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)
Kill The King
Megadeth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Leaving me unfulfilled
Promising compromise
Championing mediocrity
Time and time again
What you said ain't what you mean
Even if all my bones are broken
Kill the King, The King is dead, Long live the King,
I am the King, God save the King
I reveal a deceiver
In the highest seat in the land
His idle hands the Devil's workshop
Generate more smoke than heat
Time and time again
What you said ain't what you mean
Even if all my bones are broken
I will drag myself back from the edge to
Kill the King, The King is dead, Long live the King,
I am the King, God save the King
Kill the King, The King is dead
I am the King, Long live the King
A new precedent in pain, a new precedent in pain
Mankind is blown to dust, mankind is blown to dust
An explosion of the Brain, an explosion of the Brain
Spontaneously combust, spontaneously combust
Kill the King, The King is dead, Long live the King,
I am the King
The lyrics to Megadeth's song "Kill The King" describe a feeling of disappointment and betrayal towards someone in power. The singer feels broken down and unfulfilled by this person who promised compromise but instead championed mediocrity. They feel as though this person has deceived them and is using their power for selfish purposes, generating more smoke than heat. Despite feeling broken, the singer is determined to pick themselves back up and take action by killing the king, declaring themselves to be the new king while also acknowledging their mortality with the line "even if all my bones are broken." The final lines of the song suggest a violent and explosive upheaval of the current power structure, with mankind being blown to dust and the brain spontaneously combusting.
Overall, the song is a powerful anthem against corrupt and self-serving leaders, urging the listener to take action and shake up the status quo. It highlights the frustration and anger that can come from feeling powerless in the face of those with more authority, but also celebrates the ability to rise above and make change happen.
Line by Line Meaning
Broken down, feeling naked
Feeling vulnerable and left exposed
Leaving me unfulfilled
Not achieving what was promised
Promising compromise
Offering a middle ground solution
Championing mediocrity
Encouraging average or ordinary standards
Time and time again
Repeatedly, consistently
What you said ain't what you mean
Making false promises or statements
Even if all my bones are broken
Despite any physical or emotional pain
I will drag myself back from the edge to
Fight against what's pushing me to the brink
Kill the King, The King is dead, Long live the King,
Revolutionary overthrow of authority
I am the King, God save the King
Taking power for oneself with desperation to be saved
I reveal a deceiver
Exposing a liar or fraud
In the highest seat in the land
In a position of highest power
His idle hands the Devil's workshop
His inactivity leads to negative consequences
Generate more smoke than heat
Producing more empty rhetoric than results
A new precedent in pain, a new precedent in pain
A shift in the typical experience of suffering
Mankind is blown to dust, mankind is blown to dust
Destroying the masses without regard
An explosion of the Brain, an explosion of the Brain
The destruction of intelligence or knowledge
Spontaneously combust, spontaneously combust
Bursting into flames without warning
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVE MUSTAINE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind