The Conjuring (song)

Last updated
"The Conjuring"
Song by Megadeth
from the album Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?
ReleasedSeptember 19, 1986 (1986-09-19)
RecordedFebruary–March 1986
Genre Thrash metal [1] [2]
Length5:04
Label Capitol
Songwriter(s) Dave Mustaine
Producer(s) Dave Mustaine, Randy Burns
Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? track listing
8 tracks

"The Conjuring" is a song by the thrash metal band Megadeth from their 1986 album Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? .

Contents

Written by Dave Mustaine during a time when he dabbled in black magic during his teenager years, the song's lyrics have been described as referencing a Satanic ritual and, according to Mustaine, contain "instructions for hexes". [3] [4]

Overview

The song is composed in E minor. [5] It is one of several Megadeth songs referencing the occult, witchcraft, or black magic. Others include "Bad Omen", "Good Mourning/Black Friday", and most explicitly, "Five Magics" from their 1990 album Rust in Peace , which directly mentions wizardry, sorcery, alchemy, and magic. [6]

In an interview, Mustaine said, "I used to do black magic when I was a kid, and I put a hex on a dude and his leg kind of got messed up. The other one was, I put a sex hex on this girl and the next night she was in my bed, so I think that it worked." [7] [8] [9]

Live performances

From 2001 to 2018, a period of 17 years, the song was not performed live by Megadeth. [10] [11] This was due to Mustaine's Christian beliefs [12] being at odds with its subject matter. In 2011, several months before the 25th anniversary of the release of the album Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? Mustaine reiterated his reluctance to perform the song. [3] In 2016, however, after the band's drummer Chris Adler asked if they could "re-record [the song] with different lyrics", Mustaine admitted in an interview that he "wouldn't mind doing the song again", as long as "it didn't hurt anybody". [13] On June 12, 2018, Megadeth performed "The Conjuring" live for the first time in 17 years at the Home Monitoring Aréna in Plzeň, Czech Republic. [14] [15]

Related Research Articles

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

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

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

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

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

Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? is the second studio album by American thrash metal band Megadeth, released on September 19, 1986, through Capitol Records. The project was originally handled by Combat Records, resulting in the original mix of the album being co-produced by Randy Burns. Capitol Records then bought the rights to the album and hired another producer named Paul Lani to mix it himself. The recording of the album was difficult for the band, because of the ongoing drug issues the members had at the time. Drummer Gar Samuelson and guitarist Chris Poland were fired shortly after the album's promotional tour for drug abuse, making Peace Sells Samuelson's last Megadeth album. Poland reappeared as a session musician on The System Has Failed, 18 years later. The title track, noted for its politically conscious lyrics, was released as the album's second single, but 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 lead 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>The World Needs a Hero</i> 2001 studio album by Megadeth

The World Needs a Hero is the ninth studio album by American thrash metal band Megadeth, released on May 15, 2001 by Sanctuary Records. After the critical and commercial failure of the previous album Risk (1999), The World Needs a Hero represented a change back to a heavier musical direction. Subsequently, the album charted at number 16 on the Billboard 200 upon release.

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

David Scott Mustaine is an American musician. He is the co-founder, frontman and primary songwriter of the thrash metal band Megadeth, as well as their sole consistent member. 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.

<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 records not to include original bassist and co-founder David Ellefson. The album features session players Vinnie Colaiuta (drums), Jimmie Lee Sloas (bass) and former Megadeth member Chris Poland (guitar).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gears of War (song)</span> 2006 promotional single by Megadeth

"Gears of War" is a song by the American thrash metal band Megadeth. It was released as a promotional single off of their tenth studio album United Abominations (2007). It was the first song from the album released. An instrumental of the song is featured in the 2006 video game of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wake Up Dead</span> 1986 single by Megadeth

"Wake Up Dead" is a song by American thrash metal band Megadeth, and was the lead single from their 1986 album Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?, written by Dave Mustaine. It has since become a staple at their concerts, being their sixth most played song.

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

<i>Endgame</i> (Megadeth album) 2009 studio album by Megadeth

Endgame is the twelfth studio album by American thrash metal band Megadeth. It was produced by Dave Mustaine and Andy Sneap and released through Roadrunner Records on September 15, 2009. Endgame was the first album to feature guitarist Chris Broderick, following Glen Drover's departure in 2008, and was the band's last studio album with bassist James LoMenzo until LoMenzo rejoined after 2022's The Sick, The Dying, and The Dead, as original bassist David Ellefson rejoined the band several months after the album's release.

