The year was 1983. With their inimitable instrumental style and Mustaine’s snarling, politically-charged vocals, the band rank alongside Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax as pioneers of the American thrash metal movement.

Over the years, Megadeth have undergone multiple line-up changes, the result of both their excessive lifestyles and personality clashes within the band. Indeed, between 1983 and 2002, Mustaine and Ellefson were the only permanent members of the group. Despite this, Megadeth have still found time to release eighteen albums, two EPs and twenty six singles.

However, the band called it a day in 2002 after Mustaine – the group’s driving force – suffered a career-threatening nerve injury to his left arm after falling asleep with it over the back of an armchair. Following extensive physio, Mustaine reformed the group two years later to release The System Has Failed. 2009 saw Endgame, Megadeth’s twelfth studio album, debut in the Billboard Top Ten. 2010 sees Megadeth embark on their Rust in Peace 20th Anniversary Tour, including playing Live at the Marquee.

DID YOU KNOW?
• Before joining Megadeth in 1984, lead guitarist Chris Poland was in a jazz fusion band called The New Yorkers.
• When Marty Friedman auditioned to join Megadeth, he was given old material to learn instead of new songs because they were afraid he would steal all their ideas if he didn’t get the job.
• Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good! was re-released in 1996 without the Nancy Sinatra cover 'These Boots', because Nancy Sinatra demanded too much money for the song.