ranked Megadeth the third best thrash metal band of all time, praising the group's "provoking lyrics and mind-warping virtuosity". [346] CMJ New Music Report called the band's debut album a seminal release and a representative of "the golden age of speed metal". [347] Billboard called the band's second album Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? a "landmark of the thrash movement" whose lyrics it found still relevant. [348] MTV also recognized the band as an influential metal act, highlighting the technical aspect of the early albums. [349]

Megadeth is considered one of the most musically influential groups that originated in the 1980s. As part of the early American thrash metal movement, the band's music was a direct influence on death metal. [334] Sociologist Keith Kahn-Harris wrote that the mainstream success of Megadeth was one of the reasons for the expansion of extreme metal to countries where it had previously been unknown. [350] The band's sound and album artwork influenced a number of thrash metal bands in the 21st century, [351] including Toxic Holocaust and Warbringer. [330] [352] According to Nielsen SoundScan, Megadeth has sold 9.2 million copies of its albums in the United States between 1991 and 2014. [353]

Band members

Current members

Discography

Studio albums

Accolades

Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards:

Clio Awards:

Genesis Awards: [354]

Grammy Awards:

Loudwire Music Awards: [355]

Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards: [356]

Revolver Golden Gods Awards: [357]

Footnotes

  1. Before the show in Antrim, Mustaine discovered that bootlegged Megadeth T-shirts were on sale in the venue. The seller explained to Mustaine that he was raising money for "The Cause". Mustaine felt supportive of the idea and unknowingly dedicated the last song to the organization, saying: "This one's for the cause, give Ireland back to the Irish, anarchy in Antrim." The quote was inspired by Paul McCartney's song "Give Ireland Back to the Irish". [303]

Related Research Articles

<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>Rust in Peace</i> 1990 studio album by Megadeth

Rust in Peace is the fourth studio album by American thrash metal band Megadeth, released on September 24, 1990, by Capitol Records. It was the first Megadeth album to feature guitarist Marty Friedman and drummer Nick Menza. The songs "Hangar 18" and "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" were released as singles. A remixed and remastered version of the album featuring four bonus tracks was released in 2004.

<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>Hidden Treasures</i> (EP) 1995 EP by Megadeth

Hidden Treasures is an EP by American thrash metal band Megadeth, released on July 18, 1995, via Capitol Records. The album features songs that originally appeared on film soundtracks and tribute albums. Four of the tracks were released as singles, and three have received Grammy Award nominations for Best Metal Performance. Despite having garnered mediocre or negative reviews, the material on the EP has been credited with helping expand the group's MTV audience in the early 1990s.

<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.

<i>Risk</i> (Megadeth album) 1999 studio album by Megadeth

Risk is the eighth studio album by American heavy metal band Megadeth, released on August 31, 1999, by Capitol Records, the band's last album to be released by the label. The first Megadeth album since 1990 to feature a lineup change, Risk marks the studio debut of drummer Jimmy DeGrasso with the band, as well as the final appearance of longtime guitarist Marty Friedman, who announced his departure a year later. Meant to be a breakthrough on alternative rock radio, Risk received a mixed response because of the great deviation from the band's traditional sound. The backlash ultimately resulted with the band returning towards a heavier sound with their next album.

<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">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.

<i>The System Has Failed</i> 2004 studio album by Megadeth

The System Has Failed is the tenth studio album by American thrash metal band Megadeth, released on September 14, 2004. It was the band's second and final studio album to be distributed by Sanctuary Records. The System Has Failed was the first album to be released after Dave Mustaine recovered from his arm injury sustained in 2002. It is also the first of four Megadeth studio albums not to include original bassist and co-founder David Ellefson. The album features former Megadeth member Chris Poland (guitar), who previously performed on Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (1985) and Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? (1986), and session musicians Vinnie Colaiuta (drums) and Jimmie Lee Sloas (bass).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shawn Drover</span> Canadian drummer

Shawn Drover is a Canadian drummer, best known for his work with the American heavy metal band Megadeth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Megadeth discography</span>

American thrash metal band Megadeth has released sixteen studio albums, six live albums, seven compilation albums, one EP, fifty-nine singles, ten video albums, and fifty music videos. After he was fired from Metallica in 1983, guitarist and vocalist Dave Mustaine formed Megadeth along with bassist Dave Ellefson, guitarist Greg Handevidt, and drummer Richard Girod. After some initial lineup changes during 1984, Megadeth's lineup was cemented, consisting of guitarist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson, guitarist Chris Poland, and drummer Gar Samuelson. The band toured and gained a following, signing with the independent label Combat Records in late 1984. Megadeth's debut album Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (1985), sold very well for an independent release, and the group attracted the attention of major record labels. By the end of the year, the group signed with Capitol Records. Megadeth's first major-label album, Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?, was released in 1986.

<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.

"Whose Life " is a song by American thrash metal band Megadeth, written by Dave Mustaine. It is the third single and third track from their thirteenth studio album Thirteen, which was released on November 1, 2011. The song was released as a single on October 17, 2011. A lyric video for the song was released on May 2, 2012. The song was nominated in the Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance category at the 55th Grammy Awards, but lost to Halestorm's "Love Bites ".

<i>Dystopia</i> (Megadeth album) 2016 studio album by Megadeth

Dystopia is the fifteenth studio album by American thrash metal band Megadeth. It was released on frontman and guitarist Dave Mustaine's Tradecraft label via Universal on January 22, 2016. It is the first Megadeth album to feature guitarist Kiko Loureiro, the only album with drummer Chris Adler, and their last with bassist David Ellefson. The album was produced by Mustaine and Chris Rakestraw and features cover artwork by Brent Elliot White.

<i>The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead!</i> 2022 studio album by Megadeth

The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead! is the sixteenth studio album by American thrash metal band Megadeth, released on September 2, 2022, on frontman Dave Mustaine's Tradecraft label via Universal. It is the first Megadeth album to feature drummer Dirk Verbeuren, their last album with guitarist Kiko Loureiro, and their first studio album in six years since Dystopia (2016), marking the longest gap between two studio albums in the band's career. The album was produced by Mustaine and Chris Rakestraw.

