List of Megadeth band members

Lor Kane, the band's first vocalist, would quickly leave the group.^[3] After playing with various vocalists, including Billy Bonds^[4] and John Cyriis,^[5] Mustaine ultimately took up lead vocals himself.^[3] Megadeth recorded Last Rites, a three-song demo, in 1984, which featured drummer Lee Rauch.^[6] Slayer guitarist Kerry King covered live dates at Ruthie's Inn and The Stone while a permanent replacement was sought.^[3] Jazz fusion drummer Gar Samuelson would go on to join the band. After playing a few shows as a three-piece, guitarist Chris Poland also joined.^[7] During Megadeth's 1985 tour promoting their debut album, Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!, Poland left the band and was temporarily replaced by Mike Albert.^[8] On the tour, Mustaine offered the drummer position to Exciter drummer Dan Beehler, though he declined the offer.^[9] Poland then rejoined Megadeth in October of the same year, shortly before they began work on Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?^[8] After years of problems stemming from substance abuse, Mustaine fired both Poland and Samuelson before recording the third album So Far, So Good... So What! Poland was initially replaced by Jay Reynolds, who proved unable to perform the solos in-studio and was replaced by Jeff Young, his guitar instructor.^[10] Samuelson was replaced in 1987 by Chuck Behler, who was his drum tech.^[11]

During their world tour in support of So Far, So Good... in February 1988, Mustaine noticed problems developing with Behler.^[12] Six months later, Mustaine fired both Behler and Young.^[13] In July 1989, Nick Menza was hired to replace Behler on the drums.^[8] After a lengthy search for a new lead guitarist, Megadeth enlisted Marty Friedman, who officially joined in February 1990.^[14] The lineup remained unchanged for almost eight years, until Menza discovered a tumor on his knee, which forced him to leave the tour to undergo surgery. He was replaced by Jimmy DeGrasso, temporarily at first. Following the Ozzfest tour in 1998, however, DeGrasso replaced Menza permanently, after Mustaine claimed that Menza had "lied about having cancer".^[15] Following the release of Risk, the band began a new world tour in September 1999. Three months into the tour, Friedman announced that he would be leaving the band, citing "musical differences".^[8] Megadeth enlisted guitarist Al Pitrelli as Friedman's replacement in January 2000.^[8] In early 2002, Mustaine suffered several injuries, which led him to announce in a press release that Megadeth had disbanded.^[16] Following nearly a year of recovery, Mustaine began work on what was to be his first solo album.^[17] The new material was recorded with session musicians Vinnie Colaiuta and Jimmy Lee Sloas, but the project was put on hold when Mustaine agreed to remix and remaster Megadeth's eight-album back catalog with Capitol Records.^[13]

In May 2004, Mustaine returned to his newest recordings, intended as a solo effort, but because of outstanding contractual obligations with the band's European label EMI, he was forced to release one more album under the "Megadeth" name.^[17] Mustaine decided to reform the band, and contacted the Rust in Peace line-up to re-record backing tracks on his latest songs. While drummer Nick Menza initially signed on, Marty Friedman and David Ellefson were both unable to come to an agreement with Mustaine.^[18] Chris Poland was hired by Mustaine to contribute only with guitar solos to the new album. This marked the first time since the Rust in Peace demos that the two musicians had worked together.^[8]

Poland opted to serve as a studio musician only, as he wished to remain focused on his own jazz fusion project, Ohm. Megadeth began a world tour in October 2004, enlisting bassist James MacDonough^[19] and guitarist Glen Drover.^[20] While in rehearsal for the tour, newly returned drummer Nick Menza once again parted ways with the band, as he was unable to prepare for the physical demands of a full U.S. tour. He was replaced five days before the first show by Shawn Drover,^[21] brother of new guitarist Glen Drover. In February 2006, MacDonough left the band, citing "personal differences" for his decision, and was replaced by bassist James LoMenzo.^[22] Two years later, Dave Mustaine announced that Glen Drover had quit Megadeth to focus on his family. He was replaced by Chris Broderick.^[23] On February 8, 2010, David Ellefson rejoined the band, replacing James LoMenzo.^[24]

In late November 2014, Shawn Drover quit the band after ten years, wanting to pursue his own musical interests. This was quickly followed by the departure of Chris Broderick, due to artistic and musical differences.^[25] Ellefson denied rumors that the band would disband, and said he and Mustaine would continue working on new music.^[26]In early 2015, Megadeth announced that Brazilian guitarist Kiko Loureiro was hired as the new guitar player for the band^[27] to record Megadeth's fifteenth studio album alongside Lamb of God's drummer, Chris Adler.^[28] On July 7, 2016, Soilwork's Dirk Verbeuren was announced as Megadeth's new drummer.^[29]

Ellefson was dismissed from Megadeth amid allegations of sexual misconduct on May 14, 2021.^{[30][31][32][33]} Months later, former bassist James LoMenzo returned to the line-up for the Metal Tour Of The Year.^[34] LoMenzo officially became the band’s new bassist in 2022.^[35]

In September 2023, Kiko Loureiro announced he would be taking a break from the tour in order to spend time with his children, with Teemu Mäntysaari filling in for the rest of the tour.^[36] However, in November 2023, Kiko stated he would be extending his break, entering an indefinite hiatus,^[37] while Mustaine confirmed that the band would go on with Mäntysaari as guitarist.^[38] That same month, Loureiro confirmed that he had left the band.^[39]

Current

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Dave Mustaine	1983–2002 2004–present [1][16]	guitars lead vocals piano bass [40]	All Megadeth releases
	James LoMenzo	2006–2010 2022–present (touring 2021–2022) [21][24][34][35]	bass backing vocals	United Abominations (2007) Endgame (2009) "Delivering the Goods" (2022) (Non-album single)
	Dirk Verbeuren	2016–present[29]	drums	The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead! (2022) "Delivering the Goods" (2022) (Non-album single)
	Teemu Mäntysaari	2023–present (touring 2023)	guitars backing vocals	none

Former

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Matt Kisselstein[41][3]	1983	bass	none
	Robbie McKinney[42]		guitars
	Greg Handevidt[43]
	Lor Kane[44]		vocals
	Richard Girod[45]		drums
	David Ellefson	1983–2002 2010–2021	bass backing vocals	All Megadeth releases from Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (1985) to Rude Awakening (2002) and from Rust in Peace Live (2010) to Dystopia (2016)
	John Cyriis[5]	1983	lead vocals	none
	Billy Bonds[4]
	Brett Frederickson[46]	1983 (died 2019)	drums
	Dijon Carruthers	1983
	Lee Rauch	1984 (died 2023)		Last Rites (contested)[47]
	Gar Samuelson	1984–1987 (died 1999)		Last Rites (contested)[47] Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (1985) Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? (1986)
	Chris Poland	1984–1985 1985–1987 1990 (session only) 2004 (session only)	guitars	Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (1985) Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? (1986) Rust in Peace (1990) (bonus tracks only) The System Has Failed (2004)
	Mike Albert	1985		none
	Jay Reynolds[10]	1987
	Chuck Behler	1987–1989	drums	So Far, So Good... So What! (1988)
	Jeff Young		guitars
	Nick Menza	1989–1998 2004 (died 2016)	drums backing vocals	all Megadeth releases from Rust in Peace (1990) to Cryptic Writings (1997)
	Marty Friedman	1990–2000 (guest at two shows in 2023)	guitars backing vocals	all Megadeth releases from Rust in Peace (1990) to Risk (1999)
	Jimmy DeGrasso	1998–2002	drums	Risk (1999) The World Needs a Hero (2001) Rude Awakening (2002)
	Al Pitrelli	2000–2002	guitars backing vocals	The World Needs a Hero (2001) Unplugged in Boston (2021) Rude Awakening (2002)
	Jimmie Lee Sloas[13]	2004	bass	The System Has Failed (2004)[48]
	Vinnie Colaiuta[13]		drums
	Glen Drover	2004–2008	guitars backing vocals	That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires (2005) Gigantour (2006) United Abominations (2007)
	James MacDonough	2004–2006	bass	That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires (2005) Gigantour (2006)
	Shawn Drover	2004–2014	drums backing vocals	all Megadeth releases from That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires (2005) to Countdown to Extinction: Live (2013)
	Chris Broderick	2008–2014	guitars backing vocals	All Megadeth releases from Endgame (2009) to Super Collider (2013)
	Kiko Loureiro	2015–2023	guitars backing vocals piano flute	Dystopia (2016) The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead! (2022) "Delivering the Goods" (2022) (Non-album single)
	Chris Adler	2015–2016	drums	Dystopia (2016)

