Happy anniversary to a great, great demo: MEGADETH's Last Rites (1984)!

Megadeth

Last Rites

March 9, 1984

According to some internet sources, this amazing demo, came out on March 9, 1984. Metal Archives shows that it was recorded at Hitman Studios in Hollywood, California, This three-song (11 minutes and 26 seconds) demo was, at long last, the opening salvo by Megadeth, and what a salvo it is! Metal Archives shows that the lineup was Dave Mustaine on vocals and guitar, David Ellefson on bass, and Lee Rauch or Gar Samuelson on drums. The tracklist includes early versions of "Last Rites/Loved to Deth," "Mechanix," and "The Skull Beneath the Skin," all of which were later re-recorded for the band's 1985 debut studio album, Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!. While a fourth track, "Rattlehead," was also recorded during these sessions, it was not included on the official demo release.

I do not remember which Megadeth guitarist has said that these early Megadeth songs are not easy on the hands and fingers! It's a wild ride. The demo has a raw production and extreme tempo, and some people say that the version of "Mechanix" is performed at a higher speed than the later studio recording. 

Wikipedia says, "Two months after being fired from Metallica, Mustaine met bassist David Ellefson and together they formed Megadeth in Los Angeles. Mustaine later recalled: 'After getting fired from Metallica, all I remember is that I wanted blood. Theirs. I wanted to be faster and heavier than them.' Fueled by the desire for revenge, Mustaine elevated the intensity of Megadeth's music in order to challenge his former band. He sped up existing songs such as 'Mechanix', which Metallica's new line-up adapted into the slower-paced 'The Four Horsemen.' Mustaine included his original version of the song on the album to 'straighten Metallica up', as Metallica referred to Mustaine as a drunk, and said that he could not play guitar. After going through multiple vocalists, including Lor Kane, Billy Bonds and John Cyriis, Mustaine decided to handle the vocal duties himself, while also serving as the band's primary lyricist, main songwriter, and co-lead and rhythm guitarist."

Megadeth - Last Rites / Loved to Deth (Demo) (Remastered)

Megadeth - The Skull Beneath the Skin (Demo) (Remastered)

Megadeth - Mechanix (Demo) (Remastered)