References

  1. Lewry, Fraser (September 20, 2022). "David Ellefson is no longer a member of Megadeth". Metal Hammer . Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Phillips & Cogan 2009, pp. 156–157.
  3. 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Megadeth Biography". AllMusic . Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 "American album certifications – Megadeth". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Megadeth". GRAMMY.com. March 17, 2014. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  6. 1 2 "The Band". megadeth.com. October 30, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  7. Mustaine 2010, p. 101.
  8. Gulla 2009, p. 101.
  9. 1 2 Wagner 2010, p. 42.
  10. Mustaine 2011, p. 87.
  11. Summers, Jodi Beth (June 1987). "Out to Lunch". Hit Parader . Rockmetal.art.pl. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  12. DiVita, Joe (August 23, 2023). "How Did Megadeth Get Their Band Name?". Loudwire . Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  13. • Laydon, Page 103. Layden, Joe (2011). Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir. HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN   9780061714405.
  14. Daly, Andrew (August 2, 2023). ""I'd hear Dave Mustaine aimlessly riffing on the couch, and it's the riffs that ended up on the first two Megadeth – and, frankly, Metallica – records": Megadeth's first lead guitarist Greg Handevidt on the birth of a metal institution". Guitar World . Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  15. 1 2 "8 Things You Didn't Know About Megadeth's 'Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good'". Revolver . June 12, 2018. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  16. "Megadeath". Whiplash. 1983.
  17. Ellefson & McIver 2013, p. 46.
  18. 1 2 3 Prown & Newquist 1997, p. 227.
  19. "AGENT STEEL Founder/Vocalist JOHN CYRIIS On Briefly Joining MEGADETH - "DAVE MUSTAINE Was Not Prepared To Launch The First Album With My Lyrical Subjects"". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles . October 24, 2019. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  20. 1 2 3 4 Doe, Bernard (December 1985). "Megadeth – Love It To Death". Metal Forces . Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  21. Mustaine 2011, p. 124.
  22. Cobanoglu, Cansu (November 4, 2022). "Dave Mustaine's Remorse About Megadeth's Gar Samuelson". Rock Celebrities. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  23. Montalbano, Anthony. "Chris Poland: The ClassicRockHistory.com Interview". Classic Rock History,com. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  24. Ellefson & McIver 2013, p. 53.
  25. Ellefson & McIver 2013, p. 55.
  26. Bukszpan 2003, p. 242.
  27. "Megadeth Biography". metallian. August 1, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  28. McIver 2008, Chapter 7.
  29. "Megadeth: The Making Of The New 'Vic Rattlehead' Mask". Blabbermouth.net . October 2, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
  30. Hart, Josh (August 15, 2011). "Dave Mustaine on Early Days With Metallica: "I Had Always Called Us the 'Four Horsemen'"". Revolver . Guitar World. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  31. Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! liner notes (2002 reissue). Loud Records. 2002. p. 8.
  32. 1 2 Begrand, Adrien (April 30, 2002). "Megadeth: Killing is My Business... and Business is Good!". PopMatters . Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  33. Ellefson & McIver 2013, pp. 55–56.
  34. Ellefson & McIver 2013, p. 58.
  35. Kot, Greg (August 15, 2010). "Megadeth's Dave Mustaine says he and Metallica have hugged out". Chicago Tribune . Archived from the original on December 17, 2013. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
  36. Tarquin 2012, p. 72.
  37. Konow 2009, p. 243.
  38. Matsumoto, Jon (October 16, 1986). "Megadeth: These Heavy Metalers Thrash For Peace". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  39. Talevski 2010, p. 570.
  40. Ellefson & McIver 2013, p. 61.
  41. 1 2 Popson, Tom (February 6, 1987). "Megadeth Hed To Go Here". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  42. 1 2 3 Rees & Crampton 1999, p. 658.
  43. 1 2 Konow 2009, p. 244.
  44. 1 2 Gomes, Celesete (August 1988). "So Far, So Good For Megadeth". Classic Rock . Rockmetal.art.pl. Archived from the original on July 20, 2009. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
  45. So Far, So Good... So What! (2004 reissue) (liner notes). Capitol Records. 2004. p. 2.
  46. Ellefson & McIver 2013, p. 71.
  47. Christgau, Robert (1987). "Consumer Guide Reviews". The Village Voice . Retrieved December 6, 2013.
  48. Rees & Crampton 1999, p. 546.
  49. "Megadeth". metallipromo.com. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  50. 1 2 3 Bukszpan 2003, p. 244.
  51. Unterberger & Hicks 1999, p. 416.
  52. Spheeris, Penelope (2005). Greatest Hits: Back to the Start (liner notes). Capitol Records. p. 2.
  53. Megadeth: Rusted Pieces VHS. Capitol Records/EMI. January 1, 1991.
  54. Ellefson & McIver 2013, p. 72.
  55. "Ex-MEGADETH Guitarist JEFF YOUNG Responds To DAVE MUSTAINE's Drug Allegations". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. December 20, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  56. Niles, Eric (September 1990). "Rust in Peace". Music Connection . Rockmetal.art.pl. Archived from the original on July 23, 2009. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  57. Kajzer & Lotring 2010, p. 192.
  58. Dome, Malcolm (December 21, 2009). "Megadeth Bitching: Mustaine And Young At War!". Classic Rock . Archived from the original on December 11, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  59. Buckley 2003, p. 660.
  60. Janosik 2006, p. 97.
  61. Ellefson & McIver 2013, p. 79.
  62. 1 2 "Dave Mustaine: Kerry King Hates My Guts". Blabbermouth.net . Ultimate-Guitar.com. August 16, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  63. "A Look Back at Savatage's Criss Oliva". All That Shreds Magazine. April 8, 2017. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  64. "Guitarist Jeff Loomis-"If I Had Joined Megadeth". BraveWords . July 3, 2010. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  65. 1 2 "Megadeth "Rust in Peace"". Decibel . Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  66. Ellefson & McIver 2013, p. 88.
  67. Kajzer & Lotring 2010, p. 320.
  68. 1 2 Bienstock, Richard (September 17, 2010). "Megadeth: Rust Never Sleeps". Guitar World . Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  69. Rubiner 1993, p. 167.
  70. 1 2 3 "Megadeth – Chart History (Albums)". Billboard . Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  71. "The Official Charts Company – Megadeth". Official Charts Company . Retrieved February 24, 2013.
  72. 1 2 Pillsbury 2006, p. 82.
  73. "Megadeth: First Look At 'Rust In Peace Live' DVD". Blabbermouth.net . August 23, 2010. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  74. Morris, Chris (January 14, 1995). "Ace Of Base, 'Lion King' Lead Record Certs". Billboard . p. 76. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  75. McIver 2008, Chapter 13.
