Megadeth was started after Dave Mustaine, Megadeth's singer/guitarist and co-founder, was kicked out of Metallica (James Hetfield kicked Dave's dog, Dave hit James, James got mad and kicked Dave out). Dave Mustaine, along with bassist David Ellefson, guitarist Chris Poland, and drummer Gar Samuelson, started what was to become one of the greatest metal bands ever. Their first album, "Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good" was released on the small Combat record label on May 5, 1985. It was not a huge hit and received no sales awards, but it began to build Megadeth's fan base.

The bands second release, "Peace Sells… But Who's Buying?" was also not a huge hit, but it was a good record and it was Megadeth first release on Capitol Records, the label which they still record for today. "Peace Sells" was released on September 19, 1986 and was followed up by the release of Megadeth's first single, "Wake Up Dead" in December of the same year. "Peace Sells… But Who's Buying?" received platinum recognition in November of 1992.

After "Peace Sells", Gar Smuelson and Chris Poland left the band and a new guitarist and drummer were added to the band. Guitarist Jeff Young and drummer Chris Behler were added to the band for Megadeth's third release, also on Capitol Records, "So Far, So Good… So What?", released January 13, 1988. This album was a major disappointment after the obvious talent shown on the previous album, although there were a few good tracks, including a cover of the Sex Pistol's "Anarchy In the UK" "So Far, So Good" never received any awards, although two single were released ("Anarchy In the UK" and "Mary Jane"). At this point, Dave Mustaine had probably begun tempering with illegal substances, which would eventually almost kill him. It 2 ˝ years and yet another line-up change for Megadeth to release another album.

On September 24, 1990, Megadeth released their fourth album, "Rust In Peace." With the addition of guitar virtuoso Marty Friedman and accomplished drummer Nick Menza (son of jazz saxophonist Don Menza) earlier the same year on a cover of Alice Cooper's "No More Mr. Nice Guy" for the Shocker soundtrack, Megadeth had found their niche. The album was fairly successful, and it went platinum 4 years after its release in December of 1994. Two tracks, "Holy Wars… the Punishment Due" and "Hanger 18", were released as singles. Megadeth released their first home video, "Rusted Pieces" in April of 1991. Dave Mustaine's drug problems had become considerably worse by this time.

Megadeth's next album, "Countdown to Extinction," was released on July 14, 1992. It was a huge success, and was certified multi-platinum in December of 1994. The released singles were "Symphony of Destruction," "Foreclosure of a Dream," and "Sweating Bullets." The home video for this album, "Exposure of a Dream," was released in November of 1992. At this point in his career, Dave Mustaine had a very serious herione problem.

A year or so before the band began work on Youthanasia, Dave had a valium overdose. By the time he reached the hospital, his heart had stopper and he was basically considered dead, but the doctors revived him. At this point Dave sought help and moved to northern Arizona to begin rehabilitation. Dave eventually lost his dependency to drugs, but only after his drug counselor had an overdose and died from it (the song "Addicted to Chaos" is about this).

The next Megadeth studio album, "Youthanasia," was Megadeth's first real instant success. Released November 1, 1994, it was certified plantinum only two months later in January of 1995. They built a brand new, state-of-the-art studio inside airplane hanger 18 at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, Arizona to record it. This album was very different from the previous Megadeth albums in that the lyrics were more personal than they ever. The recording process was chronicled in a great video, Evolver, released in May of 1995. Two singles were released, "Train Of Consequences" in October of 1994, and "A Tout Le Monde" in February of 1995.

The limited edition album "Hidden Treasures," which featured Megadeth originals and covers from soundtracks and tribute albums, was released on July 18, 1995. Among the 8 tracks are a cover of Alice Coopers "No More Mr. Nice Guy," the first Megadeth release featuring the current lineup, a great version of Black Sabbath's "Paranoid" from the "Nativity in Black" album, and some great originals like Diadems, originally released for the "Demon Knight" soundtrack.

(Note: The following info on Megadeth's career is written by me)

Next Deth album was "Cryptic Writings". It was released June 17, 1997, and was certified gold about two months later in September 1997. This album was a bit different then the others in the way that it wasn't that fast and heavy, although it wasn't soft or anything like that. It just were a bit softer. Two singles were released, "Trust" in June 1997 and "Almost Honest" in September 1997. This were to be the last album that Nick Menza were to appear on. He left the band in July 1998 due to having a benign (non-cancerous) cyst removed from his knee and they then thought that it would be best if they went into a new direction (according to Dave, Nick lied about having cancer). In came Jimmy DeGrasso (Sucidal Tendencies, Alice Cooper) and did a great job. First release with the new line-up was "Risk", released in August 31. "Risk" got a very mixed -reception- . It was (just as Cryptic Writings) produced by Dann Huff. Maybe that relationship didn't go very well together 'cause although Risk was not that bad it a bit strange. Maybe it was kind of a experiment. It's was very melodic but not as fast as you wanted it to be. Fans all around the world got pissed on this album hoping that they will shape up for the next one. Two singles were released "Crush 'Em" and "Prince of Darkness". Also this year (1999) Megadeth did a live performance at Woodstock '99 and the show was great! During their US Risk tour, Marty left the band. He wanted to explore new music or something. Megadeth then lost a great guitar "magician". Replacing Marty was to be Al Pitrelli (Alice Cooper, Savatage). He has gotten a great reception from the fans and he really deserve that.

