Editing Megadeth (section)

=== 1996–1999: ''Cryptic Writings'' and ''Risk'' ===
After completing the extensive world tour in support of ''Youthanasia'', Megadeth took time off in most of 1996 and nearly broke up.<ref name="MD.45">{{cite web |title=Watch: MEGADETH Joined By FEAR's LEE VING For Performance Of 'Nothing Is Something' From MD.45 |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/watch-megadeth-joined-by-fears-lee-ving-for-performance-of-nothing-is-something-from-md-45 |website=[[Blabbermouth]] |access-date=August 3, 2023 |date=June 25, 2023 |quote=Two decades ago, Mustaine told Classic Rock magazine that "a lot of" the music on "The Craving" "was intended for MEGADETH, but every time I turned around, Marty [Friedman, then-MEGADETH guitarist] had a solo record coming out; Nick [Menza, then-MEGADETH drummer] had his own solo project. Y'know, was this MEGADETH or not? I said, 'You don't see me going off to play with anybody else. If I'm not doing it, then none of you guys are. And if I do it, then we all can — but I might not come back.' By the time I got into the studio with Lee, I figured it was a case of goodbye. But we got back together after a little period of time."}}</ref> During this period, Mustaine began work on [[MD.45]], a side project with vocalist [[Lee Ving]] of [[Fear (band)|Fear]]. The majority of the songs on the album were intended for Megadeth, but due to the band almost disbanding, Mustaine decided to use them for MD.45 instead.<ref name="MD.45" /> The duo hired drummer [[Jimmy DeGrasso]], who had played with Alice Cooper on the South American Monsters of Rock tour earlier that year.<ref>{{cite web|last=Prato|first=Greg|title=MD.45&nbsp;– Biography|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/md45-mn0000219971|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=December 10, 2013}}</ref> Marty Friedman built a studio in his new home in Phoenix and completed his fourth solo album, released in April 1996.<ref name="Wiederhorn"/>

In September 1996, Megadeth went to London to work on songs for the next album. The songwriting was closely supervised by new manager Bud Prager, who contributed musical ideas and lyrics; many lyrics and song titles were changed at his request.{{sfn|Ellefson|McIver|2013|p=129}} Regarding Prager's influence, Mustaine later wrote: "I figured maybe this guy [Prager] could help me get that intangible number one record I so badly wanted."<ref>{{cite book|title=Cryptic Writings ''liner notes (2004 reissue)''|year=2004|publisher=[[Capitol Records]]|pages=2–3}}</ref> The album, recorded in [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]], was Megadeth's first collaboration with [[country pop]] producer [[Dann Huff]], who had met Mustaine in 1990.{{sfn|Mustaine|2011|p=275}}

''[[Cryptic Writings]]'' was released in June 1997. The album peaked at number ten on the ''Billboard'' 200,<ref name="Albums"/> and was eventually certified gold in the United States. Its lead single, "[[Trust (Megadeth song)|Trust]]", became Megadeth's highest charting song on the [[Mainstream Rock (chart)|Mainstream Rock Tracks]] at number five,<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Megadeth&nbsp;– Chart History (Songs)&nbsp;– second page|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/310366/megadeth/chart?page=1&f=376|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=December 10, 2013}}</ref> and was nominated for Best Metal Performance at the [[40th Annual Grammy Awards|1998 Grammy Awards]].<ref>{{cite magazine|author=''Billboard'' staff|title=40th Annual Grammy Awards: Final Nominations|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=January 17, 1998|page=78|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rg0EAAAAMBAJ&q=trust+megadeth+best+metal+performance&pg=RA1-PA78|access-date=December 10, 2013}}</ref> Although all four singles from the album entered the top 20 on ''Billboard''{{'}}s Mainstream Rock Tracks chart,<ref>{{cite web|title=Cryptic Writings&nbsp;– Megadeth&nbsp;– Charts|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/cryptic-writings-mw0000023863/awards|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=December 10, 2013}}</ref> press response to the album was mixed. The album featured a diverse set of songs which the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' described as a "rousing balance" between older material and experimental songs.<ref>{{cite news|last=Masuo|first=Sandy|date=June 29, 1997|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-06-29-ca-7946-story.html|title=In Brief: Megadeth, "Cryptic Writing," Capitol.|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=December 10, 2013}}</ref> Asked about the album's eclecticism, Mustaine said that ''Cryptic Writings'' was divided into thirds. One part was based around faster, more aggressive material, another was "radio-orientated music like ''Youthanasia''", and the final third was more melodic.<ref name="Wiederhorn">{{cite web|last=Wiederhorn|first=Jon|title=Last Men Standing|url=http://megadeth.rockmetal.art.pl/interviews_guitarworld1998.html|work=[[Guitar World]]|publisher=Rockmetal.art.pl|date=June 1998|access-date=December 10, 2013|archive-date=February 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214231953/http://megadeth.rockmetal.art.pl/interviews_guitarworld1998.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

After more than a year since the band's last concert, Megadeth returned as a live act in June 1997, beginning a world tour with the [[Misfits (band)|Misfits]] and touring in the United States with [[Life of Agony]] and [[Coal Chamber]].<ref name="Timeline"/> In July, the band participated in [[Ozzfest]] '98 but, halfway through the tour, Menza reportedly discovered a tumor on his knee and left to undergo surgery.<ref>{{cite web|author=Metal Sludge staff |title=20 question with ex-Megadeth drummer Nick Menza |url=http://www.metalsludge.tv/?p=28655 |publisher=Metal Sludge |date=March 12, 2002 |access-date=November 15, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111105113/http://www.metalsludge.tv/?p=28655 |archive-date=November 11, 2013 }}</ref> Jimmy DeGrasso, who had collaborated with Mustaine in MD.45, was hired to replace Menza for the remainder of the tour.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nick Menza: "I Was Fired From Megadeth Two Days After Surgery"|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/nick-menza-i-was-fired-from-megadeth-two-days-after-surgery/|work=RockRage|publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|date=February 19, 2002|access-date=December 10, 2013}}</ref> Though initially meant to be a temporary replacement, DeGrasso joined the band permanently after the tour. Mustaine later said that he dismissed Menza from the band because he believed the drummer had lied about having cancer.<ref name="King"/>

