Megadeths Unfinished Business
By
Frank Meyer,
Contributing Editor
Saturday, January 19, 2002 @ 8:36 AM
| Megadeth Re-Releases Groundbre
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As we reported here in the Newswire last month, Dave Mustaine has been hard at work on the re-release of Megadeth’s debut album Killing Is My Business…And Business Is Good . Well, his months of hard work have finally come to fruition, as the influential opus will be finally issued on February 5th through Loud Records.
"I set out to make my new band faster and heavier than theirs…and I had no idea what I had started and what I was in store for, " muses Dave Mustaine.
Having sold over 15 million records, garnered seven Grammy nominations and performed thousands of worldwide sold-out concerts, Megadeth was destined for greatness from its inception. Upon his departure as a member of Metallica in 1983, guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine was fueled with the determination to push his abilities to the limits. Armed with fellow Metal enthusiast David Ellefson on bass, and jazz-trained duo of guitarist Chris Poland and drummer Gar Samuelson, Mustaine set out to create a heavier, faster, and more vicious sound than his previous band.
What resulted in 1984 was a complex, riff-filled frenzy that many believe birthed that which became known as “thrash metal” or “speed metal.” Unfortunately, due to label and creative conflicts, Killing Is My Business…And Business Is Good was released in 1985 on Combat Records with incomplete songs and mixes and without Mustaine's original artwork.
Since that time, Loud Records has gone back into the vaults and recovered the original tracking tapes used in the album's recording and had the tapes restored, which allow Megadeth and producer/engineer Bill Kennedy to remix the entire album, as it was originally intended. Technological advancements permitted the album to be digitally remastered, giving it the highest sonic level possible.
Then there was the controversy over including the band's cover version of Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'", which appeared on the original release. Says Mustaine, "We are including "These Boots," but with all of the words that I changed 'beeped' out. Also, there is a note from me explaining why we took it off and what we had to do to put it back on."
According to the music lawyers, Mustaine was ordered to omit his 'vile and offensive lyrics' to acquire permission to use it. Mustaine adds, "I know there will be some who say 'waaaaah! Dave said he wouldn't censor it!' Well guess what? I changed my mind due to overwhelming requests to include it."
In addition to the inclusion of this infamous track, Mustaine's original cover concept for Killing Is My Business… has been restored, and extensive liner notes by Mustaine and Ellefson have been integrated. This deluxe edition also features a forward by fellow metallian and admirer, Anthrax's Scott Ian as well as three unreleased bonus tracks (which happen to consist of the demo Megadeth originally submitted to Combat for signing consideration!). David Ellefson enthuses, "To many of our fans, this record is a timeless classic, and it is now finally up to our standards. It's been many years in the making, and what better a way to continue to Rattle your @?$damn head!"
Killing Is My Business…And Business Is Good stands as an abrasive testimony to Megadeth's uncompromising drive and longevity. Megadeth…a true original!
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