Megadeth: Why the Rust In Peace Lineup Broke Up & Never Reunited With Marty Friedman & Nick Menza
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- Опубліковано 10 чер 2024
- Megadeth: Why the classic lineup of Megadeth fell apart with Marty Friedman and Nick Nenza
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0:00 - Rust in Peace Lineup
0:56 - Nick Menza's Megadeth Career
2:10 - Marty Friedman's Megadeth Career
4:32 - Rust in Peace Reunion
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#megadeth #davemustaine #rustinpeace
I cite my sources and they may differ than other people's accounts, so I don't guarantee the actual accuracy of my videos.
The classic lineup of megadeth to many fans consisted of guitarist/vocalist dave mustaine, guitarist Marty Friedman, bassist David Ellefson and drummer Nick Menza. This lineup of the band lasted from 1990 to 1997 and released 4 albums. Musicianship, personality conflicts and musical differences led to the classic lineup falling part by the end of the decade, however there was a moment of hope for a lot of megadeth fans when in 2014 it was reported that the classic lineup would reunite. That’s what were going to discuss in today’s video.
By the late 80’s Megadeth had established themselves as a force to be reckoned with but the band seemed to have a revolving cast of musicians coming and going. By 1989 the band was three albums into their career and were ready to write their follow up 1990’s Rust in Peace. Ahead of the album sessions beginning the band enlisted drummer Nick Menza and lead guitarist Marty Friedman
Drummer Nick Menza began His professional music career at age 18 and he would play in a series of groups including Rhoads who was fronted by Randy Rhoads brother. He would even record with John Fogerty. By the late 80’s he would land a job as the Megadeth’s drum tech for Chuck Behler (Chuck Bayler) . Behler would be fired by mustaine over his drug use leading the frontman to ask Menza to join the group in 1989. He would appear on four megadeth albums with 1997’s cryptic writings being his last. The following year while out on tour to promote the album Menza learned of a tumor in his knee. He required surgery to remove it and thankfully for him it was benign. According to menza while he was in hospital recovering from surgery he would recall Mustaine calling him to let him know he was fired from the band.
David Ellefson would tell Metal Hammer why Menza was fired saying "It's funny, Nick has been and still is the most hailed and beloved member of the Megadeth legacy.
"Playing drums is hard, playing drums in Megadeth is even harder, and it beats the shit out of ya.
"Nick put in a lot of good years with us, but by 1998 [when he got fired], he was struggling to do the gig.
"There was a defining moment in Macer, Arizona, where I looked at him during some breaks in 'Darkest Hour' and it was like he was not present. He was beat up, you know?
Marty Friedman up until this point in time had cut his teeth playing in several bands including Hawaii and Cacophony. Friedman would be tipped off to the audition by a friend of his who told him Megadeth were looking for a new guitar player. Friedman would call Megadeth’s manager Ron Lafeet and book an audition. His audition would show up on the group’s DVD Arsenal of Megadeth years later and . Friedman would admit to Loudwire that by the time he auditioned for the band in early 1990, he was borderline homeless living with women he had met and was sporting multi-colored hair and surviving on a diet of rice and lollipops. Looks aside, Mustaine was impressed with Friedman’s audition and hired the guitarist the same day.
Friedman would admit in the same interview that once he joined Megadeth he could afford to go to salon and he cleaned up his appearance to look more presentable to fit in with what he thought was megadeth’s clean cut guy next door image. Interestingly enough, Friedman wasn’t the only person on Mustaine’s radar as it was reported that Slash of Guns N’ Roses was offered the spot in addition to Dimebag Darrell who agreed to join provided his brother Vinnie also joined the group, but that idea fell through since the band already had a drummer at the time.
Friedman’s last album with the group would be their universally panned record Risk which came out in 1999,which was strayed too far from the band’s traditional sound. By 2000 Friedman was out of the band with MTV publishing a report at the time with band leader Dave Mustaine putting out a statement saying Friedman left to and i quote "to pursue other musical interests." Mustaine would also reveal that Friedman was and i quote "an incredible player," he had been a "keystone" in Megadeth, and that the band was sorry to see him go and wished him well.
