List of Megadeth band members

Megadeth band members
2008–2010 line-up, performing live at Metalmania in Spodek, on March 8, 2008

Megadeth is an American thrash metal band formed by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine—after he departed from Metallica—along with bassist Dave Ellefson, guitarist Greg Handevidt, and drummer Dijon Carruthers, in 1983.[1] Early in 1984, Megadeth recorded a demo that featured new drummer Lee Rausch, who replaced Carruthers.[2] Slayer guitarist Kerry King covered live dates while a permanent replacement was sought.[1] This lineup was short-lived and after a few shows in 1984, Lee Rausch was replaced by jazz fusion drummer Gar Samuelson, in addition of the second guitarist Chris Poland.[3] During the Megadeth's 1985 tour promoting their debut, Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!, Poland left the band and was temporarily replaced by Mike Albert. Poland then rejoined Megadeth in October of the same year, shortly before they began work on Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?.[1] 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!; being replaced by Jeff Young and Chuck Behler, respectively.[3]

During their world tour in support of So Far, So Good... in February 1988, Mustaine noticed problems developing with Behler.[4] Six months later, Mustaine fired both Behler and Young.[3] In July 1989, Nick Menza was hired to replace Behler on the drums.[1] After a lengthy search for a new lead guitarist, Megadeth enlisted Marty Friedman, who officially joined in February 1990.[5] 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".[6] 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".[1] Megadeth enlisted guitarist Al Pitrelli as Friedman's replacement in January 2000.[1] In early 2002, Mustaine suffered several injuries, which led him to announce in a press release that Megadeth had disbanded.[7] Following nearly a year of recovery, Mustaine began work on what was to be his first solo album.[8] 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.[3]

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.[8] 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.[9] Chris Poland was hired by Mustaine to contribute only with guitar solos to the new album.[1] Megadeth began a world tour in October 2004, enlisting touring bassist James MacDonough, and guitarist Glen Drover.[1] 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.[10] He was replaced five days before the first show by Shawn Drover, 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.[11] Two years later, Dave Mustaine announced that Glen Drover had quit Megadeth to focus on his family. He was replaced by Chris Broderick.[12] On February 8, 2010, David Ellefson rejoined the band, replacing James LoMenzo.[13]

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.[14] Ellefson denied rumors that the band would disband, and said he and Mustaine would continue working on new music.[15] In early 2015, Megadeth announced that Brazilian guitarist Kiko Loureiro was hired as the new guitar player for the band[16] to record Megadeth's 15th studio album alongside Lamb of God's drummer, Chris Adler as a recording session member.

Members

Current

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Dave Mustaine 1983–2002, 2004–present lead vocals, guitar All Megadeth releases
David Ellefson 1983–2002, 2010–present bass, backing vocals All Megadeth releases from Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (1985) to Rude Awakening (2002) and from Rust in Peace Live (2010) to Present
Kiko Loureiro 2015–present guitar, backing vocals Dystopia (2016)
Adler, ChrisChris Adler 2015–present drums, percussion Dystopia (2016)

