Peace Sells Era
1986-1987
The Peace Sells Era marked the artistic peak of Megadeth's first classic lineup when the Mustaine/Poland guitar partnership was reestablished alongside Ellefson and Samuelson to create one of the definitive masterpieces of thrash metal. Following Chris Poland's successful return from his temporary absence in 1986, the band entered the studio with renewed confidence and a clearer musical vision than ever before. The stable lineup of Dave Mustaine (vocals and rhythm guitar), Chris Poland (lead guitar), David Ellefson (bass), and Gar Samuelson (drums) achieved the perfect symbiosis between thrash aggression and technical sophistication that would forever define Megadeth's characteristic sound. The album 'Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?' (1986) not only consolidated this exceptional musical chemistry but established new standards for the genre with compositions like the iconic 'Peace Sells' and 'Wake Up Dead,' which demonstrated the band's unique ability to combine devastating riffs with memorable melodies and socially conscious lyrics. However, success came accompanied by personal problems that would eventually fracture this golden lineup. During the intense tours of 1986-1987, substance abuse began to severely affect the group's performance and stability. Tensions reached a critical point when Dave Mustaine made the difficult decision to dismiss both Poland and Samuelson in 1987, citing reliability and professionalism issues caused by their addictions. The transition period was especially turbulent when Jay Reynolds, guitarist from the band Malice, was briefly recruited and even publicly announced as Megadeth's new member. Reynolds actually rehearsed with the band and participated in pre-production sessions for the next album, working alongside Mustaine, Ellefson, and new drummer Chuck Behler (who had been Gar Samuelson's drum technician and intimately knew the band's style). However, in a last-minute decision that reflected Mustaine's relentless perfectionism, Reynolds was replaced before official recordings began, being substituted ironically by his own guitar teacher in the studio. This era represented both the creative peak of the original lineup and the end of an epoch, establishing the pattern of artistic excellence and personal turbulence that would characterize Megadeth's history.
Albums
Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?