Here's another Megadeth video about the band revolutionizing the internet in the mid 90's ua-cam.com/video/cH7Ii8httUw/v-deo.html
Wrong 4 albums in the screenshot bloke. I see you talked about the correct albums though.
The
Classic
Line up is Dave mustaine and his ego
Despite the rep Dave Mustiane is actually a really good guy. In 2017 I got a chance to hang with him and the band at his house in Fallbrook for a 3 day event. They were great. Mustaine could have been aloof and unapproachable like most celebs. He wasnt. He was engaging, approachable and friendly. Dont always believe what you hear. In the end people are just people. Dont forget that.
@@reggaefan2700 "You know what is reputation? Is people talking, is gossip. I also have reputation; not so pleasant, I think you know." -Adelai Niska (Firefly)
Thats a quote to make a point. I myself have a Rep. Im frequently told that I intimidate people and Ive been told many times that I scare the bejesus out of people because I always look mad and I'm a solid guy. Except...I'm not. I'm a really nice guy described by much bigger guys as "built like a brick shithouse" and "someone I would never want to mess with." Not my words. Now, I do dress military and I'm an ex soldier and I do nothing to soften my look in that regard so maybe I've encouraged that to some extent in my desire not to ever be percieved as weak. So thats somewhat my fault. People see me one way because I let them.
Dave Mustaine also cultivated a Rep. If you didnt know him you'd probably believe it. I dont know him beyond those 3 days but I did talk to him enough to get a good sense of the man. His image is one thing. Who he is really is altogether something else. Hes a metalhead who looks and acts a part but the reality is that he is a businessman and a family man and treats his fans very well.
Marty Friedman was not on the first 3 albums
For a guy who feels his life's potential was inhibited by being kicked out of a band, he sure kicks a lot of people out of his band
Yep
Yeah, I won't deny that Mustaine is a douche, but depending on the band member, it's understandable. Even though I like Chris Poland and Gar Samuelson [IMO it's the best line-up], it must be hard trying to work things out with people who are on a downspiral of substance abuse. Chuck Behlar was also an addict and as fas as I remember, Jeff Young tried to hook up with Mustaine's girlfriend at the time [at least that's what Mustaine said, so take it with a grain of salt].
I am personally of the opinion that the Mustaine/Friedman/Ellefson/Menza lineup was Megadeth's finest era.
Agreed, though Kiko might be the best guitarist that they've ever had?
Chris poland was a beast
@@uncleruckus3149 true, great guitarist, but I definitely prefer the music that Megadeth made in the '90s over their '80s discography.
@@JeffScottKing not me
@@uncleruckus3149 to each their own
Dave Mustaine never aged in 30 years, then all of a sudden aged 30 years in like 2 years.
He had throat cancer in 2019-20 and it went into remission. Also, he’s 60 now and that partying finally caught up with him.
lol
strange but true.
He's starting to morph into Vic Rattlehead
Fighting throat cancer can age you pretty quickly.
Side note: OHM, the band Nick Menza later joined, also featured Chris Poland, second guitarist on Megadeth's first two albums.
The former members of Megadeth could probably start half a dozen other bands.
I simply cannot keep up
Was going to make this exact same comment! Good thing I scrolled down first.
Chris Poland also appeared on some early demos for Rust In Peace before Friedman joined the band, and also appears on The System Has Failed. After the latter, he was offered a spot in Megadeth but he declined.
I’m glad I’m not the only one that caught that I was going to say something until I read some of the comments.
@@DinsdalePiranha67 I didn't know he was offered a chance to re-join. Huh.
Dave Mustaine firing Chuck Bailer for excessive drug use is like Ozzy firing Zack Wylde for drinking too much! 🤣🤣
He wanted to get rid of him anways, so when he found out about the drugs, he thought that was good anough of a reason
I've always said Dave canned Chuck for being a bogart. 😂
And Black Sabbath firing Ozzy for his drug and drinking habits
@@gb18407 I think you're missing my point. Mustaine was an alcoholic and drunk and so was Ozzy. I'm saying they were both hypocrites for firing band members for the same sicknesses they both had. Sabbath weren't quite the partiers that Ozzy was
@@williamreilly4786 yeah Sabbath had other issues as well, money, management etc but Ozzy has more or less stated in the past that Sabbath firing him was a bit pot kettle 😄
The first two albums pretty much defined Megadeth. That’s the classic lineup for me.
@@starieyes7390 They are great and amazing but I think the iconic and better Megadeth are the 90 Megadeth period and line up. 🤘
I appreciate both eras. The first was more jazz-influenced, and the second was more Progressive, at least on Rust in Peace.
@@starieyes7390 I was at one of the last shows of the orriginal lineup and they got into a bust up on stage. Gar was throwing drum sticks at Dave and Dave put his guitar threw the base drum. It was crazy. My very first concert.
Totally Agree!
Damn right! Killing is My Business and Peace Sells had Mustaine's anger, Junior's chops and Chris+Gar's talent and jazz vibes
Friedman appears to be quite content living and performing in Japan.
When I first got into Megadeth Gar Samuelson's drumming on Killing is my business... blew my mind! There's some very complex time changes and an overall groove in the musicianship on that album and Gar nails em on the drums. Chris Poland's guitar solos on the Peace Sells album is amazing. The Gar & Chris era will always be my favorite!
While I love the Rust in Peace lineup, there's something truly unique in the original lineup with Chris and Gar. The Jazz/Fusion influence really brought something different to the table.
@@scottudell7202 Yes, very true. The Jazz/fusion influence gave a nice bounce & rhythm to those first 2 Megadeth albums.
Marty used to come to our house in the early 80's & practice/hang out with my uncle Dennis.
Good days.
Megadeth were always impressive live in the years that followed.
The Clash of the Titans tours are a fond memory many of us like to look back and remember, those were better times.
I seen this line up in the early 1990's at festival Hall, Melbourne Australia, I even got autographs of all four. They was cool, Marty was particularly nice.
The thumbnail at 0:13 is wrong, Rust in Peace was Marty's first album - so he was on for Countdown to Extinction, Youthanasia and Cryptic Writings if he left in 1998. That thumbnail is the first 4 Megadeth albums, but Marty was not involved in the first three albums at all. He played in other bands and did an awesome project with Jason Becker called Cacophany prior to Megadeth.
0:14 only rust in peace has the classic lineup of those listed albums.
Exactly. It should be Rust in Peace, Countdown to Extinction, Youthanasia and Cryptic Writings. Technically, there should be a 5th album: 1995s Hidden Treasures.
Was looking for this
@@adriansperling5012 i was about to say the same thing
@@adriansperling5012 Just 4. Hidden Treasures is a compilation.
Get the full true story that will be highlighted in the official upcoming feature-length documentary "This Was My Life: The Story Of Nick Menza". David Ellefson has signed on as a co-producer of the film, and also will provide narration to guide the viewer through the exploration of the late MEGADETH drummer's life. ua-cam.com/video/AfunQUdZe50/v-deo.html
Original classic lineup was Dave, Ellefson, Chris Poland, and Gar Samuelson (RIP)
It’s Dave’s band & Dave does what Dave wants. At least that’s what I’ve always thought the reason was for members changing.
I love Mustaine's work and he seems like a decent guy but on the job side of things he seems like a pain to deal with. When you read his book he goes into his philosophy on getting paid. Basicly if you write the music you get paid more money. When you get into 90s in his book he goes into how the band had to have therapy sessions which pay would get brought up which lead to Dave allowing others to change lyrics or just give credit to other members. The way he brings it up imo is like hes complaining about having to do such a thing. However Dave obviously needs a whole band to record on instruments he cant play meaning they are adding to the songs. This leads me to the assumption he was being stingey with the money and pissed everyone off.
Some of the changes were inevitable. Gar and Chris were turbo druggies. So were the two Daves. However Gar and Chris reached the point selling what equipment they could find even if it was not theirs. Jeff flirted with Dave M's gf. Well Chuck was not that great so Dave "waited to fire himself".
@@angelstoynov2221 What does "turbo druggies" mean?
@@twistoffate4791 haha, in my language turbo means big, fast, heavy. Druggie is someone who uses drugs.
@@angelstoynov2221 Thank you
Great choice, would love to see some more 90s Metal/hard-core stories 👏 Such a great period in music 🎶
Judging by how Dave looks now I'd say the next album will be titled "Get Off My Fucking Lawn!!".
Mustaine ,Ellefson,Friedman,and Menza were insanely talented and created amazing work.The "classic" lineup to me is :Mustaine,Ellefson,Poland ,and Samulson.Maybe I'm old.😀
I think the same, cause they were THE classic lineup
Na the first real line for killing is my business is definitely the best because of how raw
Gar Samulson was the best Megadeth drummer.
In short: Dave is a diva. Rest in peace Nick.
Facts
At the start when u said they release 4 albums, You showed their first 4
The played on Rust In Peace, Countdown to Extinction, Youthanasia and Cryptic Writings
I'll never forget the end to their Paranoid cover... nick, Nick, NICK! (fuck. me. running.)
Wrong four albums brother man, you gotta fix that shizzz
I always like this lineup, along with the Gar Samuelson-Chris Poland one. Mustaine is hard musician to work with and has had a revolving list of past band members (including Ellefson twice). I loved Dystopia a lot but the band hasn’t been as tight or as good since this lineup was together. Sadly they’ll never be with the passing of Menza and Samuelson in 1999.
Lol it's Mesa, Arizona, not Macer. I live here in Mesa haha
Fun fact: Menza's uncle played the sax on the Pink Panther theme.
Great Music from an iconic lineup. Rust, Countdown, Youth, Cryptic all epic AF
Ohm: has former Megadeth guitar player Chris Poland. Worth checking out.
I met Chris Poland once. Great guy and probably the most underrated guitarist out there.
You posted the wrong 4 albums dude
I would say that a large chunk of the problems with Megadeth can all be tied back to two words. Dave. Mustaine. It’s unreal how much drama and bullshit seems to follow this guy around. Something about the common denominator phrase here….
yup
Imagine drinking so heavily that 1983 Metallica felt you were a liability! That's Dave Mustaine!
@@TheJoffgraham Agreed. I mean if someone as easygoing as Cliff fucking Burton suggests they find another guitarist, you know you've fucked up.
Nick Menza died from a heart attack while playing with a band named "Ohm"?
THAT'S FREAKIN INSANE.
I saw Megadeth April 20 1998 in Anchorage Alaska...they were scheduled to play Sullivan arena..15, 000 capacity..but they didn't sell enough tickets..They moved it to a venue that was basically a college gymnasium....maybe 1,500 people Menza got hit in the head mid song with a green Glow stick..never missed a beat. After the song he walked off stage and the band nearly ended the shiw..A great memory..in the times I've seen them in the years after I always remember that show
0:13 Wait, what? Megadeth had different lineups in 3 of those 4 albums. That's basic research.
Also, Chris Poland and Jeff Young (Megadeth's lead guitarists prior to Marty Friedman) did some of the writing for Rust in Peace
I had no idea menza even passed that's sad!!! R.I.P. man 😇🤘🎶🖤
The album covers that you displayed at the beginning 3 of those albums did not feature Friedman and Menza.
i prefer the KIMB/peace sells lineup, i love chris polands leads and gar samuelson’s jazz style, i love the thrash jazz fusion on their first 2 records
I hate jazz, jazz suks and it's the worst music ever
What matters, Menza raise his kids.
I still have my backstage pass to Megadeth with CoC in ‘94. Heluva show. Really cool guys. Pepper was freakin awesome. Ellifson was too. Good times. Good times.
Pepper is a legend. have met him a couple of times and he always has time to hang out, have a beer and chat with the fans!
Take really good care of that backstage pass and treasure it always also above all don't forget the good memories behind it
@@herbertorendorff6323 it lives in a picture frame with the ticket stub.
Gotta get your album covers right at 0:13. This lineup’s first album was Rust in Peace.
Rust and Countdown are masterpieces.
According to Dave, almost every bandmate that he's fired or ran off is the source of the problem. As they always say: "What's the common denominator?"
