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 heavy metal band formed by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine—after he was fired 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]

Members

Current

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Dave Mustaine	1983–2002 2004 onward	lead vocals, guitar	All Megadeth releases Including every platinum album and major single-EP.
	Dave Ellefson	1983–2002 2010 onward	bass, backing vocals	All Megadeth releases from Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (1985) to Rude Awakening (2002), Rust in Peace Live (2010), and Thirteen (2011)
	Shawn Drover	2004 onward	drums, percussion	Gigantour (2006), That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires (2007), United Abominations (2007), Endgame (2009), Blood in the Water: Live in San Diego (2010), Rust in Peace Live (2010) and Thirteen (2011)
	Chris Broderick	2008 onward	guitar, backing vocals	Endgame (2009), Blood in the Water: Live in San Diego (2010), Rust in Peace Live (2010) and Thirteen (2011)

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	1984–1985, 1985–1987, 2004	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	1987–1988	drums, percussion	So Far, So Good... So What! (1988)
	Young, JeffJeff Young	1987–1989	guitar	So Far, So Good... So What! (1988)
	Menza, NickNick Menza	1989–1998, 2004	drums, percussion	All Megadeth releases from Rust in Peace (1990) to Cryptic Writings (1997)
	Friedman, MartyMarty Friedman	1990–2000	guitar	All Megadeth releases from Rust in Peace (1990) to Risk (1999)
	DeGrasso, JimmyJimmy DeGrasso	1998–2002	drums, percussion	Risk (1999), The World Needs a Hero (2001) and Rude Awakening (2002)
	Pitrelli, AlAl Pitrelli	2000–2002	guitar	The World Needs a Hero (2001) and Rude Awakening (2002)
	Colaiuta, VinnieVinnie Colaiuta	2004	drums, percussion (session only)	The System Has Failed (2004)
	Sloas, JimmyJimmy Sloas	2004	bass (session only)	The System Has Failed (2004)
	MacDonough, JamesJames MacDonough	2004–2006	bass	Gigantour (2006) and That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires (2007)
	Drover, GlenGlen Drover	2004–2008	guitar	Gigantour (2006), That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires (2007) and United Abominations (2007)
	LoMenzo, JamesJames LoMenzo	2006–2010	bass, backing vocals	United Abominations 2007, Blood in the Water: Live in San Diego (2008) and Endgame 2009

Timeline

References

General

• "Timeline of the band's history". Megadeth.com. http://www.megadeth.com/history.php. Retrieved March 1, 2009. 
• "Band lineups". Megadeth.com. http://www.megadeth.com/band.php. Retrieved March 8, 2009. 

Specific

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} "Timeline of the band's history". Megadeth.com. http://www.megadeth.com/history.php. Retrieved March 1, 2009. 
2. ^ "Megadeth.com - History". http://www.megadeth.com/history.php#1984. Retrieved 2010-12-27. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d} Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Megadeth > Biography". Allmusic. Macrovision. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p4885. Retrieved March 1, 2009. 
4. ^ Doreian, Robyn (September 1990). "The Big Four". Hot Metal Magazine. Archived at The Realms of Deth. http://megadeth.rockmetal.art.pl/articles_hotmetal1990.html. Retrieved March 1, 2009. 
5. ^ Stix, John (1990). "A Founding Forefather of Thrash". Guitar for the Practicing Musician. Archived at The Realms of Deth. http://megadeth.rockmetal.art.pl/interviews_practisingmusician1990.html. Retrieved March 1, 2009. 
6. ^ "An Ugly American". Archived at The Realms of Deth. March 2001. http://megadeth.rockmetal.art.pl/interviews_rockmetal2001.html. Retrieved March 1, 2009. 
7. ^ "Dave Mustaine suffers serious injury, announces departure from Megadeth; Group disbanding after nearly 20 years together" (Press release). Megadeth.com. April 3, 2002. http://www.megadeth.com/news/pr/disband.html. Retrieved January 6, 2009. 
8. ^ ^{a b} Nalbandian, Bob. "Dave Mustaine Interview, Pt. 6". HardRadio. http://www.hardradio.com/shockwaves/mustaine6.php3. Retrieved October 7, 2008. 
9. ^ Nalbandian, Bob. "Dave Mustaine Interview, Pt. 2". HardRadio. http://www.hardradio.com/shockwaves/mustaine2.php3. Retrieved October 7, 2008. 
10. ^ "Megadeth Tour Manager Talks About Drummer Nick Menza's Departure". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. November 5, 2004. http://www.bravewords.com/news/19670. Retrieved March 7, 2009. 
11. ^ "Ex-Megadeth Bassist MacDonough: 'There Is No Animosity Here'". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. February 20, 2006. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=48617. 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. http://megadeth.com/announcement.php. Retrieved March 7, 2009. 
13. ^ "BASSIST DAVID ELLEFSON RETURNS TO MEGADETH LINE-UP" (Press release). Megadeth.com. February 8, 2010. http://www.megadeth.com/news_popup.php?news_id=1287. Retrieved March 4, 2010. 

External links

• Megadeth's official website