After being kicked out of Metallica, Dave Mustaine decided to form a thrash metal band that not only rivaled his former band, but played faster, more technical metal. Along with bassist David ‘Junior’ Ellefson and a revolving door of guitarists and drummers, Mustaine set the world afire as Megadeth became known as the world’s state-of-the-art speed metal band throughout the 80s and the early 90s. One of the Big Four of thrash metal, Megadeth remains one of metal’s most popular acts today.

However, Dave Mustaine’s fledgling band got off to a shaky start. Initially unable to find like-minded individuals, it was not until an altercation with his (underage) downstairs neighbours Dave Ellefson and Greg Handevidt, that led to him buying them beer and forming the first incarnation of the band with drummer Dijon Carruthers in 1983.

The band was named after a political pamphlet that referred to a “megadeath” (one million deaths by nuclear explosion):

The arsenal of megadeath can’t be rid no matter what the peace treaties come to

After a few line-up changes, including Slayer guitarist Kerry King, the band settled on the first stable Megadeth line-up of the two Daves (Mustaine and Ellefson), guitarist Chris Poland, and drummer Gar Samuelson. Together they released 1985’s Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good and 1986’s well-received Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying?, which both featured band mascot Vic Rattlehead (a homage to both Eddie the Head and Snaggletooth) on the front cover. Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying? included political themes, which in addition to the technical guitar work on display, became a staple of future Megadeth. Ironically, given the circumstances around Mustaine’s Metallica firing, both Poland and Samuelson were fired soon after Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying? for excessive drug (heroin) abuse.

1988’s So Far, So Good… So What! continued in a similar vein both lyrically and musically, but was less cohesive than Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying?, perhaps due to the line-up change, questionable mixing/engineering and alcohol/drug addiction. The subsequent firing of Jeff Young and Chuck Behler and newfound sobriety of Mustaine, led to the classic Megadeth line-up: the two Daves, Nick Menza on drums, and Marty Friedman on guitars. They started with great success, producing the Grammy-nominated and definitive thrash metal album, Rust in Peace, with the popular singles “Holy Wars… the Punishment Due” and “Hangar 18”.

This classic line-up stayed together throughout the 90s, receiving six consecutive Grammy nominations (losing twice to Metallica and twice to Nine Inch Nails), however the frustration of not achieving the same success as Metallica led Megadeth to progressively eschew their signature fast-paced thrash metal sound for a more traditional heavy metal and Hard Rock sound, culminating in the 1999’s incredibly poorly-received Risk. An attempt to right ship, with The World Needs a Hero was unsuccessful and following a nerve injury to Mustaine’s left arm, he disbanded Megadeth.

With a comeback album, The System has Failed in 2004, that saw a return to Megadeth’s thrash metal and speed metal roots, the band begun to regain the popularity it had lost in the late 90s, with increasing acclaim with each subsequent album. 2007’s United Abominations was the band’s highest-charting album since 1994’s Youthanasia and was voted Metal album of the year by Guitar World. 2009’s Endgame contained Grammy-nominated single “Head Crusher”, and 2011’s TH1RT3EN contained three Grammy-nominated singles (and the return of Dave Ellefson to the band).

This increase in popularity was evident when the band’s fourteenth album Super Collider debuted at number six on the Billboard chart in 2013. Dystopia, their fifteenth album, was expected to be released on October 2nd, 2015, but was eventually delayed to January 22nd, 2016.

Following Dave Mustaine’s throat cancer diagnosis and recovery, the band reconvened to work on their next album. In May 2021, private videos of David Ellefson were leaked to the internet, resulting in his dismissal from Megadeth. Mustaine confirmed the bass tracks recorded by Ellefson would not appear on the album and would be re-recorded by a different bassist. Megadeth’s bassist in the mid-2000s, James LoMenzo filled in for the band’s tour while Steve Di Giorgio performed as a session bassist on the new album. In May 2022, LoMenzo returned to the band as a permanent member. Megadeth released their sixteenth studio album, The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead! on September 2nd, 2022.

Members

Current

Dave Mustaine – vocals, guitars (1983–2002; 2004–present)
James LoMenzo – bass (2006–2010; 2022–present)
Kiko Loureiro – guitars (2015–present)
Dirk Verbeuren – drums (2016–present)

Past

David Ellefson – bass (1983–2002; 2010–2021)
Greg Handevidt – guitars (1983)
Dijon Carruthers – drums (1983)
Lee Rausch – drums (1984)
Chris Poland – guitars (1984–1987)
Gar Samuelson – drums (1984–1987)
Jeff Young – guitars (1987–1989)
Chuck Behler – drums (1987–1989)
Nick Menza – drums (1989–1998; 2004)
Marty Friedman – guitars (1990–2000)
Jimmy DeGrasso – drums (1998–2002)
Al Pitrelli – guitars (2000–2002)
Glen Drover – guitars (2004–2008)
Shawn Drover – drums (2004–2014)
James MacDonough – bass (2004–2006)
Chris Broderick – guitars (2008–2014)

Touring

Kerry King – guitars (1984)
Mike Albert – guitars (1985)
Chris Adler – drums (2015–2016)
Tony Laureano – drums (2015–2016)
Dirk Verbeuren – drums (2016)
James LoMenzo – bass (2021–2022)

Session

Chris Poland – guitars (1990; 2004)
Vinnie Colaiuta – drums (2004)
Jimmie Lee Sloas – bass (2004)
Chris Adler – drums (2016)
Steve Di Giorgio – bass (2022)