Biography of Megadeth

Megadeth was formed in 1983 after guitarist Dave Mustaine left Metallica and moved to Los Angeles, where he met bassist Dave Ellefson. With guitarist Chris Poland and drummer Gar Samuelson, they landed a contract with Combat Records, releasing Killing is my Business... and Business is Good! in 1985. It featured an unique cover of Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walking" and "Mechanix," written by Mustaine during his days with Metallica and recorded by them as The Four Horsemen.They became the first thrash band to be signed to Capitol Records. The resulting Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? did extremely well and put the band among the top thrash bands with Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax. The music was very tight and the lyrics very in-depth and intelligent. Their next album, so far, so good... so what, featured a cover of "Anarchy in the UK" (from The Sex Pistols) and signaled a more complex, yet still harsh, sound with new members Chuck Behler (drums) and Jeff Young (guitar).For a few years they seemed to lose fans, and when they recorded a cover of the Alice Cooper classic "No More Mr. Nice Guy" -- Megadeth at their poppiest -- some called it the beginning of the end, but in 1990, with new members Marty Friedman (guitar) and Nick Menza (drums), they released one of their hardest efforts to date, Rust in Piece. Their new popularity made them one of the bands to be featured on the Class of the Titans tour package in 1991. When their "Go to Hell" was on the soundtrack album for Bill & Teds Bogus Journey, all worries about the band being washed up were put to rest.As far as Megadeth's impact on the world of heavy metal, they've lasted through many personnel changes and acknowledged trips to drug and alcohol rehab clinics, and many bands have come and gone trying to copy what Megadeth set out to do. ~ John Book