Dave Mustaine was an early member of the band Metallica, and helped pen tracks that wound up on their first two albums. In 1983, Mustaine was let go from the group by Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield due to personal conflicts and substance abuse. He would be replaced by Kirk Hammett, guitarist for the Bay Area thrash band Exodus, who remains with the band to this day. Dave felt slighted and vowed to make his own band, which would be even faster and heavier than Metallica. Mustaine picked the name "Megadeth" from a pamphlet by California senator Alan Cranston that read: "The arsenal of megadeath can't be rid no matter what the peace treaties come to."
In 1985, Megadeth released their debut album, Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!, on the independent record label Combat Records, to moderate success. It caught the attention of bigger labels, which led to Megadeth signing with Capitol Records. Their first major-label album, Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?, was released in 1986 and was a major hit with the underground metal scene. Band members' substance abuse issues and personal disputes had brought Megadeth negative publicity during the late 1980s. Nonetheless, the band went on to release a number of platinum-selling albums, including So Far, So Good... So What! (1988), Rust in Peace (1990), and Countdown to Extinction (1992). These albums, along with worldwide tours, brought them public recognition.
Megadeth has had numerous guitarists, drummers and bassists throughout its 39-year career, with Mustaine being the only remaining original member of the group. The band temporarily disbanded in 2002 when Mustaine suffered an arm injury and re-established in 2004 without longtime bassist David Ellefson, who had taken legal action against him. Ellefson settled out of court and rejoined the band in 2010, but was fired in 2021 amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Megadeth's current lineup includes Mustaine, bassist James LoMenzo, guitarist Kiko Loureiro and drummer Dirk Verbeuren.
Megadeth earned platinum certifications in the United States for six of its sixteen studio albums, and has received twelve Grammy nominations. Megadeth won its first Grammy Award in 2017 for the song "Dystopia" in the Best Metal Performance category. The band's mascot, Vic Rattlehead, regularly appears on album artwork and live shows. Megadeth has hosted its own music festival, Gigantour, several times since July 2005, and held its first MegaCruise in October 2019.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megadeth
Studio albums
Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (1985)
Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? (1986)
So Far, So Good... So What! (1988)
Rust in Peace (1990)
Countdown to Extinction (1992)
Youthanasia (1994)
Cryptic Writings (1997)
Risk (1999)
The World Needs a Hero (2001)
The System Has Failed (2004)
United Abominations (2007)
Endgame (2009)
Thirteen (2011)
Super Collider (2013)
Dystopia (2016)
The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead! (2022)
1320
Megadeth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I rush from an avalanche of adrenaline, it's all that I feel
As quick as a bolt of lightning, a rocket ride in a bucket seat
It doesn't get any better than this, it just feeds my need for speed
Supercharged, strapped in and screaming
Fire spiting from the pipes
A burnout by the flame throwing fury
Full throttle, hit the ground running
With a tank full of nitro
And it's 1, 320' to go to the finish line
My hands hold tight, a fire breathing stampede
I fall into a trance, hold my breath till the light turns green
In a cloud of nitro methane, melting rubber, I say my prayers
Man and machine accelerate and I vanish in thin air
Supercharged, strapped in and screaming
Fire spiting from the pipes
A burnout by the flame throwing fury
8, 000 horses ignite
Full throttle, hit the ground running
With a tank full of nitro
And it's 1, 320' to go to the finish line
The lyrics of Megadeth's song "1320" relate to the thrill of speed and the rush of adrenaline that comes with racing. The first stanza describes the singer's intense focus and physical reaction to racing, with his teeth grinding and hands white-knuckled on the wheel. He feels an "avalanche of adrenaline" as he speeds down the track, and it's all that he can feel in that moment. The next stanza describes the power of the machine he's driving, with "fire spitting from the pipes" and "8,000 horses" igniting. The singer is completely absorbed in the experience, with a "tank full of nitro" and only "1,320 feet" to go until the finish line. The third and final stanza continues the intensity of the racing experience, with the singer "holding tight" as he accelerates and vanishes into "thin air." The song is a celebration of speed and the rush of adrenaline that comes with pushing oneself to the limit.
In essence, "1320" can be interpreted as a metaphor for life itself. In much the same way that the singer must navigate the ups and downs of the race track in order to reach the finish line, we must navigate the complexities and challenges of life in order to achieve our goals. The adrenaline rush and sense of accomplishment that comes with succeeding in a race is similar to the satisfaction we feel when we overcome obstacles and achieve our dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Grinding my teeth, white knuckles grasp at the wheel
I'm tense and holding on tight, ready to go fast
I rush from an avalanche of adrenaline, it's all that I feel
I'm so excited and full of energy that it's all I can focus on
As quick as a bolt of lightning, a rocket ride in a bucket seat
The speed is exhilarating, like a rocket taking off
It doesn't get any better than this, it just feeds my need for speed
I can't imagine anything more thrilling than driving like this
Supercharged, strapped in and screaming
The car is powerful, I'm buckled in tight, and I'm screaming with excitement
Fire spiting from the pipes
The car's exhaust is flaming from the power
A burnout by the flame throwing fury
The car is burning rubber and emitting flames as it races
8, 000 horses ignite
The engine has 8,000 horsepower and is revved up
Full throttle, hit the ground running
I'm going all out, hitting the ground at top speed
With a tank full of nitro
The car has nitro fuel, making it even more powerful
And it's 1, 320' to go to the finish line
There's only a short distance left to the end of the race
My hands hold tight, a fire breathing stampede
I'm gripping the wheel tightly as the car roars like a herd of wild animals
I fall into a trance, hold my breath till the light turns green
I'm so focused on the race that I'm in a trance and can barely breathe
In a cloud of nitro methane, melting rubber, I say my prayers
The car is emitting a cloud of powerful fuel and burning rubber, and I'm praying for safety
Man and machine accelerate and I vanish in thin air
The car and I speed up so much that we seem to vanish from sight
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVE MUSTAINE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind