Dave Mustaine was pissed. That is the only way to describe the birth of Megadeth. Imagine getting kicked out of the biggest metal band in history, handed a bus ticket, and sent on a four-day ride from New York to California with nothing but a notebook and a grudge. Most people would have just quit. Dave didn’t. Instead, he decided to create something faster, heavier, and more technical than anything Metallica could ever dream of.
The result was Megadeth Killing Is My Business and Business Is Good.
It’s been over 40 years since this record dropped in 1985. Honestly, it’s a miracle it even exists. If you’ve ever wondered why the original version sounds like it was recorded in a trash can, there’s a very specific, very "rock and roll" reason for that. It involves a massive amount of drugs, a fired producer, and a lot of frozen hamburger meat.
The $8,000 Disaster
Combat Records gave Megadeth a budget of $8,000 to record their debut. By today’s standards, that’s nothing. In 1985, it was still pretty tight. But here is where the story gets legendary: the band spent roughly half of that money—$4,000—on drugs and food before they even laid down a single track.
Basically, they blew the production budget on "extracurriculars."
This left them in a massive hole. They had to fire their original producer because they couldn't afford him anymore. Dave Mustaine and Karat Faye ended up producing it themselves. Because they were broke, they were living in squalor. Dave once joked that they had to find "fat girlfriends" just to make sure they had a place to sleep and a meal to eat.
They were hungry. Literally.
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The lack of funds is why the original 1985 mix is so muddy. The cymbals sound like they're being hit in another room, and the vocals are buried. Yet, that raw, unpolished grime is exactly why some purists still love it. It sounds dangerous. It sounds like four guys who haven't slept in three days playing for their lives.
Why the Music Was Different
Most thrash metal in the mid-80s was all about brute force. It was "chug-chug-chug." Megadeth was different. Why? Because of the lineup.
- Gar Samuelson: A jazz-fusion drummer.
- Chris Poland: A jazz-fusion guitarist.
You had Dave Mustaine—a man fueled by pure, unadulterated spite—pairing up with musicians who understood "swing" and complex time signatures. This gave Megadeth Killing Is My Business and Business Is Good a "jazzy" undertone that was completely missing from the scene.
Listen to "Chosen Ones." It doesn't just pound; it dances. The bass lines from David Ellefson (the "Junior" to Dave’s "Mega-Dave") were actually audible, which was a rarity in early thrash. They weren't just playing fast; they were playing smart.
The "Mechanix" vs. "The Four Horsemen" Drama
We have to talk about "Mechanix."
If you’ve heard Metallica’s Kill 'Em All, you know the song "The Four Horsemen." It’s a classic. But "Mechanix" is the original version. Dave wrote it. When he was kicked out of Metallica, they slowed the song down, added a melodic middle section, and changed the lyrics to be about the Apocalypse.
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Dave’s response? He recorded it at roughly double the speed.
He wanted to show everyone that he was the engine behind those early riffs. The lyrics to "Mechanix" aren't about four riders coming to judge the earth. They’re about... well, a guy working at a gas station having a very "physical" encounter with a customer. It’s crass, it’s fast, and it’s arguably the most aggressive moment on the album.
The Curse of Vic Rattlehead
The original cover art for Megadeth Killing Is My Business and Business Is Good is famous for being terrible. Dave had a vision for the band’s mascot, Vic Rattlehead. He wanted a high-tech, metal-infused skull representing the "See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil" concept.
He gave a sketch to the label. They lost it.
Instead of calling him, the label threw together a cheap plastic skull with some tinsel and some household items. Dave hated it. It looked like a low-budget Halloween decoration. It took until the 2002 and 2018 reissues for the world to finally see the "real" Vic as Dave had intended.
The Versions You Need to Know
If you're just getting into this album, don't just grab the first copy you find. There are three main versions, and they sound like three different albums:
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- The 1985 Original: The "I’m broke and high" mix. It’s thin and muddy but authentic.
- The 2002 Remix: This one is controversial. It’s much clearer, but Dave censored the "These Boots" cover with annoying bleeps because of a legal dispute with songwriter Lee Hazlewood.
- The 2018 Final Kill: This is the definitive one. It’s remixed by Mark Lewis and sounds massive. They even fixed "These Boots" by using the original lyrics or clever edits.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often treat this album as a "starter" record before Peace Sells. That’s a mistake. While Peace Sells is more polished, the debut is where the technical blueprint of Megadeth was written.
Songs like "Looking Down the Cross" show a level of lyrical depth and musical complexity that most 19-year-olds in 1985 couldn't touch. It’s a song about the crucifixion from the perspective of Christ, but with a dark, vengeful twist. It isn't just "Satan" and "Blood." It’s intellectual.
And then there's "The Skull Beneath the Skin." It basically explains the mythology of Vic Rattlehead. It’s a ritualistic, slow-burn track that explodes into a thrash masterpiece.
Actionable Insights for the Modern Metalhead
If you want to truly appreciate Megadeth Killing Is My Business and Business Is Good, you have to listen to it with the right context.
- Listen to "The Final Kill" version first. Unless you’re a lo-fi black metal fan, the original mix might turn you off. The 2018 remix lets you actually hear what Chris Poland is doing on the guitar.
- Compare "Mechanix" and "The Four Horsemen" back-to-back. It’s a masterclass in how tempo and attitude can change the entire "soul" of a song.
- Pay attention to the drums. Gar Samuelson was a legend. His jazz background meant he used a lot of snare work and cymbal accents that "standard" metal drummers didn't use.
- Read the lyrics to "These Boots." It’s a parody. Dave took a Nancy Sinatra song and turned it into a "fuck you" to the world. It’s hilarious once you realize the context of his life at the time.
This album wasn't just a debut. It was a manifesto. It was Dave Mustaine proving he could survive on his own. It’s messy, it’s chaotic, and it’s arguably the most "honest" record Megadeth ever made.
Check out the 2018 remaster on your favorite streaming service. Turn it up until your ears ring. That's the only way to hear it.
Next Steps for the Fan:
- Listen to "Last Rites / Loved to Deth" and focus on the transition from the piano intro to the first riff.
- Compare the 1985 artwork with the 2018 "The Final Kill" artwork to see the mascot's evolution.
- Watch live footage from 1985 (available on the deluxe DVD or YouTube) to see how fast they were actually playing.