Dave has always been problematic person. Metallica never fires people. He is the only one they fired so it must have been really off the charts for them to do that.
Rust in Peace is my favourite Megadeth Album, one of my top 5, Otis Redding and Karla Thomas, King and Queen is there, Fleetwood Mac Rumours, Dire Straits Dire Straits (1978) and Iron Maiden Powerslave.
Such clean cut boys
The first five Megadeth albums are the only ones I listen to. Anything after that I don't care for. Rust in peace is the best album. The classic lineup is the best but I only like the first two they did together.
I like Youthanasia as well, but I agree. Youthanasia has some fantastic stuff, but it also was an album that really started the push for more mainstream sounds that the subsequent few albums went for. One could argue that Countdown to Extinction was the beginning of that, but Countdown has a better blend of the progressive and mainstream sounds.
I concur though I dug System Has Failed
Same here, pretty much.
Endgame was excellent, highly recommended.
peace sells is their best album. also best line up.
Macer, Arizona: Is that anywhere near Mesa?
It’s what the quote said
R.I.P. Nick Menza. Good man, great drummer.
Macer, AZ?
To be honest I was just expecting to see a single photo of Dave Mustaine for 7:23 in silence
At 00:13 - With "four albums" you hopefully mean, Rust in Peace (1990), Countdown to Extinction (1992), Youthanasia (1994) and Cryptic Writings (1997), not the album covers you flashed..
your thumbnail photo look like Walter Frey from game of thrones!
That was the Ultimate Megadeth line up.
That is one of the classic line ups .. but the original with Gar and Chris is THE classic Megadeth lineup
Rust In Peace, Countdown To Extinction, Youthanasia, Cryptic Writings
I would like to hear all this from Dave.
That last pic at the end..
This lineup didn't release killing is my business, peace sells and so far so good as said in the video
Gar and Poland with Dave and ellefson was the classic line up
Although creatively this was the best line up, the current line us is pure class… specially Kiko, what a talented musician and easy going person
I was Lucky enough to see them live in Athens Greece in 1997
My Megadeth lineup is the one that made "Countdown to Extinction". That whole fucking album kicks your ass!
#Psychotron
Imagine Marty Friedman & Chris Poland with Jeff Young reuniting with current Megadeth lineup to play "Peace Sells". What a dream!
No mention of Iced Earth’s Jim Mcdoungh rehearsing for Megadeth.
whenever i hear dave ellefson i always get flashbacks of the video
If you're surviving on rice and lollipops you're just surviving on rice. The lollipops are a luxury!
Lucky bastards they got Friedman to play for them
I saw these guys in Miami in 92' with suicidal tendencies on Halloween ! My friend was dressed up like the "Bud man" from Budweiser beer ! It was a great show and great night for sure ! Getting out of the area where the Bay front amphitheater was an experience I will never forget ! The cops where in the parking lot after the show ended telling everyone to get out of the area and don't stop until you do ! We saw a black guy holding a gun to a another black guy's stomach at the first gas station we pulled into ......and spun tires getting out of ! Good times !
Q: Why did the first lineup fall apart?
A: Dave Mustaine + three wildly self-destructive junkies. Go figure…
that makes 4 wildly self-destructive junkies^
I saw this lineup on the Cryptic Writings tour and I remember the next time they came around on tour Nick was out of the band and JImmy DeGrasso was the drummer. I don't remember Nick struggling at all when I saw them.
Probably because he wasn't. Dave's not ever gonna just come out and say Hey I just didn't want to pay him more and I was sick of him. So this is his stock answer that he'll say til' the day he dies.
@@dillinguuur79 I agree. Definitely a stock answer.
I saw Friedman play in LA and a few days later Friedman left the band. He would perform his incredibly complicated solos over his head with ease and looked bored doing them.
in an alternate universe where dimebag and vinnie got the megadeth job... that would be crazy. imagine maybe even marty friedman in pantera!
I think with two brothers in the band the power dynamics might have changed for Mustaine, at least for a while.
Love your channel and work but you put a pic of the first 4 Megadeth albums up instead of the 4 this lineup did in the 90s.