Session

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Steve Jones	1988 (guest)	guitar solo on "Anarchy in the U.K."[49]	So Far, So Good... So What! (1988)
	Jimmie Wood	1994	harmonica on "Train of Consequences" and "Elysian Fields"	Youthanasia (1994)[50]
	Bob Findley	2001 2013	trumpet on "Silent Scorn" horn on "A House Divided"	The World Needs a Hero (2001) Super Collider (2013) [51]
	Heather Keckler	2001	spoken word on "The World Needs a Hero" and "1000 Times Goodbye"	The World Needs a Hero (2001)[51]
	Suzie Katayama	2001	strings on "Promises" and "Losing My Senses"
	Ken Mary	2001	Pro Tools
	Chris Vrenna	2001–2002		The World Needs a Hero (2001) Killing is My Business... Remastered (2018) [51]
	Tim Akers	2004	keyboards	The System Has Failed (2004)[48]
	Darien Bennet		additional vocals on "Blackmail the Universe"
	Michael Davis		sound effects
	Lance Dean		additional vocals
	Scott Harrison
	Celeste Amber Montague		additional vocals on "Blackmail the Universe"
	Justis Mustaine		backing spoken word vocals
	Ralph Patlan		additional vocals spoken word
	Robert Venable		additional vocals
	Jonathan Yudkin		strings banjo
	Eric Darken	2004 2016 2022	percussion	The System Has Failed (2004) Dystopia (2016) The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead! (2022) [52][53]
	Charlie Judge	2004 2016	keyboards orchestral arrangements	The System Has Failed (2004) Dystopia (2016) [48][53]
	Chris Rodriguez	2004–2011 2016	backing vocals	The System Has Failed (2004) United Abominations (2007) Endgame (2009) Thirteen (2011) Dystopia (2016) [48][54][55][56][53]
	Axel Mackenrott	2007	keyboards	United Abominations (2007)[54]
	Cristina Scabbia		backing vocals on "À Tout le Monde (Set Me Free)"
	Brett Caldas-Lima		spoken word vocals on "United Abominations"
	Marie Soler
	Chris Clancy	2009	backing vocals	Endgame (2009)[55]
	Mark Newby-Robson		keyboards on "The Hardest Part of Letting Go...Sealed with a Kiss"
	David Draiman	2013	vocals on "Dance in the Rain"	Super Collider (2013)[57]
	Yao Zhao		cello on "Dance in the Rain"
	Tom Cunningham		fiddle on "The Blackest Crow" violin on "Dance in the Rain"
	The Shannon Rovers Irish Pipe Band (Brian Costello, Sean Costello, Mary Kate Peterson)		bagpipes on "Built for War"
	Electra Mustaine		backing vocals on "Forget to Remember" and "Beginning of Sorrow"
	Sarah Phelps		backing vocals on "Beginning of Sorrow"
	Willie Gee		guest speaker on "The Blackest Crow"
	Farah Siraj	2015	vocals on "The Threat Is Real" and "Poisonous Shadows"	Dystopia (2016)[53]
	Miles Doleac		voiceover in "Conquer or Die!"
	Blair Masters		keyboards programming
	Steve Di Giorgio	2021	bass	The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead! (2022)[52]
	Ice-T		guest vocals on "Night Stalkers"
	Sammy Hagar		guest vocals on "This Planet's on Fire"
	Brandon Ray		additional vocals on "The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead!", "Life in Hell", "Sacrifice", "Junkie", "Killing Time", "Soldier On!", "Célebutante", "Mission to Mars" and "We'll Be Back"
	Roger Lima		keyboards effects
	Luliia Tikhomirova		voices on "Dogs of Chernobyl"
	Bill Elliot		voices on "Junkie"
	John Clement		voices on "Soldier On!" and "Mission to Mars"
	The Marching Metal Bastards		voices on "Soldier On!"
	Maila Kaarina Rantanen		voices on "Mission to Mars"

Live

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Notes
	Kerry King	1984	guitars	Slayer guitarist Kerry King performed with the band when Mustaine became lead singer but did not join full time due to his commitment to Slayer.[8]
	Tony Laureano	2015–2016	drums	Laureano substituted for Chris Adler when the latter's schedule wouldn't permit him to play.[58]
	Teemu Mäntysaari	2023	guitars backing vocals	Mäntysaari covered for Loureiro from September 2023 when he took a break from the band to spend time with his family.[36] He replaced Loureiro in November.

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