Megadeth is an American thrash metal band formed by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine after he was fired from Metallica. The first line-up, in 1983, after their name change from Fallen Angels, featured Mustaine and Robbie McKinney on guitar, vocalist Lor Kane and bassist Matt Kisselstein. 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 The original Megadeth lineup was short-lived. The band's bassist, Matt Kisselstein, was replaced by Minnesotan David Ellefson, while guitarist Robbie McKinney was replaced with Minnesotan Greg Handevidt (who was Ellefson's roommate). Handevidt soon left the band, as he had a child in Minnesota. Lor Kane, the band's first vocalist, sang on the groups 1983 demo, though he too left the band. The band's first drummer was Dijon Carruthers. He was replaced by Richard Girod in the summer of 1983, though Carruthers returned in the fall and played various rehearsals with the band. The next drummer to join, Brett Frederickson, joined the band in November 1983, though he chose to leave the band as he was busy with work and school.

After recruiting various vocalists following Kane's exit, including Billy Bonds and John Cyriis, Mustaine ultimately took up lead vocals himself. Megadeth recorded Last Rites, a three-song demo, in 1984, which featured drummer Lee Rauch and Ellefson. Slayer guitarist Kerry King covered live dates at Ruthie's Inn and The Stone in February and April 1984 while a permanent replacement was sought.

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. 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. On the tour, Mustaine offered the drummer position to Exciter drummer Dan Beehler, though he declined the offer. Poland then rejoined Megadeth in October of the same year, shortly before they began work on Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? 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. Samuelson was replaced in 1987 by Chuck Behler, who was his drum tech.

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

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. 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. Chris Poland was hired by Mustaine to contribute guitar solos for the new album. This marked the first time since the Rust in Peace demos that the two musicians had worked together.

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 and guitarist Glen Drover. While in rehearsal for the tour, newly returned drummer Menza was let go from the band, as, according to Mustaine, 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, 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. Two years later, Dave Mustaine announced that Glen Drover had quit Megadeth to focus on his family. He was replaced by Chris Broderick. On February 8, 2010, David Ellefson rejoined the band, replacing James LoMenzo.

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. Ellefson denied rumors that the band would disband, and said he and Mustaine would continue working on new music. In early 2015, Megadeth announced that Brazilian guitarist Kiko Loureiro was hired as the new guitar player for the band to record Megadeth's fifteenth studio album alongside Lamb of God's drummer, Chris Adler. On July 7, 2016, Soilwork's Dirk Verbeuren was announced as Megadeth's new drummer.

Ellefson was dismissed from Megadeth amid allegations of sexual misconduct on May 14, 2021. Former bassist James LoMenzo returned to the line-up in August for the Metal Tour Of The Year. LoMenzo officially became the band's new bassist in May 2022.

In September 2023, Kiko Loureiro announced he would be taking a break from the tour in order to spend time with his children, with Wintersun's Teemu Mäntysaari filling in for the rest of the tour. However, in November 2023, Kiko stated he would be extending his break, entering an indefinite hiatus, while Mustaine confirmed that the band would go on with Mäntysaari as guitarist. That same month, Loureiro confirmed that he had left the band.

Members

Current Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions Dave Mustaine All Megadeth releases James LoMenzo Dirk Verbeuren 2016–present drums Teemu Mäntysaari 2023–present Megadeth (2026)

Former Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributionsDijon Carruthers1983drumsnone Matt Kisselstein bass Robbie McKinney guitars Lor Kane vocals Unreleased 1983 demo Greg Handevidt guitars Richard Girod drums David Ellefson All Megadeth releases from the unreleased 1983 demo to Rude Awakening (2002) and from Rust in Peace Live (2010) to Dystopia (2016) John Cyriis1983lead vocalsnoneBilly BondsBrett Frederickson1983 drums Lee Rauch 1984 Last Rites (contested) Gar Samuelson 1984–1987 Chris Poland guitars Mike Albert 1985none Jay Reynolds 1987 Jeff Young1987–1989So Far, So Good... So What! (1988) Chuck Behler drums Nick Menza all Megadeth releases from Rust in Peace (1990) to Cryptic Writings (1997) Marty Friedman 1990–2000 all Megadeth releases from Rust in Peace (1990) to Risk (1999) Jimmy DeGrasso 1998–2002 drums Al Pitrelli 2000–2002 Jimmie Lee Sloas2004 bassThe System Has Failed (2004)Vinnie Colaiutadrums Glen Drover 2004–2008 James MacDonough 2004–2006 Shawn Drover 2004–2014 all Megadeth releases from That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires (2005) to Countdown to Extinction: Live (2013) Chris Broderick 2008–2014 All Megadeth releases from Endgame (2009) to Super Collider (2013) Kiko Loureiro2015–2023 Chris Adler 2015–2016 drums Dystopia (2016)

