List of Megadeth band members
Megadeth is an American thrash metal band formed by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine along with bassist David Ellefson, guitarist Greg Handevidt, and drummer Dijon Carruthers, in 1983.[1] Early in 1984, Megadeth recorded Last Rites, a three-song demo. The demo featured new drummer Lee Rausch.[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 to the second guitarist Chris Poland.[3] 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. 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 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 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.[17][18][19][20] Months later it was announced that former bassist James LoMenzo had returned to the line-up for the Metal Tour Of The Year.[21] LoMenzo officially became the band’s new bassist in 2022.
Members
Current
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dave Mustaine |
|
All Megadeth releases | ||
| James LoMenzo |
|
| ||
| Kiko Loureiro | 2015–present |
|
| |
| Dirk Verbeuren | 2016–present | drums |
|
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Former
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Ellefson |
|
|
| |
| John Cyriis | 1983 | lead vocals | none | |
| Richard Girod | drums | |||
| Dijon Carruthers | ||||
| Lee Rausch | 1984 | Last Rites demo (1984) | ||
| Gar Samuelson | 1984–1987 (died 1999) |
| ||
| Greg Handevidt | 1983 | guitar | none | |
| Chris Poland |
|
| ||
| Mike Albert | 1985 | none | ||
| Jay Reynolds | 1987 | |||
| Chuck Behler | 1987–1989 | drums | So Far, So Good... So What! (1988) | |
| Jeff Young | guitar | |||
| 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 |
|
| |
| Al Pitrelli | 2000–2002 |
|
The World Needs a Hero (2001) and Rude Awakening (2002) | |
| Shawn Drover | 2004–2014 | drums | all Megadeth releases from That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires (2005) to Countdown to Extinction: Live (2013) | |
| Glen Drover | 2004–2008 |
|
| |
| James MacDonough | 2004–2006 | bass |
| |
| Chris Broderick | 2008–2014 |
|
All Megadeth releases from Endgame (2009) to Super Collider (2013) | |
| Chris Adler | 2015–2016 | drums | Dystopia (2016) |
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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" | ||
| Ken Mary | 2001 | Pro Tools | ||
| Chris Vrenna | 2001–2002 |
| ||
| Vinnie Colaiuta | 2004 | drums | The System Has Failed (2004) | |
| Jimmie Lee Sloas | bass | |||
| Tim Akers | keyboards | |||
| Darien Bennet | additional vocals on "Blackmail the Universe" | |||
| Eric Darken | 2004, 2016 | percussion |
| |
| Charlie Judge |
| |||
| Michael Davis | 2004 | sound effects | The System Has Failed (2004) | |
| Lance Dean | additional vocals | |||
| Scott Harrison | ||||
| Celeste Amber Montague | additional vocals on "Blackmail the Universe" | |||
| Justis Mustaine | backing spoken word vocals | |||
| Ralph Patlan |
| |||
| Chris Rodriguez | 2004–2011, 2016 | backing vocals |
| |
| Robert Venable | 2004 | additional vocals | The System Has Failed (2004) | |
| Jonathan Yudkin |
| |||
| Axel Mackenrott | 2007 | keyboards | United Abominations (2007) | |
| Cristina Scabbia | backing vocals on "À Tout le Monde (Set Me Free)" | |||
| Brett Caldas-Lima | spoken word vocals on "United Abominations" | |||
| Marie Soler | ||||
| Chris Clancy | 2009 | backing vocals | Endgame (2009) | |
| Mark Newby-Robson | keyboards on "The Hardest Part of Letting Go...Sealed with a Kiss" | |||
| David Draiman | 2013 | 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 Siraj | 2016 | vocals on "The Threat Is Real" and "Poisonous Shadows" | Dystopia (2016) | |
| Miles Doleac | voiceover in "Conquer or Die!" | |||
| Blair Masters | keyboards, programming | |||
| Steve Di Giorgio | 2022 | bass | The Sick, The Dying...The Dead (2022) |
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. | |
| Tony Laureano | 2015–2016 | drums | Laureano substituted for Chris Adler when the latter's schedule wouldn't permit him to play. |
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Timeline
Line-ups
| Period | Members | Studio releases |
|---|---|---|
| April – September 1983 |
|
none - rehearsals only |
| September – December 1983 |
| |
| December 1983 – April 1984 |
|
none – live shows only |
| April – December 1984 |
| |
|
|
|
| April – September 1985 |
|
none – live shows only |
| July – August 1987 |
| |
| August 1987 – July 1989 |
|
|
| November 1989 – February 1990 |
|
|
| February 1990 – July 1998 |
|
|
| July 1998 – January 2000 |
|
|
| January 2000 – April 2002 |
|
|
| Inactive from April 2002 – October 2003 | ||
| October 2003 – May 2004 |
|
none – sessions only |
| May – July 2004 |
|
|
| July – September 2004 |
|
none – rehearsals only |
| September – October 2004 |
|
none – live shows only |
| October 2004 – February 2006 |
| |
| February – April 2006, January – November 2007 |
| |
| April 2006 – January 2007 |
|
|
| November 2007 – February 2010 |
|
|
| February 2010 – November 2011 |
|
|
| November 2011 – November 2014 |
|
|
| November 2014 – April 2015 |
|
none – rehearsals only |
| April – July 2015 |
|
|
| July 2015 – January 2016 |
| |
| January – July 2016 |
|
none – live shows only |
| July 2016 – May 2021 |
| |
| May – June 2021 |
|
|
| June – August 2021 |
| |
| August – December 2021 |
| |
| December 2021 – present |
|
none – live shows only |
References
- General
- "Timeline of the band's history". Megadeth.com. Archived from the original on March 15, 2009. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
- "Band lineups". Megadeth.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2009. Retrieved March 8, 2009.
