---
title: "Megadeth"
type: "MusicGroup"
url: "https://themetalnet.com/band/megadeth"
genre: "Thrash Metal"
country: "United States"
formed: 1983
---

# Megadeth

**Megadeth** is a thrash metal band, from United States, active 1983 to present.

Megadeth is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1983 by vocalist and guitarist Dave Mustaine. Known for their technically complex guitar work and musicianship, Megadeth is one of the "big four" of American thrash metal—along with Slayer, Anthrax, and Metallica—and is credited with helping to develop and popularize the genre. Their music features intricate arrangements, fast rhythm sections, dual lead guitars, and lyrical themes such as war, conflicts, politics, religion, death, and personal relationships.

Biography source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megadeth

## Facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Name | Megadeth |
| Genre | Thrash Metal |
| Parent genre | Thrash Metal |
| Origin | Los Angeles, United States |
| Formed | 1983 |
| Releases in catalog | 22 |

## Genres

[Thrash Metal](https://themetalnet.com/genre/thrash-metal) · [Heavy Metal](https://themetalnet.com/genre/heavy-metal) · [Speed Metal](https://themetalnet.com/genre/speed-metal)

## Line-up

| Musician | Instruments | Years | Status |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Dirk Verbeuren](https://themetalnet.com/musician/dirk-verbeuren) | Drums (drum set) | 2016 to present | Current |
| [James LoMenzo](https://themetalnet.com/musician/james-lomenzo) | Background vocals, Electric bass guitar | 2006 to present | Current |
| [Teemu Mäntysaari](https://themetalnet.com/musician/teemu-mantysaari) | Electric guitar | 2023 to present | Current |
| [Dave Mustaine](https://themetalnet.com/musician/dave-mustaine) | Lead vocals, Electric guitar | 1983 to present | Current |
| [David Ellefson](https://themetalnet.com/musician/david-ellefson) | Background vocals, Electric bass guitar | 1983 to 2021 | Former |
| [Glen Drover](https://themetalnet.com/musician/glen-drover) | Background vocals, Electric guitar | 2004 to 2008 | Former |
| [Marty Friedman](https://themetalnet.com/musician/marty-friedman) | Background vocals, Guitar | 1990 to 1999 | Former |
| [Al Pitrelli](https://themetalnet.com/musician/al-pitrelli) | Background vocals, Electric guitar | 2000 to 2002 | Former |
| [Jimmy DeGrasso](https://themetalnet.com/musician/jimmy-degrasso) | Drums (drum set) | 1998 to 2002 | Former |
| [Chris Broderick](https://themetalnet.com/musician/chris-broderick) | Background vocals, Guitar | 2008 to 2014 | Former |
| [Shawn Drover](https://themetalnet.com/musician/shawn-drover) | Percussion, Drums (drum set) | 2004 to 2014 | Former |
| [James MacDonough](https://themetalnet.com/musician/james-macdonough) | Background vocals, Bass guitar | 2004 to 2006 | Former |
| [Jay Reynolds](https://themetalnet.com/musician/jay-reynolds) | Guitar | 1987 to 1987 | Former |
| [Chris Poland](https://themetalnet.com/musician/chris-poland) | Background vocals, Guitar | 1984 to 2004 | Former |
| [Greg Handevidt](https://themetalnet.com/musician/greg-handevidt) | Guitar | 1983 to 1984 | Former |
| [Kerry King](https://themetalnet.com/musician/kerry-king) | Background vocals, Guitar | 1983 to 1983 | Former |
| [Kiko Loureiro](https://themetalnet.com/musician/kiko-loureiro) | Electric guitar | 2015 to 2023 | Former |
| [Lee Rausch](https://themetalnet.com/musician/lee-rausch) | Drums (drum set) | 1984 to 1984 | Former |
| [Chuck Behler](https://themetalnet.com/musician/chuck-behler) | Drums (drum set) | 1987 to 1988 | Former |
| [Dijon Carruthers](https://themetalnet.com/musician/dijon-carruthers) | Percussion, Drums (drum set) | 1983 to 1983 | Former |
| [Gar Samuelson](https://themetalnet.com/musician/gar-samuelson) | Drums (drum set) | 1984 to 1987 | Former |
| [Jeff Young](https://themetalnet.com/musician/jeff-young) | Background vocals, Guitar | 1987 to 1988 | Former |
| [Jimmie Lee Sloas](https://themetalnet.com/musician/jimmie-lee-sloas) | Bass guitar | 2004 to 2004 | Former |
| [Nick Menza](https://themetalnet.com/musician/nick-menza) | Drums (drum set) | 1989 to 2004 | Former |