  76. 1 2 Harrison 2011, p. 60.
  77. Ellefson & McIver 2013, p. 101.
  78. "Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey: Official Motion Picture Soundtrack". Allmusic.
  79. Ringo, Johnny (March 27, 2013). "Archive: Interview with Dave Ellefson of Megadeth". Hails & Horns. Word Press. Archived from the original on October 24, 2013. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
  80. Countdown to Extinction liner notes (Japanese edition). Capitol Records. 1992. pp. 3–5, 7–8, 10.
  81. Herrmann, Brenda (July 30, 1992). "Megadeth – Countdown to Extinction (Capitol)". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  82. Prince, Patrick (November 19, 2012). "Megadeth fully embraces "Countdown" anniversary". Goldmine . Retrieved November 17, 2013.
  83. Ellefson & McIver 2013, p. 103.
  84. Popoff 2002, p. 108.
  85. 1 2 Joyner 2002, p. 301.
  86. MacDonald, Patrick (January 8, 1993). "Grammys show influence of Seattle music". The Seattle Times . Retrieved December 17, 2009.
  87. Grow, Kory (September 13, 2012). "Megadeth – Countdown To Extinction 20th Anniversary Edition Cover Art Shown In New York's Times Square". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles . Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
  88. 1 2 3 Ellefson & McIver 2013, p. 106.
  89. Chirazi, Steffan (October 1993). "Trial by Fire". RIP. Rockmetal.art.pl. Archived from the original on February 14, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  90. Ramirez, Carlos (September 13, 2013). "10 Most Underrated Megadeth Songs". Noisecreep . Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  91. Hartmann, Graham (April 2, 2014). "Megadeth's David Ellefson Plays 'Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction?'". Loudwire . Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  92. Spin staff (October 1993). "Clash of the Quasi-Titans". Spin . 9: 36. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  93. Harris, Chris (January 29, 2010). "The Grammys Don't Understand Metal". Noisecreep . Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  94. MacDonald, Patrick (January 5, 1996). "Presidents of the U.S. are riding high in the musical polls". The Seattle Times . Retrieved December 17, 2009.
  95. Larkin 1995, p. 2777.
  96. Youthanasia liner notes (2004 reissue). Capitol Records. 2004. pp. 2, 24–25.
  97. 1 2 Ellefson & McIver 2013, p. 118.
  98. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Megadeth: Youthanasia". AllMusic . Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  99. "Billboard 200". Billboard . Nielsen Business Media. November 19, 1994. p.  88 . Retrieved December 9, 2013. youthanasia.
  100. "Canadian album certifications – Megadeth – Youthanasia". Music Canada. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  101. Merkle, P.J. (May 1995). "Megadeth: Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered". Hit Parader . Rockmetal.art.pl. Archived from the original on July 24, 2009. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
  102. "Late Show With David Letterman: Episode Guide". MSN Entertainment. November 18, 1994. Archived from the original on July 27, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  103. Menza, Nick. "When Megadeth Needed a Drummer". Nick Menza's Official Website. Archived from the original on July 27, 2014. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  104. "The Killing Road – A History Of Megadeth's Opening Acts". Roadrunner Records. February 2, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  105. 1 2 3 "History". Megadeth.com. Archived from the original on September 6, 2013. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  106. Henderson, Alex. "Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight (Original Soundtrack)". AllMusic . Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  107. Golemis, Dean (November 9, 1995). "Megadeth: Hidden Treasures (Capitol)". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  108. 1 2 "Watch: MEGADETH Joined By FEAR's LEE VING For Performance Of 'Nothing Is Something' From MD.45". Blabbermouth . June 25, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023. Two decades ago, Mustaine told Classic Rock magazine that "a lot of" the music on "The Craving" "was intended for MEGADETH, but every time I turned around, Marty [Friedman, then-MEGADETH guitarist] had a solo record coming out; Nick [Menza, then-MEGADETH drummer] had his own solo project. Y'know, was this MEGADETH or not? I said, 'You don't see me going off to play with anybody else. If I'm not doing it, then none of you guys are. And if I do it, then we all can — but I might not come back.' By the time I got into the studio with Lee, I figured it was a case of goodbye. But we got back together after a little period of time."
  109. Prato, Greg. "MD.45 – Biography". AllMusic . Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  110. 1 2 Wiederhorn, Jon (June 1998). "Last Men Standing". Guitar World . Rockmetal.art.pl. Archived from the original on February 14, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  111. Ellefson & McIver 2013, p. 129.
  112. Cryptic Writings liner notes (2004 reissue). Capitol Records. 2004. pp. 2–3.
  113. Mustaine 2011, p. 275.
  114. "Megadeth – Chart History (Songs) – second page". Billboard . Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  115. Billboard staff (January 17, 1998). "40th Annual Grammy Awards: Final Nominations". Billboard . p. 78. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  116. "Cryptic Writings – Megadeth – Charts". AllMusic . Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  117. Masuo, Sandy (June 29, 1997). "In Brief: Megadeth, "Cryptic Writing," Capitol". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  118. Metal Sludge staff (March 12, 2002). "20 question with ex-Megadeth drummer Nick Menza". Metal Sludge. Archived from the original on November 11, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  119. "Nick Menza: "I Was Fired From Megadeth Two Days After Surgery"". RockRage. Blabbermouth.net. February 19, 2002. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  120. Risk liner notes (2004 reissue). Capitol Records. 2004. pp. 2–5, 9, 11, 13, 15.
  121. Hjelm, Fredrik (2001). "It Wasn't Fun Anymore". Shockwaves Online. Rockmetal.art.pl. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  122. Stagno, Mike (September 19, 2006). "Megadeth: Risk". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  123. Huey, Steve. "Risk – Megadeth". AllMusic . Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  124. Plenda, Melanie (July 3, 2013). "Frontman Dave Mustaine talks about reviving thrash-metal sound, getting back into the studio, hitting the road". NewHampshire.com. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  125. Sciarretto, Amy (January 31, 2000). "Loud Rock News". CMJ New Music Report . 61: 35. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  126. "Megadeth's Mustaine Raring To "Crush 'Em"". MTV. June 23, 1999. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  127. MTV News staff (July 23, 1999). "Original Megadeth Drummer Samuelson Dead At 41". MTV . Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  128. Rosen 2011, p. 92.
