Megadeth – The Vintage Years! (1984 – 1994)

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In April 1983, Dave Mustaine’s world came crashing down. He had spent two years as the lead guitarist in Metallica, and they were clearly a band going places. As a founding member, songwriter, and key component of the live performances which were gaining them one hell of a reputation across America, Mustaine seemingly had the world at his feet … and then they fired him.

Spiralling substance misuse and a fight with vocalist / guitarist James Hetfield signalled the end for Mustaine, and he was sent home back to California while on tour in New York. With just the clothes on his back, a one way bus ticket and his tail between his legs. Mustaine was down … but he wasn’t out. On that bus journey he plotted a new future along with his revenge. He was going to create a band faster and heavier than Metallica, and by chance, he came across the inspiration to call it Megadeth.

Back home, Mustaine formed a musical kinship with his neighbour and bassist Dave Ellefson. They initially tried playing with a number of different drummers and singers, before settling in as a three-piece with Jazz-Fusion drummer Gar Samuelson in the autumn of 1984. With Mustaine stepping behind the mic and deciding he would try his hand at taking on the vocals himself, the band decided a second lead guitarist was required.

After trying out a few including Slayer’s Kerry King for a short while, they settled on Samuelson’s former The New Yorkers’ bandmate Chris Poland. Poland’s virtuoso Jazz inspired Metal soloing brought a new dynamic to Megadeth, and with their line-up settled, the band signed to indie label Combat Records; and set about recording their debut album in a haze of intoxication.

Killing Is My Business … And Business Is Good! released in May 1985. The album was raw and abrasive with a lo-Fi production (given that a large chunk of the recording budget had been spent on drugs and alcohol). But the record resonated with fans in America, and it began selling well. Taking inspiration from Iron Maiden’s mascot and album cover star Eddie The Head, Megadeth introduced their own visual sidekick – Vic Rattlehead – on the Killing Is My Business cover.

The record features a number of early Thrash classics including ‘Rattlehead,’ and ‘Mechanix’ (a re-working of the song Metallica had already released as ‘The Four Horsemen’), while the record is also well known for their audacious cover of Nancy Sinatra’s ‘These Boots Are Made For Walkin.’ Megadeth hit the road in support of the release with the band Exciter, made new fans, sold a bunch of albums, and landed themselves a deal with major label Capital Records. Album number two – Peace Sells … But Who’s Buying? – was released in September 1986.

Their sophomore record was a clear step up from Killing Is My Business in terms of both production and songwriting. It is quite rightly considered a Thrash Metal masterpiece, and one of the pinicle releases of the genre from the era. The title track is a classic which showcases Mustaine’s politically charged lyrics. While ‘The Conjuring’ is also vintage Megadeth, with lyrics inspired by black magic; a subject Mustaine took seriously enough that he refused to play the song live for many years after converting to Christianity in the early 2000s.

But Peace Sells would mark the end of Chris Poland and Gar Samuelson’s reign in the band. In 1987 while Megadeth were touring the album, both musicians were fired. Each member had hard drug habits which were spiralling out of control and just not sustainable with life on the road. In came drummer Chuck Behler, while Malice guitarist Jay Reynolds also joined. Megadeth knuckled down to record their third album, but Reynolds would end up getting fired during the sessions when it became clear his guitar playing could not match that of Mustaine. And he was promptly replaced by his own guitar teacher; Jeff Young.

So Far, So Good … So What! released in January 1988, and although it is not generally considered on par with its predecessor in terms of quality, it does certainly have a few memorable moments. A cover of Sex Pistols’ ‘Anarchy In The Uk’ being one, along with a track that many consider to be one of Megadeth’s finest; ‘In My Darkest Hour.’ A song which signifies a clear growth of maturity in songwriting and arrangement … something which would absolutely flourish on their next album.

The band embarked on lengthy tours in support of both Dio and Iron Maiden throughout 1988, and in the summer played to a crowd of over 100,000 people at the UK’s Monsters Of Rock festival at Castle Donnington. But trouble within the band was never far away, and Behler was replaced with Nick Menza (who Mustaine had brought in as a drum-tech during their tour) – whilst he also fired Young, after suspecting the guitarist of having an affair with his girlfriend at the time.

The search for a new lead guitarist would prove tricky. Both Slash from Guns N’ Roses and Dimebag Darrell of Pantera came close to joining, but it would be Cacophony guitarist Marty Friedman who would eventually land the gig, after impressing Mustaine with the work on his solo album; Dragon’s Kiss. The lineup of Mustaine, Ellefson, Friedman and Menza would form an incredibly tight unit that would run together for the next decade, and the quartet are considered by many to be the definitive Megadeth lineup.