I think if I ever met Dave I'd stay an inch or two away from kicking distance
Marty Friedman surviving off of white rice and candy is the most Marty Friedman thing ive ever heard lmao
I really wish Megadeth could get Marty back for one more album
You know Dave mustaine has had as many line up changes as Ozzy Osbourne has so it's no surprise that there wasn't a reunion of the rust in peace line up
There was an attempt but Marty wanted too much money (no surprise there) and Nick just didn't have the chops anymore (also no surprise there)
Look folks , Jeff Waters of Canadian Thrash Metal band Annihilator was another phenominal Guitarist that Dave was trying to recruit in Megadeth after Jeff Young left . Jeff Waters was the same age and skill set on Guitar as Dimebag Darrell and Zakk Wylde . Jeff Waters and Slash are the only Guitarists to turn Dave down for that Lead Guitarist job in Megadeth .
All for the best that those two did turn the gig down, especially Dime. Slash is great, but I think he would have left quickly due to Dave's micromanagement of Megadeth. And Dime of course went on to create some of the best metal albums of the 90s with Pantera. I say it worked out in the long run for everyone.
@@scottudell7202 I Mean sure , Dave and Slash would have been heroin buddies for sure . But I just can't picture Slash and Dave Mustaine making any kind of music together . Talk about the odd couple 😂🎃🙈🙉🙊👀🤔🙄😎😏
Lol, I wonder if Dave & Glen Danzig get along....very similiar business style.
You see.
Money really is the root of all evil..
That and ego.
They go hand in hand.
It's the Love of Money...but your point still stands.
Goes into more detail in the rust in peace book but long story answer: money. Longer answer marty was successful and moved on in Japan, menza's body couldn't take it after years of drug use and I'll health. Such a shame as was definitely best line up imho
david elifson joined the cast of crank yankers
Chuck buler was the drummer in the so far so good so what and Jeff Young on lead guitar
How about What if The Frayed Ends Of Sanity was on The Black Album?
Jr had a hand in the dissolution…
Rock and roll true stories convinced Megadeth to never Rust in Peace.
Why did the current band tour before the release of the new album it's just kinda weird. It's almost been six years since dystopia released what is the hold up with album 16 why has it taken so long?
I hate that people hate Risk. It clearly shows they popped it in expecting something specific, and when they didnt get it, judged the album to be crap. If you listen to it for what it is, it's nothing but good songs beginning to end. I got into megadeth much later on, and listen to all their albums at once, not knowing one track from the next, what was hated or loved, and at the end of it, I ended up a huge megadeth fan, appreciating all of their songs, from popular songs like Symphony of Destruction, to Breadline to Super Collider. Megadeth is a solid band and very few of their songs are bad.
Good for you, those albums are mediocre shit. Then again, Megadeth haven't been tolerable since Rust In Peace.
@@murk4552 Just for the truth he speaks alone, Dystopia is amazing. You've had it too good too long if you think they're poo now.
@@murk4552 Countdown to Extinction was a great album, dude. They were still more than tolerable on that.
Closest thing we'll get is Kiko playing with Marty
You mean Mesa Arizona?
Rust in peace is a thrash metal masterpiece 👍
0:13 wait a minute
Can’t beat the first 2 albums. Peace Sells is their masterpiece
Holy Wars is a close second
The Poland/Samuelson years were the best. Period.
I always refer to this as the Youthinasia lineup.
Ha Ha, Macer, Arizona.
I'm gonna start calling Mesa Macer, sounds more proper.
Answer: Dave Mustaine
Since Mustaine is the last original member, can't he just rename the band "Megadave"?
No. It should me Davedeth
Could you imagine Megadeth with Dime and Vinnie
Lol, "Macer Arizona"
Youthanasia and Cryptic Writings are the underrated gems from this era of Megadeth.
RIP Nick Menza, sadly he passed just the way megadeth fired him worried that it could happen
@@starieyes7390 so you didnt know he was fired because he has some uncurable disease
@@starieyes7390 not everyone megadeth was a junkie, and dave mustaine is much smarter than he looks
He is surely smarter than anyone in metallica for that matter