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Megadeth is one of the “big four” American thrash metal bands, along with Slayer, Anthrax and Metallica. Formed in 1983 by singer/guitarist Dave Mustaine after he was fired from Metallica, Megadeth remains active.
Megadeth’s songs deal with war and government, with lyrics that often employ a comical sarcasm to exaggerate those topics’ grotesque elements.
The band’s lineup has changed numerous times, with only Mustaine remaining constant. Bassist David Ellefson had the second longest tenure with the group, from 1983 to 2002.
Virtuoso Marty Friedman handled guitar duties for Megadeth in the 1990s, but no longer plays with the band. Guitarist Chris Broderick, formerly of Nevermore, is the most recent member to join, debuting with Megadeth in Helsinki, Finland on February 4, 2008.
Megadeth disbanded in 2002 due to an arm injury Mustaine suffered, but reformed when he recovered in 2004.
In 2005, Mustaine founded the Gigantour, an annual six-week traveling metal festival set as an alternative to other festivals such as Ozzfest. The first two years had eight bands in the lineup with Megadeth as the headliner. In 2008, Mustaine cut the number of bands from eight to five, to allow for longer set times for each band. Gigantour 2008 will feature Megadeth, In Flames, Children of Bodom, Job for a Cowboy, and High on Fire.
Megadeth’s latest album, “United Abominations,” was released May 15, 2007. |
