The ‘80s were a wild time for many of us, and especially so for thrash metal titans Megadeth. It was around that time that the band were preparing their debut album, Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good!. It goes without saying that many classic metal records have some wild stories behind them – with a few of those involving a particular white pony.
In a recent interview with The SDR Podcast (as reported by MetalSucks), ex-Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson shared some behind the scenes memories of former Megadeth drummer Gar Samuellson and working on their debut record.
Ellefson said, “It was so fun in the studio playing with him, because I tell you, every time I hear, like, ‘Killing Is My Business,’ I can just hear, like, ‘Okay, snort a big rail–‘ *SNIFF* ‘Okay, Rattlehead, GO!’
“And then by the time it gets to the break, I remember NEEDING a break — we’re just looking at each other, me, Dave, and Gar in the room, like — ‘ *pant pant pant* ‘Holy SHIT! That tempo was way faster than we wanted it to be!’
“I can hear what color the powder was that we snorted at various tempo shifts!”
That is some wild sensory detail! If one can hear the color of powder, that’s a surreal level of trippy. Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good! released in 1985. You can catch the whole interview with Ellefson below. Megadeth will soon be hitting the road with Lamb of God, In Flames, and Trivium. You can find all the dates and locations for the tour below as well.
Sat Apr 09 – Las Vegas, NV | Michelob Ultra Arena
Sun Apr 10 – Tucson, AZ | Tucson Arena
Tue Apr 12 – Colorado Springs, CO | Broadmoor World Arena
Thu Apr 14 – Corpus Christi, TX | American Bank Center Arena
Fri Apr 15 – Lafayette, LA | Lafayette Cajundome
Sat Apr 16 – Brandon, MS | Brandon Amphitheater
Tue Apr 19 – Grand Rapids, MI | Van Andel Arena
Thu Apr 21 – Fort Wayne, IN | Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
Fri Apr 22 – Green Bay, WI | Resch Center
Sun Apr 24 – Sioux Falls, SD | Denny Sanford PREMIER Center
Tue Apr 26 – Omaha, NE | Baxter Arena
Wed Apr 27 – Cedar Rapids, IA | Alliant Energy PowerHouse
Fri Apr 29 – Kansas City, MO | T-Mobile Center
Sat Apr 30 – Tulsa, OK | BOK Center * No Trivium
Tue May 03 – North Charleston, SC | North Charleston Coliseum
Wed May 04 – Greenville, SC | Bon Secours Wellness Arena
Fri May 06 – Nashville, TN | Bridgestone Arena
Sat May 07 – Peoria, IL | Peoria Civic Center
Mon May 09 – Pittsburgh, PA | Petersen Events Center
Tue May 10 – Rochester, NY | Blue Cross Arena
Thu May 12 – Portland, ME | Cross Insurance Arena
Fri May 13 – Uncasville, CT | Mohegan Sun Arena
Sun May 15 – Allentown, PA | PPL Center
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Words by: Michael Pementel