  129. Saidman, Sorelle (January 10, 2000). "Megadeth Guitarist Marty Friedman Leaves Band". MTV . Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  130. Prato, Greg (July 29, 2009). "Megadeth's Dave Mustaine Talks New Riffs, Old Drama". Rolling Stone . Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  131. Newman, Melinda (January 22, 2000). "The Beat". Billboard . p. 18. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  132. 1 2 Metal Sludge staff (September 4, 2001). "23 Questions With Dave Mustaine". Metal Sludge. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  133. Ellefson & McIver 2013, p. 136.
  134. 1 2 3 Baird, Kirk (September 14, 2001). "Acerbic Mustaine explains Megadeth's metal issues". Las Vegas Sun . Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  135. Huey, Steve. "Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years". AllMusic . Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  136. Huey, Steve. "Megadeth: The World Needs A Hero". AllMusic . Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  137. "Megadeth Completes 'Hero'". Billboard . January 22, 2001. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  138. 1 2 Chandrasekhar, Chaitra (May 15, 2001). "Back to their Metallic Roots". The Tech . Vol. 121, no. 26. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  139. 1 2 "Metal Returns: Megadeth, Halford, Slayer". Billboard . February 20, 2001. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  140. 1 2 "Fans To Choose Set Lists For U.S. Megadeth Trek". Billboard . August 6, 2001. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  141. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David, eds. (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide . Simon & Schuster. p.  534. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8.
  142. 1 2 "Megadeth – Chart History (Songs)". Billboard . Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  143. Ellefson & McIver 2013, p. 139.
  144. Ellefson & McIver 2013, p. 218.
  145. Wiederhorn, Jon (March 2, 2004). "Megadeth Pack It In After Nearly 20 Years". MTV . Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  146. "Injury Forces Mustaine To Disband Megadeth". Billboard . April 3, 2002. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
  147. "Megadeth to split up". BBC News . April 4, 2002. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  148. Epstein, Dan (August 2003). "Die Another Day". Guitar World . Rockmetal.art.pl. Archived from the original on July 29, 2019. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
  149. Torreano, Bradley. "Megadeth: Still, Alive...and Well?". AllMusic . Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  150. "Dave Mustaine: 'I Am And Always Will Be Megadeth'". Blabbermouth.net . July 12, 2003. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
  151. Ayers, Chris (March 2005). "Megadeth: Remixed and Remastered Series". Exclaim! . Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  152. Wiederhorn, Jon (September 10, 2004). "Dave Mustaine, Megadeth Return To Life With New System". MTV . Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  153. Nalbandian, Bob (August 28, 2004). "Dave Mustaine Interview". Hard Radio. Retrieved November 19, 2006.
  154. "Megadeth's Mustaine Says Nick Menza Wasn't Prepared To Tour With The Band". Blabbermouth.net . November 16, 2004. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  155. Gitter, Mike (October 24, 2012). "Where Are They Now? Chris Poland of Megadeth". Noisecreep . Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  156. Dizon, Joey (July 7, 2012). "A Life of 'Deth". The Philippine Star . Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  157. Sciarretto, Amy (September 13, 2004). "Genre Focus – Megadeth; The System Has Failed". CMJ New Music Report : 22. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  158. "Dave Mustaine Discusses Going Solo, Dimebag, Kerry King And Metallica". Blabbermouth.net . February 11, 2005. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  159. "Megadeth Tour Manager Talks About Drummer Nick Menza's Departure". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles . November 5, 2004. Archived from the original on May 15, 2013. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  160. "Updated: Exodus Added To More Dates On Megadeth's U.S. Tour". Blabbermouth.net . October 16, 2004. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  161. "Diamond Head To Support Megadeth In Europe". Blabbermouth.net . December 30, 2004. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  162. Begrand, Adrien (July 28, 2005). "Megadeth: Greatest Hits: Back to the Start". Popmatters . Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  163. Bowar, Chad (October 1, 2006). "Gigantour DVD Review". About.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2016. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  164. "Megadeth Will Continue". Ultimate-Guitar.com. October 10, 2005. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  165. Prato, Greg (March 27, 2007). "Megadeth: That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires". AllMusic . Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  166. "Ex-Megadeth Bassist MacDonough: 'There Is No Animosity Here'". Blabbermouth.net . February 20, 2006. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  167. "Megadeth bassist James Lomenzo joins Yamaha Guitars". Yamaha Corporation. January 25, 2008. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  168. "Megadeth Play First Show With Bassist James LoMenzo". Blabbermouth.net . March 18, 2006. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  169. Bowar, Chad (March 21, 2006). "Megadeth – Arsenal Of Megadeth DVD". About.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  170. "Gigantour 2006 Announced: Megadeth, Lamb of God, Opeth, Arch Enemy, Overkill Confirmed". Blabbermouth.net . July 23, 2006. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  171. "Gigantour 2006 – Australian Mini-Tour". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles . November 10, 2006. Archived from the original on September 4, 2020. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  172. "Megadeth: New Album Pushed Back To 2007". Blabbermouth.net . August 23, 2006. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
  173. "Megadeth: 'United Abominations' To Be Released In May". Blabbermouth.net . January 21, 2007. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  174. 1 2 "Megadeth's New Version Of 'A Tout Le Monde' To Feature Lacuna Coil's Scabbia". Blabbermouth.net . March 3, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
  175. Hasty, Katie (May 23, 2007). "Linkin Park Scores Year's Best Debut With 'Midnight'". Billboard . Retrieved November 26, 2013.