Their newest release "Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years" released October 24, 2000 is a greatest hits collection with 12 classic tracks plus two new called "Kill The King" and " Dread And The Fugitive Mind". These new songs sounds very nice indeed. It sounds well for the future. This album ends Megadeth relationship with Capitol Records, as they are changing label to Sanctuary Records for the next release.

On May 15th 2001, Megadeth released 9th studio album (HT not included) which was called "The World Needs A Hero". This was the first album with the new mega members Al and Jimmy involved. Each of them did a great job on it. The sound was heavier than Risk (not like old times though) and it got generally good reception by fans and media. Later this year a extended version of Megadeth appearance on VH-1 Behind the Music is released on DVD, which more covers Megadeth career up until now.

A remixed/remastered version of their debut album Killing is my Business.. is released on 15th February 2002. Dave himself did the work together with producer/engineer Bill Kennedy and it's released by Loud Records, and the results are great. The sound has been touched up really good. Also Dave's original sketch for the artwork is on it. Looks great! More things happend (good and bad) during 2002. First on March 19th they release through Sanctuary Records their first official live album. It's released both on cd and on DVD with the concert presented in great video and audio quality. It was called "Rude Awakening". Then came the blow! 3rd of April came a press release on megadeth.com which announced that after a serious injury Dave Mustaine departs from Megadeth and disbanding the group! His injury concerned a severe nerve damage in his left arm and hand.

After that most members went their own way. Didn't hear much from Dave at this time, until in the early 2004 where Dave came back and said that he's making a new Megadeth album! He also has plans for a solo album at some time. This was great news for all Megadeth fans of course, which has been waiting. What the lineup will be and if they will tour is not done yet (though Chris Poland has recorded some solos already). Also at this time Dave is remixing all remaining Megadeth albums (except TWNAH) make them sound how he really wanted.

As 2004 continued to go, more and more was heard from Dave via Megadeth.com and the official forum. First off, the lineup for the next Megadeth album which was as followed: Dave (of course), Chris Poland on lead guitar, Jimmie Lee Sloas on bass guitar and Vinnie Colaiuta on drums. Clear studiomusicians and since Chris Poland had his new band OHM: there might not be a big chance of this lineup touring. Also news came in that Dave was remixing and remastering all Megadeth albums (except KIMB) and also releasing MD.45 (his sideproject with Lee Wing) but this time with himself on vocals.

So, 27th July 2004 was the release of the remixed and remastered versions of all studio albums (except KIMB, since it already had been re-released, also not Hidden Treasures since it was not a studio album) and also a version of Dave's sideproject MD.45 but this time with him doing the vocals. Also, every album had about 2-3 bonustracks which could be never before heard songs, or demos of known songs. These reissues got mostly great response with the sound much clearer and more powerful. But also some complain that you don't mess with perfection, but everyone has an opinion.

Now the time has come for the (what seems to be) the final Megadeth album. It was called "The System Has Failed" and the lineup was mentioned above. Dave had said in many interviews and such that this was supposed to be his solo album but that he had a contract with Sanctuary to release one more Megadeth album, so that he did. Most (maybe all) songs are songs that Dave has made over the years but haven't been used yet. For example Die Dead Enough was made to be on the Tomb Raider movie soundtrack, but in the end it wasn't (thank god!). The songs had great lyrics. Something That I'm Not was about Lars Ulrich for example. The cover was going to be painted again by the great Ed Repka, but something came went wrong so instead Dave hired Mike Learn who airbrushes MC (chopper) tanks mostly. He did a great job with it and let the fans follow the progress and somewhat influence how it was gonna turn out. Then came the word about a tour! First in 2004 a US tour and then beginning in early 2005 an European tour and later South America and back to the US. Non of the guys recording the album with Dave was chosen to tour with him but instead these guys were chosen: Glen Drover, guitar (ex King Diamond, now Eidolon), James MacDonough, bass (Iced Earth) and lasty in was drummer Shawn Drover (Eidolon). It was long known (and eagerly awaited) that former Megadeth drummer Nick Menza was going to handle the drums yet again on this tour, but due to various circumstances (Megadeth crew said that he wasn't fit to handle it, Nick seemed to have said otherwise) just a few days before the tour Shawn Drover was chosen instead. The first leg of the tour went great, with lots of people getting meet & greet passes from amongs other things, the newly started Megadeth fanclub. Also, amongst all of this, former bassist David Ellefson sued (on May 14) dave for at least $18.5 million USD because he thought he had gotten less then he deserved over the years. But that's an whole other story.

To be fucking continued....

Note: The text up until Hidden Trasures wasn't written by me, but I got it from another fansite at the start of my site so I don't remember where I got it from. But everything from there is written by me with how I remembered everything and so on.

If you have trouble reading the text then copy it and paste it into Notepad or something like that.


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