European Carnage Tour was a European tour headlined by American thrash metal bands Slayer and Megadeth. This tour marked the first time that both bands had toured Europe together since the Clash of the Titans Tour in 1990 when support was provided by Testament and Suicidal Tendencies. Slayer and Megadeth had previously toured together in North America on American Carnage Tour in 2010, with Testament and Anthrax as the supporting acts.

<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.

<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 album was produced by Mustaine and Chris Rakestraw and features cover artwork by Brent Elliot White.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Threat Is Real</span> 2015 single by Megadeth

"The Threat Is Real" is a song by American thrash metal band Megadeth, written by Dave Mustaine. It is the opening track from their fifteenth studio album Dystopia, which was released on January 22, 2016. The song was released as the album's second single on streaming services on November 25, 2015, and on vinyl on November 27, 2015.

The So Far, So Good... So What! Tour was a concert tour performed by the American thrash metal band Megadeth to support their 1988 album So Far, So Good... So What!. This was the only tour to feature the lineup of Dave Mustaine on vocals and guitar, David Ellefson on bass, Jeff Young on guitar and Chuck Behler on drums.

<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, the second Megadeth album to feature 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. In production for more than two years, the album was produced by Mustaine and Chris Rakestraw. During the album's recording, longtime bassist David Ellefson was dismissed from the band due to sexual misconduct allegations. His bass parts were removed from the album and were re-recorded by Testament bassist Steve Di Giorgio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We'll Be Back</span> 2022 single by Megadeth

"We'll Be Back" is a song by the American thrash metal band Megadeth. The song was released as the lead single from their sixteenth studio album, The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead!, on June 23, 2022. The song was the first single the band had released since 2016's "Post American World". On November 15, 2022, "We'll Be Back" was announced as a nominee for Best Metal Performance for the 65th Annual Grammy Awards.

References

  1. "The 25 greatest thrash metal albums ever". Kerrang!. 26 October 2020. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  2. "20 Essential Eighties Thrash Albums". Revolver. 2007-04-01. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  3. 1 2 Parker, Matthew (March 18, 2011). "Dave Mustaine: "Black magic ruined my life!"". Total Guitar . Music Radar . Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  4. Lewis, G. Craige (2009). The Truth Behind Hip Hop. Xulon Press. p. 67. ISBN   978-1-60791-916-2.
  5. Song Key of The Conjuring (Megadeth) , retrieved 2022-09-27
  6. "ShieldSquare Captcha". validate.perfdrive.com. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  7. Songfacts. "The Conjuring by Megadeth - Songfacts". www.songfacts.com. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  8. Childers, Chad (23 August 2022). "Dave Mustaine Tells Joe Rogan the Stories of Two Hexes He Put on People in His Youth". Loudwire. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  9. Blabbermouth (2019-09-25). "MEGADETH's DAVE MUSTAINE Talks About Making Of 'The Conjuring' Song For 'Death By Design' Graphic Novel (Video)". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  10. DiGiacomo, Robert (November 12, 2012). "Megadeth Revisits 'Extinction': Heavy metal legends offer classic album in entirety at House of Blues on Friday night". Atlantic City Insiders. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  11. Goldmine Staff (13 September 2022). "5 strong (and interesting) opinions from Dave Mustaine". Goldmine Magazine: Record Collector & Music Memorabilia. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  12. "Dave Mustaine Explains Why He Refuses To Share Stage With His 'Confessed Enemy' – Blabbermouth.net". Roadrunnerrecords.com. May 8, 2007. Archived from the original on October 31, 2010. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  13. "Megadeth's Dave Mustaine Is Reconsidering His Decision To Never Play 'The Conjuring' Again". Blabbermouth.net. January 21, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  14. "MEGADETH Performs 'The Conjuring' Live For First Time In 17 Years (Video)". Blabbermouth.net. June 13, 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  15. Guitar World Staff (2018-06-14). "Watch Megadeth Perform "The Conjuring" For the First Time in 17 Years". guitarworld. Retrieved 2022-09-27.