  176. Freeman, John (May 3, 2007). "Heaven and Hell (Black Sabbath), Megadeth, Machine Head". Dallas Observer . Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
  177. Kilgore, Kym (July 10, 2007). "Megadeth's 'Tour of Duty'". Sound Spike. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
  178. "Megadeth, Static-X, DevilDriver, Lacuna Coil Team Up For Australia's Gigantour". Blabbermouth.net . August 8, 2007. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  179. Dodgin, Rich (October 31, 2013). "Interview with Glen Drover". All About the Rock. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
  180. Laing, Robert (January 8, 2008). "Rumour: Megadeth to recruit new guitarist". MusicRadar . Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  181. Aledort, Andy (June 13, 2013). "Interview: Megadeth's Chris Broderick Talks Technique". Guitar World . Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  182. Bezer, Terry (March 9, 2009). "Megadeth's Dave Mustaine: Broderick Is 'Best Guitarist Megadeth Has Ever Had'". Metal Hammer . Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  183. "Nevermore drummer: Megadeth is getting "One Hell Of A Good Player, Great Guy And True Friend"". Blabbermouth.net . January 16, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  184. Guitar World staff (January 14, 2008). "Dave Mustaine Announces Gigantour 2008 & New Guitarist". Guitar World . Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  185. Ratliff, Ben (April 24, 2008). "Thrash Times Five When Bands Convene". The New York Times . Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  186. Bowar, Chad (September 30, 2008). "Megadeth – Anthology: Set The World Afire". About.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  187. "'Priest Feast' Featuring Judas Priest, Megadeth, Testament: Dutch Date Added". Blabbermouth.net . October 29, 2008. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  188. Mustaine 2011, p. 370.
  189. "Dave Mustaine to Metallica: I Am So Very Proud of All You Have Accomplished". Blabbermouth.net . February 27, 2009. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  190. "Megadeth And Slayer To Co-Headline 'Canadian Carnage' Trek". Blabbermouth.net . April 27, 2009. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  191. Bezer, Terry (June 19, 2009). "Megadeth Reveal More About New Album". Metal Hammer . Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  192. Bezer, Terry (July 27, 2009). "Megadeth 'Endgame' Track-By-Track Preview". Metal Hammer . Archived from the original on August 15, 2009. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  193. Buchanan, David (September 15, 2009). "Megadeth brings Endgame to life, tours North America". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  194. "Slayer, Megadeth, Testament: Complete 'American Carnage' Details Revealed". Blabbermouth.net . November 16, 2009. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  195. "Megadeth's "Head Crusher" Nominated For a Grammy". Roadrunner Records. July 12, 2011. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  196. Guitar World staff (January 25, 2010). "Megadeth Announce 'Rust In Peace' 20th Anniversary Tour Dates". Guitar World . Archived from the original on December 17, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  197. Dome, Malcolm (February 9, 2010). "David Ellefson Exclusive: Why I'm Back In Megadeth". Classic Rock . Archived from the original on November 1, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  198. MusicRadar staff (December 15, 2009). "Thrash metal's 'Big Four' for Sonisphere 2010!". MusicRadar . Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  199. Paine, Andre (June 10, 2010). "Metallica Heading To Cinemas". Billboard . Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  200. Downey, Ryan J. (April 25, 2011). "Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer And Anthrax Make Big 4 History". MTV . Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  201. Ratliff, Ben (September 15, 2011). "Metallica Earns Its Top Billing of the Big Four". The New York Times . Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  202. Guitar World staff (April 26, 2010). "Slayer to Perform Complete 'Seasons in the Abyss' Album on Upcoming Tour". Guitar World . Archived from the original on August 24, 2017. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  203. Bezer, Terry (August 20, 2010). "Vic Rattlehead Makes Megadeth Live Debut". Metal Hammer . Archived from the original on April 5, 2013. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
  204. Freedman, Pete (September 30, 2010). "Backstage with Anthrax, Megadeth & Slayer!". Spin . Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  205. Vick, Megan (October 25, 2010). "Slayer's Kerry King Performs with Megadeth". Billboard . Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  206. "Slayer, Megadeth To Join Forces For 'European Carnage' Tour". Blabbermouth.net . December 18, 2010. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  207. Debenedictis, Matt (January 31, 2011). "Disturbed, Godsmack, Megadeth Headlining Rockstar Mayhem Festival 2011". Noisecreep . Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  208. Guitar World staff (June 23, 2010). "Megadeth to Release 'Rust In Peace Live' Blu-Ray, DVD and CD". Guitar World . Archived from the original on June 10, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  209. East, Thomas (September 1, 2010). "Guitar Hero: Warriors Of Rock Megadeth trailer". Official Nintendo Magazine . Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  210. Harris, Chris (June 4, 2010). "Mustaine Pens Fresh Megadeth Track For 'Guitar Hero'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  211. Sciarretto, Amy (December 1, 2010). "Grammy Nominees 2011 Announced for Hard Rock and Metal". Noisecreep . Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  212. Graff, Gary (October 31, 2011). "Megadeth's Dave Mustaine: 6 Questions About 'Thirteen'". Billboard . Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  213. Prato, Greg (July 12, 2011). "Dave Mustaine Reveals New Megadeth Album Details". Rolling Stone . Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  214. Bittke, Brett (December 2, 2011). "Megadeth Receives their 10th Grammy Nomination". Screamer magazine . Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  215. Young, Alex (November 1, 2011). "Megadeth, Motorhead, team up for Gigantour 2012". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  216. MacIntyre, Dave (February 16, 2012). "Gigantour 2012 featuring Lacuna Coil, Volbeat, Motorhead and Megadeth". PopMatters . Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  217. Riddle, Tree (February 21, 2012). "Rob Zombie and Megadeth To Embark on Co-Headlining 2012 U.S. Tour". Loudwire . Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  218. Childers, Chad (September 10, 2012). "Megadeth to Celebrate 20th Anniversary of 'Countdown to Extinction' With Reissue and Fall 2012 Tour". Loudwire . Retrieved November 17, 2013.