- Specific
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Timeline of the band's history". Megadeth.com. Archived from the original on March 15, 2009. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
- ^ "Megadeth.com – History". Archived from the original on January 1, 2011. Retrieved December 27, 2010.
- ^ a b c d Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Megadeth Biography". AllMusic. TiVo Corporation. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
- ^ Doreian, Robyn (September 1990). "The Big Four". Hot Metal Magazine. Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
- ^ Stix, John (1990). "A Founding Forefather of Thrash". Guitar for the Practicing Musician. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
- ^ "An Ugly American". March 2001. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
- ^ "Dave Mustaine suffers serious injury, announces departure from Megadeth; Group disbanding after nearly 20 years together" (Press release). Megadeth.com. April 3, 2002. Archived from the original on October 21, 2006. Retrieved January 6, 2009.
- ^ a b Nalbandian, Bob. "Dave Mustaine Interview, Pt. 6". HardRadio. Retrieved October 7, 2008.
- ^ Nalbandian, Bob. "Dave Mustaine Interview, Pt. 2". HardRadio. Retrieved October 7, 2008.
- ^ "Megadeth Tour Manager Talks About Drummer Nick Menza's Departure". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. November 5, 2004. Retrieved March 7, 2009.
- ^ "Ex-Megadeth Bassist MacDonough: 'There Is No Animosity Here'". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. February 20, 2006. Archived from the original on July 10, 2009. Retrieved March 7, 2009.
- ^ "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. Archived from the original on November 8, 2011. Retrieved March 7, 2009.
- ^ "Bassist David Ellefson Returns To Megadeth Line-Up" (Press release). Megadeth.com. February 8, 2010. Archived from the original on February 18, 2010. Retrieved March 4, 2010.
- ^ Kielty, Martin (November 26, 2014). "Broderick & Drover Quit Megadeth". Classic Rock. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
- ^ Kaufman, Spencer (December 2, 2014). "Megadeth's David Ellefson: We Are Not Disbanding". Loudwire. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
- ^ "Kiko Loureiro joins Megadeth". Loudwire. Megadeth. April 2, 2015. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
- ^ "Statement from Megadeth". megadeth.com. May 24, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
We are informing our fans that David Ellefson is no longer playing with Megadeth and we are parting ways with him. We do not take this decision lightly.
- ^ @Megadeth (May 24, 2021). "Statement from Megadeth" (Tweet). Retrieved May 24, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ Jordan Moreau (May 24, 2021). "Megadeth Fires Bassist David Ellefson After Sexual Misconduct Allegations". Variety. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
Heavy metal band Megadeth has parted ways with bassist David Ellefson after he was accused of sexual misconduct.
- ^ Pasbani, Robert (June 9, 2021). "David Ellefson Was Actually Fired From MEGADETH Four Days After Sexual Allegations Surfaced, New Details from Revenge Porn Report". Metal Injection.
- ^ "MEGADETH ENLIST BASSIST JAMES LOMENZO FOR TOUR WITH LAMB OF GOD". www.revolvermag.com. August 11, 2021.
- ^ "MEGADETH Announces JAMES LOMENZO As 'Permanent' Replacement For DAVID ELLEFSON". Blabbermouth. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
External links