Other contributors

Session

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions Steve Jones 1988 guitar solo on "Anarchy in the U.K." So Far, So Good... So What! (1988) Jimmie Wood 1994 harmonica on "Train of Consequences" and "Elysian Fields" Youthanasia (1994) Bob Findley Heather Keckler 2001 spoken word on "The World Needs a Hero" and "1000 Times Goodbye"The World Needs a Hero (2001) Suzie Katayama 2001 strings on "Promises" and "Losing My Senses" Tim Akers2004 keyboardsThe System Has Failed (2004) Darien Bennet additional vocals on "Blackmail the Universe" Michael Davis sound effects Lance Dean additional vocals Scott Harrison Celeste Amber Montague additional vocals on "Blackmail the Universe" Justis Mustaine backing spoken word vocals Ralph Patlan Robert Venable additional vocals Jonathan Yudkin Eric Darken percussion Charlie Judge Chris Rodriguez backing vocals Axel Mackenrott2007 keyboardsUnited Abominations (2007) Cristina Scabbia guest vocals on "À Tout le Monde (Set Me Free)" Brett Caldas-Limaspoken word vocals on "United Abominations" Marie Soler Chris Clancy2009 backing vocalsEndgame (2009) Mark Newby-Robson keyboards on "The Hardest Part of Letting Go...Sealed with a Kiss" David Draiman2013 vocals on "Dance in the Rain"Super Collider (2013) Yao Zhao cello on "Dance in the Rain" Tom Cunningham The Shannon Rovers Irish Pipe Band (Brian Costello, Sean Costello, Mary Kate Peterson) bagpipes on "Built for War" Electra Mustaine backing vocals on "Forget to Remember" and "Beginning of Sorrow" Sarah Phelps backing vocals on "Beginning of Sorrow" Willie Gee guest speaker on "The Blackest Crow" Farah Siraj2015 vocals on "The Threat Is Real" and "Poisonous Shadows"Dystopia (2016) Miles Doleac voiceover in "Conquer or Die!" Blair Masters Steve Di Giorgio 2021 bassThe Sick, the Dying... and the Dead! (2022) Ice-T guest vocals on "Night Stalkers" Sammy Hagar guest vocals on "This Planet's on Fire" Brandon Ray 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" Roger Lima Luliia Tikhomirova voices on "Dogs of Chernobyl" Bill Elliot voices on "Junkie" John Clement voices on "Soldier On!" and "Mission to Mars" The Marching Metal Bastards voices on "Soldier On!" Maila-Kaarina Rantanen voices on "Mission to Mars"

Live

Image Name Years active Instruments Notes Kerry King 1984 guitars Slayer guitarist Kerry King performed with the band when Mustaine became lead singer but did not join full time due to his commitment to Slayer. He later guested with the band in 2010. Tony Laureano 2015–2016 drums Laureano substituted for Chris Adler when the latter's schedule wouldn't permit him to play.

Timeline

Line-ups PeriodMembersStudio releasesApril–June 1983 Dave Mustaine – guitar Matt Kisselstein – bass Lor Kane – vocals Robbie McKinney – guitarnone ca. June 1983 Dave Mustaine – guitar Matt Kisselstein – bass Lor Kane – vocals Robbie McKinney – guitarca. June 1983 Dave Mustaine – guitar Lor Kane – vocals Greg Handevidt – guitarsca. June 1983 Dave Mustaine – guitar Lor Kane – vocals David Ellefson - bass Greg Handevidt – guitarsJune–July 1983 Dave Mustaine – guitar Lor Kane – vocals David Ellefson – bass Dijon Carruthers – drums Summer 1983 Dave Mustaine – lead guitar Lor Kane – vocals David Ellefson – bass Greg Handevidt – guitar Dijon Carruthers – drums Summer 1983 Dave Mustaine – lead guitar Lor Kane – vocals David Ellefson – bass Greg Handevidt – guitar