  219. Ouellette, Mary (September 21, 2013). "Megadeth Reveal 'Countdown To Extinction: Live' Trailer". Loudwire . Retrieved November 17, 2013.
  220. "Halestorm: "Winning A Grammy Is A Huge Milestone For Us"". Metal Hammer . February 12, 2013. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
  221. "Megadeth Taps Producer Johnny K For New Album". Blabbermouth.net . August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  222. "Megadeth Working On 'Dark', 'Heavy' And 'Fast' New Album". Blabbermouth.net . January 28, 2013. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  223. Hartmann, Graham (February 12, 2013). "Megadeth Announce June Release for Upcoming Album 'Super Collider'". Loudwire . Retrieved February 12, 2013.
  224. Caulfield, Keith (June 12, 2013). "Queens Of The Stone Age Get First No. 1 Album On Billboard 200". Billboard . Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  225. "Super Collider – Megadeth". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved June 17, 2013.
  226. Wise, Lauren (November 25, 2013). "Megadeth's Dave Mustaine: There's Been a Renaissance With Us". Phoenix New Times . Archived from the original on December 17, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  227. "Megadeth Planning New Album: 'Time Is Short'". Ultimate-Guitar.com. July 24, 2013. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
  228. Hartmann, Graham (May 3, 2013). "Black Label Society Join Lineup for Megadeth's Gigantour 2013 + Dates Announced". Loudwire . Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  229. Bowar, Chad (August 12, 2013). "Megadeth and Jason Newsted Play Metallica's 'Phantom Lord' During Toronto Gigantour Finale". Loudwire . Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  230. Vincent, Peter (February 10, 2014). "Soundwave 2014: Megadeth cancels Australian tour". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  231. "Megadeth: 'Icon'-Series Compilation Due This Month". Blabbermouth.net . February 15, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  232. Hartmann, Graham. "Megadeth Cancel Tour Dates Following Death of Bassist David Ellefson's Brother". Loudwire. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  233. Joyce, Colin (August 5, 2014). "Cee Lo Green and Megadeth Cancel Israel Shows". Spin . Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  234. Leight, Elias (September 10, 2014). "Megadeth Pulls Out of Motorhead's Motorboat Cruise". Billboard . Retrieved September 17, 2014.
  235. "Why Does DAVE MUSTAINE Get Such A Bad Rap? Ex-MEGADETH Drummer SHAWN DROVER Weighs In". Blabbermouth . July 18, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  236. Kielty, Martin (November 26, 2014). "Broderick & Drover Quit Megadeth". Classic Rock . Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  237. Kaufman, Spencer (December 2, 2014). "Megadeth's David Ellefson: We Are Not Disbanding". Loudwire . Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  238. Epstein, Dan (July 20, 2015). "Interview: Megadeth's Dave Mustaine Gives Update from the Studio". Revolver . Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  239. "Meet Megadeth's New Guitarist: Kiko Loureiro of Angra". Guitar World . April 2, 2015. Archived from the original on July 2, 2016. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
  240. Bienstock, Richard (October 1, 2015). "Megadeth Premiere New Song, "Fatal Illusion"". Revolver . Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  241. "Megadeth, Suicidal Tendencies, Children Bodom: North American Tour Dates Announced". Blabbermouth.net . December 7, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
  242. Childers, Chad (July 14, 2016). "Megadeth Officially Confirm Dirk Verbeuren as New Drummer". Loudwire . Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  243. "Megadeth Announces U.S. Tour With Amon Amarth, Suicidal Tendencies, Metal Church, Havok". Blabbermouth.net . July 18, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  244. "Butcher Babies Added To Megadeth's Tour With Amon Amarth, Suicidal Tendencies, Metal Church". Blabbermouth.net . September 10, 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  245. Kennedy, Maev (May 22, 2016). "Former Megadeth drummer Nick Menza dies after collapsing on stage". The Guardian . Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  246. "Megadeth's Dave Mustaine calls for 2017 Big Four tour". Metal Hammer. December 6, 2016. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  247. "Chris Adler". The Grammys. Archived from the original on February 22, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  248. Teitelman, Bram (February 19, 2017). "Megadeth's Dave Mustaine Reflects on First Grammy Win, House Band Playing Metallica". Billboard . Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  249. "Megadeth New Album In 2018". Loudwire . June 28, 2017.
  250. "Megadeth To 'Probably' Begin Recording New Album Next Summer". Blabbermouth.net . Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  251. "SCORPIONS Announce 'Crazy World' North American Tour With MEGADETH". Blabbermouth. March 22, 2017. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  252. Childers, Chad (April 8, 2018). "Megadeth to Offer 'Final Kill' Reissue of 'Killing Is My Business … And Business Is Good' Disc". Loudwire . Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  253. "MEGADETH Enters Studio For New Album Pre-Production". Blabbermouth.net . Retrieved May 10, 2019.
  254. "Megadeth's Dave Mustaine Diagnosed With Throat Cancer". Kerrang! . June 17, 2019. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  255. "OZZY OSBOURNE Announces 2019 North American Tour With MEGADETH". Blabbermouth.net . Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  256. "OZZY OSBOURNE To Be Joined By MARILYN MANSON For Rescheduled 2020 North American Dates". Blabbermouth.net . November 14, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  257. HOUSE OF HAIR (June 28, 2019). "Megadeth's Dave Mustaine Vows To Beat Cancer". houseofhaironline.com. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  258. "Dave Mustaine Teases Heavy + Fast New Megadeth Song – Listen". Loudwire . Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  259. "Megadeth share rehearsal footage from new album sessions". Metal Hammer . Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  260. "Reddick to Celebrate Metal Band Megadeth with Gimme Radio Chevy in Loudon". rcrracing.com. July 17, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  261. "FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH To Tour Europe With MEGADETH And BAD WOLVES". Blabbermouth.net . Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  262. "FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH Announces Dates For European Tour With MEGADETH, BAD WOLVES". Blabbermouth.net . Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  263. "MEGADETH Announces First-Ever 'Megacruise'". Blabbermouth.net . Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  264. "ANTHRAX, TESTAMENT, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, Others Confirmed For MEGADETH's First-Ever 'Megacruise'". Blabbermouth.net . Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  265. "Overkill and Dragonforce added to first-ever MegaCruise". Metal Insider. October 25, 2018. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  266. Trapp, Philip (March 21, 2019). "Suicidal Tendencies, Queensryche + More Added to 2019 Megacruise". Loudwire . Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  267. "LAMB OF GOD Added To MEGADETH's 'Megacruise'". Blabbermouth.net . August 6, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  268. "MEGADETH: No Official Decision Has Yet Been Made Regarding DAVE MUSTAINE's Involvement In 'Megacruise'". Blabbermouth.net . Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  269. "Members Of MEGADETH, ANTHRAX, TESTAMENT, DEATH ANGEL, Others Take Part In All-Star KISS Jam On 'Megacruise' (Video)". Blabbermouth.net . Retrieved October 19, 2019.
