As one of America’s most successful heavy metal bands, there’s not much left that isn’t known about Megadeth — especially with frontman Dave Mustaine mostly willing and able to share his every opinion and philosophy over the course of his long career. Nevertheless, we still felt compelled to canvas every corner of our Mega-storage bins for random trivia and forgotten tidbits in order to bring you 20 Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About Megadeth.

  • 1

    After getting the boot from Metallica, Dave Mustaine began his second attempt at global domination by briefly putting down his guitar and working as a telemarketer.

  • 2

    In a perfect world, Mustaine would have liked to hire Diamond Head singer Sean Harris (of ‘Am I Evil?’ fame) as Megadeth’s frontman. Ten years later, Mustaine guested on Diamond Head’s comeback album, ‘Death and Progress.’

  • 3

    Megadeth’s early-days cover of Nancy Sinatra’s ‘These Boots are Made for Walkin’’ was removed from album pressings post-1995, because the song’s original composer, Lee Hazlewood, deemed it “vile and offensive.”

  • 4

    Megadeth’s lovable mascot, Vic Rattlehead, was conceived by renowned heavy metal album cover artist Ed Repka, whose other clients include Death, Dark Angel, Nuclear Assault and Municipal Waste, to name but a few.

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  • 5

    During the video shoot for “Wake Up Dead,” an overzealous fan spray painted an airplane inside the hangar used as a set. Mustaine (or at least Megadeth’s record label) got stuck with the cleanup bill.

  • 6

    Chuck Behler, who played on 1987’s ‘So Far, So Good… So What!,’ was promoted from his former job as Gar Samuelson’s drum tech. Nick Menza then became Behler’s drum tech and would soon take his place.

  • 7

    Dave Mustaine got the idea for ‘Rust in Peace’ from a bumper sticker reading “May all your warheads rust in peace.”

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  • 8

    The title track from ‘Countdown to Extinction’ was awarded the Humane Society’s Genesis Award in 1993; a yearly honor recognizing outstanding work in raising awareness of animal issues.

  • 9

    While touring with Aerosmith in 1993, Dave Mustaine was quoted as saying “We don't have much time to play because Aerosmith don't have much time left to live.” To no one’s surprise, that was the end of that gig.

    Geffen
    Geffen
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  • 10

    Best-selling horror author Dean Koontz once wrote a tongue-in-cheek biography for Megadeth, including a sarcastic historical timeline, before concluding with numerous comparisons to Godzilla.

  • 11

    The woman and child shown plummeting into an open grave, at the end of the ‘A Tout Le Monde’ video are Mustaine’s wife Pam and son Justis.

  • 12

    A late ‘90s episode of the ‘X-Files’ featured Agent Moulder telling his partner Scully to “Better hide your Megadeth albums.”

  • 13

    After leaving the band and moving to Japan in 2003, longtime Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman used his Japanese language skills to reinvent himself as a successful television show host in the land of the rising sun.

  • 14

    In 1998, Dave Mustaine made a cameo appearance on 'The Drew Carey Show,' where he failed an audition to join Carey’s band.

  • 15

    Dave later competed in VH1’s short-lived ‘Rock & Roll Jeopardy,’ where he wiped the floor with George Clinton and Moon Unit Zappa. Smart man.

  • 16

    A man of many cameos, Dave also played the part of an arsonist named Torchy Thompson in a 2001 episode of the TV series, ‘Black Scorpion.’

  • 17

    Megadeth drummer Shawn Drover is also an adept guitar player, who randomly swapped instruments with his brother Glen at a few Megadeth concerts, while both played in the band.

  • 18

    Megadeth’s 2004 comeback album, ‘The System has Failed,’ was originally recorded for release as Dave Mustaine’s first solo album.

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  • 19

    Megadeth share the record for most Grammy nominations without a win at 9. Still better than winning a bunch, but losing to Jethro Tull, though. Are we right, Metallica?

  • 20

    Dave Mustaine is a certified black belt in Tae Kwon Do and Ukidokan karate, so watch your mouth!

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