Former

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Handevidt, GregGreg Handevidt 1983 guitar none
Carruthers, DijonDijon Carruthers 1983 drums, percussion none
Rausch, LeeLee Rausch 1984 drums, percussion Last Rites Demo (1984)
King, KerryKerry King 1984 guitar none
Samuelson, GarGar Samuelson 1984–1987 drums, percussion Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (1985) and Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? (1986)
Poland, ChrisChris Poland 1984–85, 1985–87, 2004 (session only) guitar Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (1985), Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? (1986) and The System Has Failed (2004)
Albert, MikeMike Albert 1985 guitar (touring member) none
Behler, ChuckChuck Behler 1987–1989 drums, percussion So Far, So Good... So What! (1988)
Young, JeffJeff Young 1987–1989 guitar, backing vocals So Far, So Good... So What! (1988)
Menza, NickNick Menza 1989–1998, 2004 drums, percussion, backing vocals All Megadeth releases from Rust in Peace (1990) to Cryptic Writings (1997)
Friedman, MartyMarty Friedman 1990–2000 guitar, backing vocals All Megadeth releases from Rust in Peace (1990) to Risk (1999)
DeGrasso, JimmyJimmy DeGrasso 1998–2002 drums, percussion, backing vocals Risk (1999), The World Needs a Hero (2001) and Rude Awakening (2002)
Pitrelli, AlAl Pitrelli 2000–2002 guitar, backing vocals The World Needs a Hero (2001) and Rude Awakening (2002)
Drover, ShawnShawn Drover 2004–2014 drums, percussion All Megadeth releases from That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires (2005) to Countdown to Extinction: Live (2013)
Drover, GlenGlen Drover 2004–2008 guitar, backing vocals That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires (2005), Gigantour (2006) and United Abominations (2007)
MacDonough, JamesJames MacDonough 2004–2006 bass Gigantour (2006) and That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires (2005)
LoMenzo, JamesJames LoMenzo 2006–2010 bass, backing vocals United Abominations (2007), and Endgame (2009)
Broderick, ChrisChris Broderick 2008–2014 guitar, backing vocals All Megadeth releases from Endgame (2009) to Super Coolider (2013)

Session

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Colaiuta, VinnieVinnie Colaiuta 2004 drums, percussion The System Has Failed (2004)
Sloas, JimmyJimmy Sloas 2004 bass The System Has Failed (2004)

Timeline

References

General
Specific
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Timeline of the band's history". Megadeth.com. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
  2. ↑ "Megadeth.com - History". Retrieved 2010-12-27.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Megadeth Biography". Allmusic. Macrovision. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
  4. ↑ Doreian, Robyn (September 1990). "The Big Four". Hot Metal Magazine. Archived at The Realms of Deth. Retrieved March 1, 2009. External link in |publisher= (help)
  5. ↑ Stix, John (1990). "A Founding Forefather of Thrash". Guitar for the Practicing Musician. Archived at The Realms of Deth. Retrieved March 1, 2009. External link in |publisher= (help)
  6. ↑ "An Ugly American". Archived at The Realms of Deth. March 2001. Retrieved March 1, 2009. External link in |publisher= (help)
  7. ↑ "Dave Mustaine suffers serious injury, announces departure from Megadeth; Group disbanding after nearly 20 years together" (Press release). Megadeth.com. April 3, 2002. Retrieved January 6, 2009.
  8. 1 2 Nalbandian, Bob. "Dave Mustaine Interview, Pt. 6". HardRadio. Retrieved October 7, 2008.
  9. ↑ Nalbandian, Bob. "Dave Mustaine Interview, Pt. 2". HardRadio. Retrieved October 7, 2008.
  10. ↑ "Megadeth Tour Manager Talks About Drummer Nick Menza's Departure". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. November 5, 2004. Retrieved March 7, 2009.
  11. ↑ "Ex-Megadeth Bassist MacDonough: 'There Is No Animosity Here'". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. February 20, 2006. Retrieved March 7, 2009.
  12. ↑ "Gigantour 2008 North American tour dates announced; Megadeth to headline bill with In Flames, Children of Bodom, Job for a Cowboy and High on Fire" (Press release). Megadeth.com. January 14, 2008. Retrieved March 7, 2009.
  13. ↑ "Bassist David Ellefson Returns To Megadeth Line-Up" (Press release). Megadeth.com. February 8, 2010. Retrieved March 4, 2010.
  14. ↑ Kielty, Martin (November 26, 2014). "Broderick & Drover Quit Megadeth". Classic Rock. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  15. ↑ Kaufman, Spencer (December 2, 2014). "Megadeth's David Ellefson: We Are Not Disbanding". Loudwire. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Kiko Loureiro joins Megadeth". Loudwire. Megadeth. April 2, 2015. Retrieved July 7, 2015.

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