## Discography

| Year | Release | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1985 | [Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good!](https://themetalnet.com/album/5410e871-d248-384b-ad73-0cb23a543cef) | Album |
| 1986 | [Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying?](https://themetalnet.com/album/4eea6bcc-3226-3c0d-a71d-af682a0a1dd8) | Album |
| 1988 | [So Far, So Good… So What!](https://themetalnet.com/album/0e4f3e50-73c5-3a57-871a-5264bc210989) | Album |
| 1990 | [Rust in Peace](https://themetalnet.com/album/19e7c9f3-7c4c-3a56-ba50-4156b39f76ca) | Album |
| 1992 | [Countdown to Extinction](https://themetalnet.com/album/04785b90-87cb-3d5d-a9a9-7f465e327bb4) | Album |
| 1994 | [Promotional EP](https://themetalnet.com/album/d023196d-f4a5-48ba-8e23-371c1c3eb5bb) | EP |
| 1994 | [Youthanasia](https://themetalnet.com/album/cd20894a-10eb-3f69-8550-a9b93446c2a8) | Album |
| 1995 | [CyberArmy Exclusive Tracks](https://themetalnet.com/album/4bf28737-247b-4c20-8443-047fb8f3a8c5) | EP |
| 1997 | [Cryptic Writings](https://themetalnet.com/album/8f37e58c-0ab8-3393-88c0-fdb41488f233) | Album |
| 1997 | [Cryptic Writings](https://themetalnet.com/album/5b596e85-c22e-4900-a1da-73fc1a2a4cdd) | EP |
| 1998 | [Cryptic Sounds: No Voices in Your Head](https://themetalnet.com/album/b9a91707-87d5-30ae-882b-3cb96a839210) | EP |
| 1999 | [Breadline](https://themetalnet.com/album/79db66f2-1dda-3c1c-a06d-dfd7b7a5e217) | EP |
| 1999 | [Risk](https://themetalnet.com/album/49e5d092-0e76-3d60-a994-160a50bd2b7e) | Album |
| 2000 | [The World Needs a Hero](https://themetalnet.com/album/8f58b16b-049c-3fce-bf44-256015ea3b5b) | Album |
| 2004 | [The System Has Failed](https://themetalnet.com/album/97ae834d-8b50-3068-bf38-807d94f32dd5) | Album |
| 2007 | [United Abominations](https://themetalnet.com/album/5462e170-d7a8-30d9-97a0-04bdf84e8811) | Album |
| 2009 | [Endgame](https://themetalnet.com/album/e165f024-3fab-4002-aad9-18da9c515d2a) | Album |
| 2011 | [Th1rt3en](https://themetalnet.com/album/41acf292-76c0-4c00-bd69-c3c5ebb7c593) | Album |
| 2013 | [Super Collider](https://themetalnet.com/album/e809dca1-6575-4f11-961b-a9d5c73ede67) | Album |
| 2016 | [Dystopia](https://themetalnet.com/album/6a5de5f5-b26a-4cf5-a497-b8238d0f6f40) | Album |
| 2022 | [The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead!](https://themetalnet.com/album/70b5b83b-8817-4cf3-8248-ec9ced2213e2) | Album |
| 2026 | [Megadeth](https://themetalnet.com/album/cd6f4a73-a18f-405e-8067-0f3bcdf6cac2) | Album |

## Related bands

- [Metallica](https://themetalnet.com/band/metallica) (listened together)
- [Iron Maiden](https://themetalnet.com/band/iron-maiden) (listened together)
- [Black Sabbath](https://themetalnet.com/band/black-sabbath) (listened together)
- [Slayer](https://themetalnet.com/band/slayer) (listened together)
- [Judas Priest](https://themetalnet.com/band/judas-priest) (listened together)
- [Pantera](https://themetalnet.com/band/pantera) (listened together)
- [Ozzy Osbourne](https://themetalnet.com/band/ozzy-osbourne) (listened together)
- [Motörhead](https://themetalnet.com/band/motorhead) (listened together)
- [System of a Down](https://themetalnet.com/band/system-of-a-down) (listened together)
- [Anthrax](https://themetalnet.com/band/anthrax) (listened together)
- [Guns N’ Roses](https://themetalnet.com/band/guns-n-roses) (listened together)
- [Nirvana](https://themetalnet.com/band/nirvana) (listened together)

## Official and external links

- metal archives: https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Megadeth/138
- x: https://twitter.com/Megadeth
- facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Megadeth
- spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Yox196W7bzVNZI7RBaPnf
- instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Megadeth/
- apple music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/488289
- deezer: https://www.deezer.com/artist/3487
- bandcamp: https://officialmegadeth.bandcamp.com/
- website: https://www.megadeth.com/
- youtube: https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCW5bkwocGGoeJjHTJZIEAOw

---

Source: [TheMetalNet https://themetalnet.com/band/megadeth](https://themetalnet.com/band/megadeth). Catalog data from MusicBrainz and Metal Archives. Full site index: https://themetalnet.com/llms.txt