Editing Megadeth (section)

===1983–1985: Formation and ''Killing Is My Business''===
[[File:Megadeth performing in San Antonio, Texas (27457595376).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Dave Mustaine]] formed Megadeth in 1983, after being fired from [[Metallica]].]]
On April 11, 1983, [[Dave Mustaine]] was fired from [[Metallica]] just prior to the band recording their debut album ''[[Kill 'Em All]]'' due to substance abuse and personal conflicts with [[James Hetfield]] kicking his dog. As Metallica's lead guitarist since 1981, Mustaine had composed some of the group's early songs and helped hone the band into a tight live unit.{{sfn|Mustaine|2010|p=101}}{{sfn|Gulla|2009|p=101}} Afterward, Mustaine vowed revenge by forming a band that was faster and heavier than Metallica.{{sfn|Wagner|2010|p=42}} On the bus trip back to Los Angeles, Mustaine found a pamphlet by California senator [[Alan Cranston]] that read: "The arsenal of megadeath can't be rid no matter what the peace treaties come to."{{sfn|Mustaine|2011|p=87}} The term "Megadeath" stuck with Mustaine and he wrote [[Set the World Afire|a song with that title]] with the spelling slightly changed to Megadeth, which, according to Mustaine, represented the annihilation of power.<ref>{{cite web|last=Summers|first=Jodi Beth|date=June 1987|title=Out to Lunch|work=[[Hit Parader]]|publisher=Rockmetal.art.pl|url=http://megadeth.rockmetal.art.pl/interviews_hitparader1987.html|access-date=November 15, 2013|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303192141/http://megadeth.rockmetal.art.pl/interviews_hitparader1987.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

After arriving back in Los Angeles, Mustaine began the search for new bandmates for his band. He formed the band Fallen Angels, which included Lor Kane on vocals, Robby McKinney on guitar and Matt Kisselstein on bass, in April 1983.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.megadeth.com/blogs/news/439772|title=Scorpion Q+A 304|work=Megadeth.com|accessdate=April 18, 2024|date=March 14, 2017}}</ref> The band's name was changed to Megadeth on Kane's recommendation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/how-did-megadeth-get-band-name/|title=How Did Megadeth Get Their Band Name?|date=August 23, 2023|accessdate=April 18, 2024|work=[[Loudwire]]|last=DiVita|first=Joe}}</ref> As the founder, Mustaine added his new neighbors [[David Ellefson]] and Greg Handevidt to the band, who had moved from Minnesota to Los Angeles and played bass and guitar, respectively.<ref>•	Laydon, Page 103. Layden, Joe (2011). Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir. HarperCollins Publishers. {{ISBN|9780061714405}}.</ref> Ellefson has stated that Handevidt, rather than Kane, came up with the idea to change the band name.<ref>{{cite web |title=DAVID ELLEFSON Says He Is Technically A Founding Member Of MEGADETH|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/david-elefson-says-he-is-technically-a-founding-member-of-megadeth |website=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=October 2, 2024 |date=February 6, 2016}}</ref> A demo was recorded by the lineup (which had expanded to include Richard Girod on drums),<ref name=whiplash>{{cite journal|url=https://thecorroseum.org/fanzines/whiplash-usa-01.php|journal=Whiplash|date=1983|title=Megadeath|volume=1|accessdate=May 1, 2024}}</ref> though the band realized that they would have to retool some of the songs following the release of Metallica's debut album, in July 1983.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/features/megadeth-greg-handevidt|title="I'd hear Dave Mustaine aimlessly riffing on the couch, and it's the riffs that ended up on the first two Megadeth – and, frankly, Metallica – records": Megadeth's first lead guitarist Greg Handevidt on the birth of a metal institution|last=Daly|first=Andrew|work=[[Guitar World]]|date=August 2, 2023|accessdate=August 3, 2023}}</ref> The only Metallica-era song that ended up on Megadeth's debut album was "Mechanix".<ref name=revolverjune12>{{cite web|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/8-things-you-didnt-know-about-megadeths-killing-my-business-and-business-good/|title=8 Things You Didn't Know About Megadeth's 'Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good'|work=[[Revolver (magazine)|Revolver]]|date=June 12, 2018|accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref> Megadeth songs from the summer of 1983 included "No Time", "Self Destruct", "Hair Pin Trigger", "Speak No Evil", "Eye for Eye" and "Heaven Knows".<ref name=whiplash/> "No Time" was an early title for "Set the World Afire", "Self Destruct" was the original title for "Mary Jane"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lostmediawiki.com/Megadeath_(lost_Megadeth_demo_tape;_1983)|title=Megadeath (lost Megadeth demo tape; 1983)|work=Lost Media Wiki|accessdate=May 1, 2024}}</ref> and "Speak No Evil" was the original title of "Looking Down the Cross."{{sfn|Ellefson|McIver|2013|p=46}}

