Pamela Eakins

David Scott Mustaine, born September 13, 1961, is an American musician renowned as the founder, frontman, and primary songwriter of the thrash metal band Megadeth. He was also the lead guitarist for Metallica from 1981 to 1983. Megadeth has achieved significant success, releasing seventeen studio albums, selling over 50 million records, and earning a Grammy Award. Mustaine's early life was marked by a tumultuous family environment and his upbringing within the Jehovah's Witnesses faith, though he later became a born-again Christian. His life has been significantly impacted by struggles with alcohol and drug abuse, and he briefly battled throat cancer in 2019. He has been married since 1991 and has two children.

Mustaine's musical career began with the band Panic, where he honed his songwriting skills, eventually reusing some of those early compositions for Megadeth. His tenure with Metallica was brief but influential, contributing to early songwriting before his departure due to substance abuse and behavioral issues. Following his exit from Metallica, he formed Fallen Angels before ultimately founding Megadeth with Dave Ellefson. His musical contributions have been recognized through various rankings of top guitarists.

David Mustaine was born in La Mesa, California, to parents of diverse European ancestry. His family adhered to the Jehovah's Witnesses faith. Mustaine's childhood was characterized by a significant age gap with his older sisters and a described tumultuous family life. His father, a former bank manager, struggled with alcohol abuse, and his parents divorced when Mustaine was four years old. This early period significantly shaped his formative years, contributing to a sense of instability that he has reflected upon in later life.

Mustaine's musical journey began with his first band, Panic, where he played lead guitar and started his songwriting career, with some of these early songs later adapted for Megadeth. In 1981, he joined Metallica as lead guitarist after responding to an advertisement. His time with Metallica was marked by creative contributions, including co-writing several songs for their early albums, Kill 'Em All and Ride the Lightning. However, his tenure was cut short due to persistent issues with alcohol and drug abuse, leading to frequent conflicts with bandmates and his eventual dismissal in April 1983.

Following his departure from Metallica, Mustaine briefly formed a band called Fallen Angels, which lacked the necessary chemistry to succeed. He then connected with bassist Dave Ellefson, leading to the formation of what would become Megadeth. After experimenting with various band members and drummers, including Kerry King for a short period, the band solidified its early lineup. Mustaine took on vocal duties himself in 1984. The band signed with Combat Records and released their debut album, Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!, in June 1985, embarking on tours to promote their music.