Wake Up Dead

Infobox single
Name = Wake Up Dead
Type = Single
Artist = Megadeth


Released = 1986
Recorded = 1986
Genre = Thrash metal
Length = 3:40
Label = Capitol, Combat
Writer = Dave Mustaine
Producer = Dave Mustaine and Andy Somers
Last single =
This single = "Wake Up Dead"
(1986)
Next single = "Anarchy in the U.K."
(1988)"Wake Up Dead" is a single from the Megadeth album "Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?", and additionally the first single ever launched by the band. Along with the title track, "Peace Sells", this song is a live staple at almost every Megadeth show. It starts with a descending bass intro and then sustained chords, followed by Dave Mustaine's singing. The song is mostly instrumental, and is about Mustaine fearing revenge from his girlfriend after he cheats on her. It describes him sneaking into his bedroom, so he does not wake her up.

This was also the song that Megadeth played when guitarist Marty Friedman was auditioning for the band.

The music video for this song features the band playing at a rock concert enclosed in a cage. As the video progresses, the fans go crazy and begin to jump around and climb the metal cage.