(left to right) Dave Mustaine, Dirk Verbeuren and Kiko Loureiro (James LoMenzo not shown).
Six line-ups of Megadeth performing in 1991, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2018 and 2022.
Megadeth is an American thrash metal band formed by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine after he was fired from Metallica.[1] The first line-up, in 1983, after their name change from Fallen Angels, featured Mustaine on guitar, drummer Richard Girod, vocalist Lor Kane, guitarist Greg Handevidt and bassist David Ellefson.[2] The band's current line-up includes consistent member Mustaine, bassist James LoMenzo (2006 to 2010, and since 2021), drummer Dirk Verbeuren (since 2016) and guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari (since 2023).
History
Lor Kane, the band's first vocalist, would quickly leave the group.[3] After playing with various vocalists, including Billy Bonds[4] and John Cyriis,[5] Mustaine ultimately took up lead vocals himself.[3] Megadeth recorded Last Rites, a three-song demo, in 1984, which featured drummer Lee Rauch.[6]Slayer guitarist Kerry King covered live dates at Ruthie's Inn and The Stone while a permanent replacement was sought.[3]Jazz fusion drummer Gar Samuelson would go on to join the band. After playing a few shows as a three-piece, guitarist Chris Poland also joined.[7] During Megadeth's 1985 tour promoting their debut album, Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!, Poland left the band and was temporarily replaced by Mike Albert.[8] On the tour, Mustaine offered the drummer position to Exciter drummer Dan Beehler, though he declined the offer.[9] Poland then rejoined Megadeth in October of the same year, shortly before they began work on Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?[8] After years of problems stemming from substance abuse, Mustaine fired both Poland and Samuelson before recording the third album So Far, So Good... So What! Poland was initially replaced by Jay Reynolds, who proved unable to perform the solos in-studio and was replaced by Jeff Young, his guitar instructor.[10] Samuelson was replaced in 1987 by Chuck Behler, who was his drum tech.[11]
Marty Friedman became the band's first long term lead guitarist from 1990 till 2000.
During their world tour in support of So Far, So Good... in February 1988, Mustaine noticed problems developing with Behler.[12] Six months later, Mustaine fired both Behler and Young.[13] In July 1989, Nick Menza was hired to replace Behler on the drums.[8] After a lengthy search for a new lead guitarist, Megadeth enlisted Marty Friedman, who officially joined in February 1990.[14] The lineup remained unchanged for almost eight years, until Menza discovered a tumor on his knee, which forced him to leave the tour to undergo surgery. He was replaced by Jimmy DeGrasso, temporarily at first. Following the Ozzfest tour in 1998, however, DeGrasso replaced Menza permanently, after Mustaine claimed that Menza had "lied about having cancer".[15] Following the release of Risk, the band began a new world tour in September 1999. Three months into the tour, Friedman announced that he would be leaving the band, citing "musical differences".[8] Megadeth enlisted guitarist Al Pitrelli as Friedman's replacement in January 2000.[8] In early 2002, Mustaine suffered several injuries, which led him to announce in a press release that Megadeth had disbanded.[16] Following nearly a year of recovery, Mustaine began work on what was to be his first solo album.[17] The new material was recorded with session musicians Vinnie Colaiuta and Jimmy Lee Sloas, but the project was put on hold when Mustaine agreed to remix and remaster Megadeth's eight-album back catalog with Capitol Records.[13]
In May 2004, Mustaine returned to his newest recordings, intended as a solo effort, but because of outstanding contractual obligations with the band's European label EMI, he was forced to release one more album under the "Megadeth" name.[17] Mustaine decided to reform the band, and contacted the Rust in Peace line-up to re-record backing tracks on his latest songs. While drummer Nick Menza initially signed on, Marty Friedman and David Ellefson were both unable to come to an agreement with Mustaine.[18] Chris Poland was hired by Mustaine to contribute only with guitar solos to the new album. This marked the first time since the Rust in Peace demos that the two musicians had worked together.[8]
Poland opted to serve as a studio musician only, as he wished to remain focused on his own jazz fusion project, Ohm. Megadeth began a world tour in October 2004, enlisting bassist James MacDonough[19] and guitarist Glen Drover.[20] While in rehearsal for the tour, newly returned drummer Nick Menza once again parted ways with the band, as he was unable to prepare for the physical demands of a full U.S. tour. He was replaced five days before the first show by Shawn Drover,[21] brother of new guitarist Glen Drover. In February 2006, MacDonough left the band, citing "personal differences" for his decision, and was replaced by bassist James LoMenzo.[22] Two years later, Dave Mustaine announced that Glen Drover had quit Megadeth to focus on his family. He was replaced by Chris Broderick.[23] On February 8, 2010, David Ellefson rejoined the band, replacing James LoMenzo.[24]
In late November 2014, Shawn Drover quit the band after ten years, wanting to pursue his own musical interests. This was quickly followed by the departure of Chris Broderick, due to artistic and musical differences.[25] Ellefson denied rumors that the band would disband, and said he and Mustaine would continue working on new music.[26]
In early 2015, Megadeth announced that Brazilian guitarist Kiko Loureiro was hired as the new guitar player for the band[27] to record Megadeth's fifteenth studio album alongside Lamb of God's drummer, Chris Adler.[28] On July 7, 2016, Soilwork's Dirk Verbeuren was announced as Megadeth's new drummer.[29]
Ellefson was dismissed from Megadeth amid allegations of sexual misconduct on May 14, 2021.[30][31][32][33] Months later, former bassist James LoMenzo returned to the line-up for the Metal Tour Of The Year.[34] LoMenzo officially became the band’s new bassist in 2022.[35]
In September 2023, Kiko Loureiro announced he would be taking a break from the tour in order to spend time with his children, with Teemu Mäntysaari filling in for the rest of the tour.[36] However, in November 2023, Kiko stated he would be extending his break, entering an indefinite hiatus,[37] while Mustaine confirmed that the band would go on with Mäntysaari as guitarist.[38] That same month, Loureiro confirmed that he had left the band.[39]
additional vocals on "The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead!", "Life in Hell", "Sacrifice", "Junkie", "Killing Time", "Soldier On!", "Célebutante", "Mission to Mars" and "We'll Be Back"
Mäntysaari covered for Loureiro from September 2023 when he took a break from the band to spend time with his family.[36] He replaced Loureiro in November.
^"Statement from Megadeth". megadeth.com. May 24, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2021. We are informing our fans that David Ellefson is no longer playing with Megadeth and we are parting ways with him. We do not take this decision lightly.
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