  270. Mims, Taylor. "Megadeth and Lamb Of God Announce North American 2020 Co-Headline Tour". Billboard . Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  271. "MEGADETH, LAMB OF GOD, TRIVIUM And IN FLAMES Announce 2021 Dates For 'The Metal Tour Of The Year'". Blabbermouth.net . Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  272. "HATEBREED Replaces IN FLAMES On 'The Metal Tour Of The Year'". Blabbermouth.net. July 13, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  273. "DAVID ELLEFSON Will Travel To Nashville This Week To Begin Recording New MEGADETH Album". Blabbermouth.net . Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  274. "DAVE MUSTAINE Says New MEGADETH Album Is 'Coming Along Great'". Blabbermouth.net . Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  275. "Why MEGADETH Decided Against Recording New Album Remotely". Blabbermouth.net . Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  276. "Dave Mustane Reveals Title For New Megadeth Album". Metal Addicts. January 10, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  277. 1 2 "Megadeth Comments On Leak Of 'Embarrassing' David Ellefson Videos: 'We Are Watching Developments Closely'". Blabbermouth. May 10, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  278. "MEGADETH Officially Parts Ways With David Ellefson Following Sex Video Scandal". Blabbermouth. May 24, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  279. Pasbani, Robert (June 9, 2021). "David Ellefson Was Actually Fired From Megadeth Four Days After Sexual Allegations Surfaced, New Details From Revenge Porn Report". Metal Injection. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  280. "Dave Mustaine Says There Is No Chance Of David Ellefson Ever Rejoining Megadeth Again". Blabbermouth.net . July 13, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  281. Kennelty, Greg. "David Ellefson On Recent Sex Scandal: "There Was Nothing Illegal"". Metal Injection. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  282. "DAVE MUSTAINE Confirms DAVID ELLEFSON Will Not Appear On Upcoming MEGADETH Album". Blabbermouth.net . June 17, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  283. jomatami. "Dave Mustaine Confirms David Ellefson's Bass Parts on New Megadeth Album Were Already Re-Recorded By Another Bassist". Ultimate Guitar . Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  284. "Here's The First Glimpse Of MEGADETH's New Bassist". Blabbermouth.net . July 12, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  285. Maxwell, Jackson (August 11, 2021). "Megadeth announce James LoMenzo as new live bassist". Guitar World . Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  286. "Megadeth's New Album, 'The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead', Postponed To September". Metal Addicts. June 12, 2022. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  287. "MEGADETH Announces JAMES LOMENZO As 'Permanent' Replacement For David Ellefson". Blabbermouth.net . May 31, 2022. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  288. "Megadeth tease new music on mysterious website". loudersound. June 21, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  289. Trapp, Todd FooksTodd FooksContributing Authors: Philip (June 23, 2022). "Fans React to Megadeth's New Song 'We'll Be Back'". Loudwire. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  290. "Megadeth join forces with Ice-T for pummeling new single, Night Stalkers". Guitar World . July 22, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  291. "Megadeth Unleash New Single 'Soldier On'". Ultimate Classic Rock . August 12, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  292. "Watch: Marty Friedman reunites with Megadeth onstage for the first time in 23 years". Guitar.com . February 28, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  293. "Former MEGADETH Drummer LEE RAUCH Dies". Blabbermouth.net . June 25, 2023.
  294. Madarang, Charisma (September 6, 2023). "Megadeth's Kiko Loureiro Pulls Out of Tour, Temporary Replacement Announced". Rolling Stone . Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  295. "DAVE MUSTAINE: We Will Move Forward With TEEMU MÄNTYSAARI As Guitar Player For MEGADETH". Blabbermouth.net . November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  296. "KIKO LOUREIRO Opens Up About His Decision To Leave MEGADETH". Blabbermouth.net . November 29, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  297. Andrew Daly (January 10, 2024). ""I had two viable options: to be in Megadeth or not. I chose my personal life. No regrets": Kiko Loureiro opens up on what he meant by "freedom," how he trained up his replacement, and why he suggested Marty Friedman should return". guitarworld. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  298. "MEGADETH's DAVE MUSTAINE: 'I See Myself Living Till I'm In My 80s Or Maybe 90s'". Blabbermouth.net . December 15, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  299. Crawford, Allyson B. (April 5, 2012). "Megadeth Frontman Dave Mustaine's Most Controversial Quotes". Noisecreep . Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  300. Hartmann, Graham (August 31, 2012). "Metallica vs. Dave Mustaine – Nastiest Rock Feuds". Loudwire . Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  301. Hay, Carla (January 17, 2004). ""Monster" Film Reveals Metallica's Dynamics". Billboard . Vol. 116. p. 15. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  302. Wiederhorn, Jon (July 20, 2004). "Megadeth Frontman, Filmmakers At Odds Over Metallica Doc". MTV . Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  303. Herzog, Kenny (July 18, 2011). "Dave Mustaine Interview". The A.V. Club . Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  304. "Holy Wars...The Punishment Due". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on March 9, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