While Handevidt would only last a few months, Mustaine and Ellefson formed a tight musical bond. Despite his enthusiasm, Mustaine had trouble finding other members to fill out the lineup. He and Ellefson auditioned about 15 drummers, hoping to find one who understood [[Metre (music)|meter]] changes in music.{{sfn|Prown|Newquist|1997|p=227}} After playing with Dijon Carruthers<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.themetalvoice.com/post/agent-steel-singer-i-was-brought-into-megadeth-early-on-to-crush-metallica-vocally-john-cyriis|work=The Metal Voice|date=March 2, 2023|title=Agent Steel Singer “I Was Brought Into Megadeth, Early On, To Crush Metallica Vocally” John Cyriis|access-date=April 9, 2025}}</ref> and Girod,<ref name=whiplash/> they selected [[Lee Rauch]]. Following six months of trying to find a lead singer, Mustaine decided to perform lead vocals himself.{{sfn|Prown|Newquist|1997|p=227}} Singers who temporarily joined the band included Billy Bonds<ref name=revolverjune12/> and John Cyriis, who would found [[Agent Steel]] after his firing from Megadeth.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bravewords.com/news/agent-steel-founder-vocalist-john-cyriis-on-briefly-joining-megadeth-dave-mustaine-was-not-prepared-to-launch-the-first-album-with-my-lyrical-subjects|title=AGENT STEEL Founder/Vocalist JOHN CYRIIS On Briefly Joining MEGADETH - "DAVE MUSTAINE Was Not Prepared To Launch The First Album With My Lyrical Subjects"|work=[[Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles]]|date=October 24, 2019|accessdate=May 12, 2022|archive-date=May 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513032247/https://bravewords.com/news/agent-steel-founder-vocalist-john-cyriis-on-briefly-joining-megadeth-dave-mustaine-was-not-prepared-to-launch-the-first-album-with-my-lyrical-subjects|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1984, Megadeth recorded a three-song [[demo (music)|demo]] tape featuring Mustaine, Ellefson and Rauch.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/dave-mustaine-metallica-fired/|title=Dave Mustaine After Metallica: 40 Moments for 40 Years|work=Ultimate Classic Rock|date=April 11, 2023|accessdate=April 17, 2024}}</ref> The demo tape, ''[[Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!#Background|Last Rites]]'', was released on March 9, 1984. It featured early versions of "Last Rites/Loved to Death", "The Skull Beneath the Skin" and "[[Mechanix]]", all of which appeared on the band's debut album.{{sfn|Mustaine|2011|p=124}} 

The band was unable to find a compatible second guitarist. [[Kerry King]] of [[Slayer]] filled in on rhythm guitar for several shows in the San Francisco area in 1984, starting with the debut gig on February 17 at [[Ruthie's Inn]] in [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]], [[California]],<ref>{{cite web|title=First Show Played 37 Years Ago Today|url=https://www.megadeth.com/blogs/news/first-show-played-37-years-ago-today|work=Megadeth.com|date=February 18, 2021|access-date=March 31, 2025}}</ref> as well as a gig at [[Keystone (Berkeley, California)|The Keystone]] in Berkeley that April<ref>{{cite web|title=Watch Slayer's Kerry King thrash it up onstage with Megadeth… in 1984|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/megadeth-slayer-video-kerry-king-dave-mustaine-1984|work=[[Metal Hammer]]|date=September 20, 2022|access-date=April 18, 2024}}</ref> and would play five shows in total with the band.<ref>{{cite web|last=Doe|first=Bernard|title=DAVID ELLEFSON Looks Back On KERRY KING's 1984 Shows With MEGADETH: He Was 'Incredible'|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/david-ellefson-looks-back-on-kerry-kings-1984-shows-with-megadeth-he-was-incredible|work=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|date=September 25, 2020|access-date=April 17, 2024}}</ref> King went back to Slayer and Rauch was replaced with [[jazz fusion]] drummer [[Gar Samuelson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/early-megadeth-drummer-lee-rauch-died/|title=Early Megadeth Drummer Lee Rauch Has Died|work=Loudwire|date=November 4, 2022|accessdate=November 18, 2024|last=Childers|first=Chad}}</ref> Samuelson officially joined Megadeth on October 24, 1984.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rockcelebrities.net/dave-mustaines-remorse-about-megadeths-gar-samuelson/|title=Dave Mustaine's Remorse About Megadeth's Gar Samuelson|work=Rock Celebrities|date=November 4, 2022|accessdate=August 3, 2023|last=Cobanoglu|first=Cansu}}</ref> Samuelson had previously been in the jazz band The New Yorkers with guitarist [[Chris Poland]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.classicrockhistory.com/chris-poland-the-classicrockhistory-com-interview/|title=Chris Poland: The ClassicRockHistory.com Interview|work=Classic Rock History.com|date=|accessdate=August 3, 2023|last=Montalbano|first=Anthony}}</ref> After seeing Samuelson perform with Megadeth as a trio, Poland went backstage and suggested an impromptu audition as lead guitarist for the band; he joined Megadeth in December 1984.{{sfn|Wagner|2010|p=42}}