First, they would drop perhaps the quintessential of all Megadeth records – Rust In Peace – in September 1990. An album littered with the very highest quality of technical Thrash-Metal songs. From ‘Holy Wars … The Punishment Due,’ to ‘Hanger 18,’ to ‘Tornado Of Souls,’ there is not a bad track to be found. A near perfect record which sold over one million copies, and catapulted the band to the next level in terms of commercial success. It is a masterclass of Heavy Metal, and a jewel in the crown of the band who were about to enter the very different musical era of the early 1990s.

The emerging Grunge explosion of the Seattle bands; Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains and Soundgarden; and their subsequent influence and shaping of the commercial landscape of Alternative and Heavy Rock, began to have its impact on the popular music of the 1980s. Grunge had all but put a nail in the coffin of the popularity of the sleazy Hard Rock that had dominated the decade, while Thrash Metal was also certainly evolving. Metallica has led the way for change when they released their self-titled – or Black – album in 1991.

It was a step away from the Thrash Metal roots of their early years, a sound that – along with Megadeth – they had helped shape as a reaction to NWOBH bands such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest who had emerged over the pond in the late 70s. Metallica would see enormous commercial success with their changing style; with a number of huge hits including ‘Enter Sandman’ and ‘Nothing Else Matters.’ And with their next record – released in July 1992 – Megadeth would also begin a new era in the sound of their own discography.

Countdown To Extinction would prove to be another commercial success. It entered the Billboard chart at number two, and sold over two million copies. It was the first album written collectively by a now stable (for Megadeth standards!) line-up. Partly written on the road together while embarking on the Clash Of The Titans tour with Slayer, Anthrax and Alice In Chains. The band would subsequently tour with a new wave of Heavy Rock and Alternative Metal bands, including Pantera, White Zombie and Stone Temple Pilots.

Countdown featured a plethora of cool songs and Megadeth live staples including ‘Skin O’ My Teeth,’ Symphony Of Destruction,’ ‘Psychotron,’ and the title track. While the schizophrenic ‘Sweating Bullets’ would become a favourite of MTV’s Beavis and Butthead. In 1993 Megadeth would record and contribute the song ‘Angry Again’ for the new Arnold Schwarzenegger blockbuster; The Last Action Hero. While in the same year, Mustaine and Megadeth would face the past by reconciling and playing a handful of European shows with Metallica.

Album number six – Youthanasia – released in November 1994, and Megadeth dropped their tempo even further by releasing a Heavy Rock album that absolutely stands up with the best in the era. But the album was also polarising for some fans who preferred their 80s Thrash output, and wanted nothing else from the band. However, this didn’t stop Youthanasia landing at number four on the Billboard chart, or selling over a million copies in just two months.

Songs including ‘Reckoning Day,’ ‘Train Of Consequences,’ and ‘I Thought I Knew It All,’ were all excellent additions to their repertoire. While Mustaine would also pen one of their most successful, and somewhat controversial songs; ‘A Tout Le Monde,’ a strong radio hit with a French sung chorus which translated as; “To everyone, to all my friends, I love you, I must go.” The song was however banned by MTV who deemed it to be pro-suicide, something strongly disputed by Mustaine who has always insisted it is simply about having to say goodbye to a loved one,

The proceeding tour for Youthanasia would see Megadeth play with support bands including Fear Factory, Corrosion Of Conformity and Korn, and this period can really be looked back on as their heyday. A band in the prime, following an extraordinary decade at the forefront of the Thrash Metal movement, before slickly adapting with the changing times. The proceeding thirty years would see Megadeth continue their relentless career, however there would be rotation of various members playing alongside Mustaine.

By the year 2000, both Marty Friedman and Nick Menza had departed – signalling the end of the quintessential 90s line-up. In the same year Megadeth were also released from their deal with Capital Records. Dave Ellefson would eventually leave the band, then return to the fold after taking Mustaine to court, before being fired again following a personal scandal in 2021. Since Youthanasia, Megadeth have released a further eleven albums of varying quality, culminating in what Mustaine has said will be their very final one – Megadeth – released in January 2026. He plans to embark a lengthy farewell tour, taking Megadeth on the road, and travelling the world to play for the fans … just one last time. KZ

Words by Abstrakt_Soul

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