Gar Samuelson

Gary Charles 'Gar' Samuelson

“Gar”

Gar Samuelson was Megadeth's original drummer on their first recordings and a pivotal figure in the technical evolution of thrash metal. Born in 1958 in New York, Gar came from the jazz fusion world, playing with his brother in the local jazz circuit. His jazz background gave him a unique skill set for metal: he could execute intricate fills, syncopations, and unconventional patterns, adding swing and funk nuances to the intensity of thrash. Mustaine recruited him in 1984 after seeing him play in The New Yorkers, a musical project Gar shared with Chris Poland. With Samuelson on board, Megadeth gained rhythmic solidity and creativity: his performance on 'Killing Is My Business...' stands out in tracks like 'Rattlehead' and his improvised solo on 'These Boots', while on 'Peace Sells...' he blends speed with swing feel, bringing a near-funky style to double bass drumming. Gar also helped arrange songs, giving them unusual nuances for metal at the time. However, his tenure in the band was marked by substance abuse and reliability issues, leading to his departure in 1987 after the 'Peace Sells...' tour. After Megadeth, Gar moved to Florida and founded Fatal Opera with his brother Stew Samuelson, releasing two independent progressive metal albums in the '90s. He kept drumming as his passion, experimenting with complex rhythms in a more modest setting. Gar Samuelson died prematurely in 1999 from liver failure at age 41. Mustaine and Ellefson have paid tribute to him on many occasions, recognizing him as 'the best jazz drummer ever to play in a metal band'. His legacy endures in the recordings: Gar introduced jazz metal before it was common, influencing future generations of technical drummers and leaving an indelible mark on Megadeth's history.