After considering several labels, Mustaine signed the band to [[Combat Records]], a New York-based [[Independent record label]] that offered Megadeth the highest budget to record and tour.<ref name="Metal Forces">{{cite web|last=Doe|first=Bernard|title=Megadeth&nbsp;– Love It To Death|url=http://www.metalforcesmagazine.com/site/feature-megadeth-mf12/|work=[[Metal Forces]]|date=December 1985|access-date=November 13, 2013}}</ref> In 1985, Combat Records gave the band $8,000 to record and produce its debut album. After spending $4,000 of the budget on drugs, alcohol and food, the band fired the original producer and finished the recording themselves.{{sfn|Ellefson|McIver|2013|p=53}}

Despite its low-[[fidelity]] sound,{{sfn|Ellefson|McIver|2013|p=55}} ''[[Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!]]'' was relatively successful in underground metal circles and attracted major-label interest.{{sfn|Bukszpan|2003|p=242}} The band was calling itself State Of The Art Speed Metal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metallian.com/megadeth.php|title=Megadeth Biography|website=metallian|access-date=August 1, 2022|date=August 1, 2022}}</ref> Music writer [[Joel McIver]] praised its "blistering technicality" and stated that the album "raised the bar for the whole thrash metal scene, with guitarists forced to perform even more accurately and powerfully".{{sfn|McIver|2008|loc=Chapter 7}} The front cover marked the debut of band mascot [[Vic Rattlehead]], who regularly appeared on subsequent album artwork.<ref>{{cite news|title=Megadeth: The Making Of The New 'Vic Rattlehead' Mask|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/megadeth-the-making-of-the-new-vic-rattlehead-mask-video/|work=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|date=October 2, 2012|access-date=March 6, 2013}}</ref>

''Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!'' features "Mechanix", a song Mustaine wrote during his time with Metallica. Though Mustaine told the band after his dismissal not to use the music he had written, Metallica recorded a different version of the song, "The Four Horsemen", with a slower tempo and a melodic middle section.<ref>{{cite web|first=Josh|last=Hart|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/dave-mustaine-early-days-metallica-i-had-always-called-us-four-horsemen|title=Dave Mustaine on Early Days With Metallica: "I Had Always Called Us the 'Four Horsemen'"|work=[[Revolver (magazine)|Revolver]]|publisher=[[Guitar World]]|date=August 15, 2011|access-date=November 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212011659/http://www.guitarworld.com/dave-mustaine-early-days-metallica-i-had-always-called-us-four-horsemen|archive-date=December 12, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> The album also included a cover of [[Nancy Sinatra]]'s "[[These Boots Are Made for Walkin']]{{Thin space}}", at a faster tempo and with altered lyrics. Megadeth's version generated controversy during the 1990s, when its writer, [[Lee Hazlewood]], called Mustaine's changes "vile and offensive".<ref>{{cite book|title=Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! ''liner notes (2002 reissue)''|year=2002|publisher=[[Loud Records]]|page=8}}</ref> Under threat of legal action, the song was removed from pressings released from 1995 to 2001.<ref name="Popmatters">{{cite magazine|last=Begrand|first=Adrien|magazine=[[PopMatters]]|date=April 30, 2002|url=https://www.popmatters.com/review/megadeath-killing/|title=Megadeth: Killing is My Business... and Business is Good!|access-date=November 16, 2013}}</ref>

In mid-1985, on a bill with Canadian speed metal band [[Exciter (band)|Exciter]], Megadeth played its first North American tour: the Killing for a Living Tour. Guitarist [[Mike Albert]] replaced Poland, who was battling drug addiction.{{sfn|Ellefson|McIver|2013|pp=55–56}} Although Albert was originally supposed to be a permanent replacement,<ref name="Metal Forces"/> Poland rejoined Megadeth in October 1985, shortly before the group began recording its second album for Combat.{{sfn|Ellefson|McIver|2013|p=58}}