Following the band's mainstream radio success with ''Cryptic Writings'', Megadeth again worked with Dann Huff on its eighth studio album. The band began writing in January 1999, supervised by manager Bud Prager, who was credited with co-writing five of the album's twelve songs.<ref>{{cite book|title=Risk ''liner notes (2004 reissue)''|year=2004|publisher=[[Capitol Records]]|pages=2–5, 9, 11, 13, 15}}</ref> With high expectations following the chart success of "Trust", Prager convinced Mustaine to grant Huff even more control over the album's recording, a decision Mustaine later regretted.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hjelm|first=Fredrik|title=It Wasn't Fun Anymore|url=http://megadeth.rockmetal.art.pl/interviews_shockwaves2001.html|work=Shockwaves Online|publisher=Rockmetal.art.pl|year=2001|access-date=December 10, 2013}}</ref>

''[[Risk (Megadeth album)|Risk]]'', released in August 1999, was a critical and commercial failure and led to backlash from many longtime fans. Although its two predecessors incorporated rock elements alongside a more traditional heavy metal sound, ''Risk'' was virtually devoid of metal.<ref>{{cite web|last=Stagno|first=Mike|title=Megadeth: Risk|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/9218/Megadeth-Risk/|website=Sputnikmusic|date=September 19, 2006|access-date=December 11, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Huey|first=Steve|title=Risk&nbsp;– Megadeth|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/risk-mw0000244020|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=December 9, 2013}}</ref> About the band's musical direction, Dave Mustaine said: "We hit the nadir of our career with ''Risk'', and I vowed after that we were going to get back to our roots. It took a little bit of time to do that."<ref>{{cite web|last=Plenda|first=Melanie|title=Frontman Dave Mustaine talks about reviving thrash-metal sound, getting back into the studio, hitting the road|url=http://www.newhampshire.com/article/20130703/NEWHAMPSHIRE01/130709786/0/NEWHAMPSHIRE1405|publisher=[[NewHampshire.com]]|date=July 3, 2013|access-date=November 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202224308/http://www.newhampshire.com/article/20130703/NEWHAMPSHIRE01/130709786/0/NEWHAMPSHIRE1405|archive-date=December 2, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Despite this, ''Risk'' was certified gold in the United States.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Sciarretto|first=Amy|title=Loud Rock News|journal=[[CMJ New Music Report]]|date=January 31, 2000|volume=61|page=35|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=86qdz9zBkJYC&q=megadeth+risk+certified+gold&pg=PA35|access-date=March 28, 2014}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=October 2024}} The album's lead single, "[[Crush 'Em]]", appeared on the soundtrack for ''[[Universal Soldier: The Return]]'' and was used as an entrance theme for [[NHL]] hockey games and professional wrestling events.<ref>{{cite web|title=Megadeth's Mustaine Raring To "Crush 'Em"|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1432012/megadeths-mustaine-raring-to-crush-em/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519235910/http://www.mtv.com/news/1432012/megadeths-mustaine-raring-to-crush-em/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 19, 2014|publisher=[[MTV]]|date=June 23, 1999|access-date=December 11, 2013}}</ref>

[[File:Marty Friedman - 01.jpg|thumb|right|Guitarist [[Marty Friedman]] left Megadeth at the end of 1999, citing "musical differences".]]
On July 14, 1999, former drummer Gar Samuelson died of [[liver failure]] at age 41 in [[Orange City, Florida]].<ref>{{cite web|author=MTV News staff|title=Original Megadeth Drummer Samuelson Dead At 41|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1432009/original-megadeth-drummer-samuelson-dead-at-41/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725185248/http://www.mtv.com/news/1432009/original-megadeth-drummer-samuelson-dead-at-41/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 25, 2014|publisher=[[MTV]]|date=July 23, 1999|access-date=July 16, 2014}}</ref> Eleven days later, during Megadeth's performance at [[Woodstock 1999]], Mustaine dedicated "Peace Sells" to Samuelson's memory. That month, Megadeth also recorded a cover version of the Black Sabbath's "[[Never Say Die (Black Sabbath song)|Never Say Die]]" for the second Nativity in Black tribute album.{{sfn|Rosen|2011|p=92}} The band began a world tour in support of ''Risk'' in September, playing with Iron Maiden during the European leg. Three months into the tour, Friedman announced his resignation from Megadeth, citing musical differences.<ref>{{cite web|last=Saidman|first=Sorelle|title=Megadeth Guitarist Marty Friedman Leaves Band|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1431999/megadeth-guitarist-marty-friedman-leaves-band/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519234404/http://www.mtv.com/news/1431999/megadeth-guitarist-marty-friedman-leaves-band/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 19, 2014|publisher=[[MTV]]|date=January 10, 2000|access-date=December 12, 2013}}</ref> Mustaine later said: "I told [Marty] after ''Risk'' that we had to go back to our roots and play metal, and he quit."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Greg|last=Prato|title=Megadeth's Dave Mustaine Talks New Riffs, Old Drama|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/megadeths-dave-mustaine-talks-new-riffs-old-drama-20090729|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=July 29, 2009|access-date=December 15, 2013}}</ref>