  305. Mann, Laura (August 1, 2011). "The Ten Best Music Videos Banned by MTV". Dallas Observer . Archived from the original on May 13, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  306. Pessin, Anna Lisa (October 1992). "Dressed for Success". Spin . 8: 52. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  307. Jeckell, Barry A. (August 6, 2001). "Billboard Bits: LL Cool J, Megadeth, Money Mark". Billboard . Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  308. "'Hero' Takes A Fall In Malaysia". New Musical Express . July 24, 2001. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  309. Stroumboulopoulos, George. "Interview: Dave Mustaine". CBS . Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  310. Prince, Patrick (June 13, 2011). "Dave Mustaine at 'Peace' in his career, 25 years later". Goldmine . Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  311. Kerby, Jeff (July 24, 2005). "Dave Mustaine Speaks to KNAC.com From Gigantour". KNAC.com . Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  312. "Megadeth Founders Exchange Lawsuits". Billboard . August 9, 2004. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  313. "Megadeth's Mustaine Sues Former Bassist". Billboard . July 26, 2005. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  314. Wiederhorn, Jon (February 10, 2010). "Megadeth Frontman Extends Olive Branch to Original Bassist". Noisecreep . Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  315. Grow, Kory (June 7, 2021). "David Ellefson: Ex-Megadeth Bassist Details Revenge-Porn Case in Police Report". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  316. Jordan Moreau (May 24, 2021). "Megadeth Fires Bassist David Ellefson After Sexual Misconduct Allegations". Variety. Retrieved May 24, 2021. Heavy metal band Megadeth has parted ways with bassist David Ellefson after he was accused of sexual misconduct.
  317. Grow, Kory (August 3, 2010). "Exclusive Excerpt From Dave Mustaine's Autobiography: Meeting Lars Ulrich". Revolver. NewBay Media. Archived from the original on November 20, 2015.
  318. "Raven's debut album 'Rock Until You Drop' getting released as 'The 4CD Over The Top Edition'". sleazeroxx.com. March 7, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  319. Smyers, Darryl (March 1, 2012). "Megadeth's Dave Ellefson Talks About Christianity and Lady Gaga". Dallas Observer . Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  320. Full Metal Jackie (October 7, 2013). "Megadeth Frontman Dave Mustaine on Touring With Iron Maiden, Social Media + More". Loudwire . Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  321. "The Quietus | Features | Baker's Dozen | Th1rt3en Best: Dave Mustaine of Megadeth's Favourite Albums".
  322. Edmondson 2013, p. 147.
  323. "10 Bands Who Influenced Megadeth". Loudwire . January 29, 2019.
  324. "B-Mac Album Review: Accept, Too Mean To Die ~ Uncivil Revolt". uncivilrevolt.com. February 2021. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  325. Dika 2012, p. 188.
  326. Bivins 2008, p. 74.
  327. Carney, Christine (September 18, 2007). "Megadeth's Mustaine Talks About Albums That Influenced Him;". MP3.com . Blabbermouth.net . Retrieved November 26, 2013.
  328. Sharken, Lisa (January 9, 2007). "Dave Mustaine of Megadeth". Seymour Duncan. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  329. Bosso, Joe (December 14, 2011). "Interview: Megadeth's Dave Mustaine talks Thirteen, Metallica and riffs". MusicRadar . Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  330. 1 2 Toto, Anthony (November 29, 2013). "Interview: Megadeth". Pop-Break. Archived from the original on December 10, 2013. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  331. Wise, Lauren (October 28, 2013). "Megadeth's Dave Ellefson: "All The Best Things In My Life Were Not My Idea"". Phoenix New Times . Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  332. Chamberlain, Rich (June 3, 2013). "Dave Mustaine on Super Collider, Endgame, Risk and more". MusicRadar. Archived from the original on December 23, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  333. Ruggiero, Bob (December 11, 2013). "Megadeth's Dave Mustaine Hopes You're Still Buying". Houston Press . Archived from the original on October 21, 2014. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  334. 1 2 Purcell 2003, p. 53.
  335. "Megadeth Biography". Rolling Stone . Simon & Schuster. 2001. Archived from the original on February 10, 2011. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  336. Bienstock, Richard (January 17, 2013). "Interview: Megadeth Guitarist Dave Mustaine on 2009's 'Endgame'". Guitar World . Archived from the original on December 5, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  337. Sciaky, Davide (August 17, 2017). "Interview: Megadeth (David Ellefson)". TrueMetal.it . Archived from the original on October 12, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  338. Wagner 2010, p. 43.
  339. Michael Moses, Dan Kaye (June 5, 1999). "What Did You Do In The War, Daddy?". Billboard . p. 12. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  340. Arnett 1996, p. 44.
  341. Powell, Mike (September 2011). "Diggin' In the Crates For Untold Treasures". Spin . 27: 92. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  342. Taylor, Chuck (November 29, 1997). "Metal Mainstay Megadeth Alters Its Lyrics But Not Its Music For The '90s". Billboard . p. 74. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  343. Phillips & Cogan 2009, p. 157.
  344. Thompson 2007, p. 135.
  345. Phillips & Cogan 2009, p. 210.
  346. Rivadavia, Eduardo (August 15, 2013). "10 Best Thrash Metal Bands of All Time". Loudwire . Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  347. CMJ Network, Inc (February 11, 2002). "Loud Rock". CMJ New Music Report : 45. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  348. Paoletta, Michael (August 14, 2004). "Vital Reissues". Billboard . p. 45. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  349. Wiederhorn, Jon. "Greatest Metal Bands – Honorable Mentions". MTV. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  350. Kahn-Harris 2007, p. 132.
  351. Ramirez, Carlos (July 29, 2009). "Top 10 New School Thrash Bands". Noisecreep . Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  352. "Warbringer: 'Hunter-Seeker' Lyric Video Released". Blabbermouth.net . September 17, 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  353. Gensler, Andy (June 3, 2014). "How Marty Friedman Went From Megadeth to the 'Ryan Seacrest Of Japan'". Billboard . Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  354. "Megadeth 'Countdown to Extinction: Live' To Be Released Worldwide on September 24". Business Wire. August 28, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  355. Loudwire staff (January 2, 2012). "Megadeth Win Two 2011 Loudwire Music Awards". Loudwire . Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  356. "Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards: Complete List of Winners". Blabbermouth.net . June 17, 2008. Retrieved March 8, 2009.
  357. Carman, Keith (April 8, 2009). "Isis, Metallica, Slipknot Winners At the Epiphone Revolver Golden Gods Awards". Exclaim! . Retrieved April 10, 2009.

Bibliography