Dave Mustaine’s Departure from Metallica
Again I’m sure we all know the back story of Dave Mustaine getting kicked out of Metallica. Megadeth’s story begins with Dave Mustaine, a guitarist and songwriter who was originally a member of Metallica. Mustaine joined Metallica in 1981, but his tenure was short-lived due to his own alcohol and drug issues causing conflicts with band members. He was fired in April 1983, just before Metallica recorded their debut album, Kill ‘Em All.
There has been much talk of how Metallica could have turned out if Dave Mustaine had styed in the band, but for my money it would have never worked as Dave comes across as an Alpha and needs to control the situtation he’s in. Fuelled by anger and determination, Mustaine vowed to create a band that would be “faster and heavier” than Metallica. This vision became the foundation for what would soon become Megadeth.
The Formation of Megadeth
After leaving Metallica, Mustaine returned to Los Angeles and began forming his own band. He first recruited bassist David Ellefson, whose tight playing and aggressive sound helped shape Megadeth’s signature style. The band went through several lineup changes before settling on Gar Samuelson (drums) and Chris Poland (guitar). The band had influences that went well beyond metal, incorporating weird time structures more commonly found in Jazz music and technical guitar playing that went well beyond what he was doing in his tenure with Metallica.
In 1984, Megadeth recorded a demo, Last Rites, which gained the attention of independent record labels. Their raw energy and technical musicianship set them apart from other emerging thrash metal bands.
Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good! (1985)
Megadeth signed with Combat Records and released their debut album, Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good!, in 1985. The album showcased Mustaine’s ferocious guitar work and politically charged lyrics. Tracks like “Mechanix” (a faster version of Metallica’s “The Four Horsemen”) and “Rattlehead” cemented Megadeth’s place in the thrash metal movement.
Despite poor production quality, due to the band spending much of the album budget on their “habits” the album gained a cult following and set the stage for their rise in the metal scene.
Legacy of Megadeth’s Early Years
By the late 1980s, Megadeth had solidified their position as one of the “Big Four” thrash metal bands. Their technical proficiency, aggressive sound, and politically charged lyrics set them apart from their peers. Peace Sells remains one of the most influential metal albums of all time.
Dave Mustaine’s vision and relentless drive ensured that Megadeth would continue evolving, paving the way for even greater success in the decades to come.