Gar Samuelson
- Heavy metal
- speed metal
- thrash metal
- jazz
Gary Charles "Gar" Samuelson (February 18, 1958 – July 14, 1999) was an American musician best remembered for being the drummer for thrash metal band Megadeth from 1984 to 1987, contributing to their first two albums, Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (1985) and Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? (1986). He is considered one of the most influential drummers of thrash metal, having pioneered the incorporation of jazz fusion into the subgenre.[1]
Career
Early career
Samuelson initially started out playing for The New Yorkers, which included himself, his brother Stew, Chris Poland and Robbie Pagliari, among others.[2] The stint lasted from the late '70s into the early '80s. Whether the band actually released any material is unknown.
Megadeth
After meeting with Dave Mustaine and Dave Ellefson of Megadeth in 1984, he was asked to join the band on October 24, 1984.[3] Guitarist Chris Poland soon followed, and Mustaine referred to this as "the first real line-up" in the VH1 special on the band.[4] Mustaine commented in an interview with Metal Forces, stating that Samuelson was able to "mix up a beat."[5]
Samuelson went on to serve as Megadeth's drummer until 1987.[6] He appeared on the band's first two albums (Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good, and Peace Sells... but Who's Buying), and played with them on both tours. However, Samuelson was ultimately fired due to his drug addiction.[7]
At the Woodstock Festival in 1999, Mustaine announced to the crowd that Gar had died. In honor of Gar, Megadeth played Peace Sells as the closing song in their set.[8]
Later career
After leaving Megadeth, Gar formed a band with Megadeth touring musician, Mike Albert. The band, called Metalist, disbanded prior to signing to record label Combat Records.[citation needed]
Gar later formed the band Fatal Opera, which featured his brother Stew on guitar. The first album, which was released in 1994, had Dave Inman on vocals, Travis Karcher playing bass and Billy Brehme on guitar. The band's second album, Eleventh Hour, was released in 1997 and featured Andy Freeman on vocals. Fatal Opera 3, which was a collection of demos, was worked on extensively by his former bandmates and released in 2022.[9]
Samuelson played on two full-length albums and two demos, and remained a member of the band until his death.[citation needed]
Death
Samuelson died in Orange City, Florida, on July 22, 1999, at the age of 41. The cause of death was reportedly liver failure.[1][7] He was cremated.[citation needed] His former bandmates in Megadeth dedicated the 2002 remaster of Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good to "the memory of Gar Samuelson".[7]
Discography
Megadeth
Fatal Opera
- Fatal Opera (1995)
- The Eleventh Hour (1997)
- Fatal Opera 3 (2022) (Posthumous release)[10]
References
- ^ a b Talevski, Nick (2006). Rock Obituaries: Knocking on Heaven's Door. Omnibus Press. p. 570. ISBN 1-84609-091-1.
- ^ Montalbano, Anthony. "Chris Poland: The ClassicRockHistory.com Interview". Classic Rock History.com. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- ^ Cobanoglu, Cansu (November 4, 2022). "Dave Mustaine's Remorse About Megadeth's Gar Samuelson". Rock Celebrities. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- ^ VH1: Megadeth – Behind the Music DVD – October 2001 26 minutes, 35 seconds.
- ^ Doe, Bernard (1985). "Megadeth - Love it to Death". Metal Forces (12).
- ^ "Megadeth history from 1984 to '87". Megadeth.com. Archived from the original on September 6, 2013. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
- ^ a b c Kielty, Martin (September 10, 2012). "Megadeth drummer made Peace Sells". Classic Rock. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
- ^ van Horn, Teri (July 26, 1999). "Woodstock '99 Report #57: Megadeth Close Festival As Fires Ignite Crowd". MTV News. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
- ^ "Former MEGADETH Members Unite to Honor Drummer Gar Samuelson". Broadway World. January 31, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
- ^ Viswanathan, Aswath (January 29, 2022). "David Ellefson And Chris Poland Share New Posthumous Fatal Opera Collaboration "The Raven" Honoring Gar Samuelson, Fatal Opera 3 Out Now". MXDWN. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
Preceded by | Megadeth drummer 1984–87 | Succeeded by |
- v
- t
- e
- Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!
- Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?
- So Far, So Good... So What!
- Rust in Peace
- Countdown to Extinction
- Youthanasia
- Cryptic Writings
- Risk
- The World Needs a Hero
- The System Has Failed
- United Abominations
- Endgame
- Thirteen
- Super Collider
- Dystopia
- The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead!
- Rude Awakening
- That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires
- Rust in Peace: Live
- The Big Four: Live from Sofia, Bulgaria
- Countdown to Extinction: Live
- Unplugged in Boston
- Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years
- Still, Alive... and Well?
- Greatest Hits: Back to the Start
- Warchest
- Anthology: Set the World Afire
- Icon
- Warheads on Foreheads
- Live at the Cow Palace
- Hidden Treasures
- Cryptic Sounds: No Voices in Your Head
- Live Trax and Live Trax II
- "Wake Up Dead"
- "Peace Sells"
- "Anarchy in the U.K."
- "Mary Jane"
- "In My Darkest Hour"
- "No More Mr. Nice Guy"
- "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due"
- "Hangar 18"
- "Symphony of Destruction"
- "Sweating Bullets"
- "Skin o' My Teeth"
- "Angry Again"
- "99 Ways to Die"
- "Train of Consequences"
- "A Tout le Monde"
- "Trust"
- "Use the Man"
- "Crush 'Em"
- "Breadline"
- "Kill the King
- "Moto Psycho"
- "Dread and the Fugitive Mind"
- "Blackmail the Universe"
- "Of Mice and Men"
- "Gears of War"
- "Never Walk Alone... A Call to Arms"
- "À Tout le Monde (Set Me Free)"
- "Head Crusher"
- "The Right to Go Insane"
- "Sudden Death"
- "Public Enemy No. 1"
- "Whose Life (Is It Anyways?)"
- "The Threat Is Real"
- "Fatal Illusion"
- "Dystopia"
- "Post American World"
- "We'll Be Back"
- "Night Stalkers"
- "Soldier On!"
- "Killing Time"
- "Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!"
- "These Boots"
- "Mechanix
- "The Conjuring"
- "Good Mourning/Black Friday"
- "I Ain't Superstitious"
- "My Last Words"
- "Set the World Afire"
- "Tornado of Souls"
- "Dialectic Chaos"
- "This Day We Fight!"
- "Lying in State"
- Rude Awakening
- Arsenal of Megadeth
- That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires
- Rust in Peace: Live
- The Big Four: Live from Sofia, Bulgaria
- Countdown to Extinction: Live
- Discography
- Members
- Songs
- Awards
- MD.45 (The Craving)
- Humanary Stew: A Tribute to Alice Cooper
- Ellefson v. Megadeth, Inc.
- Vic Rattlehead
- Metallica
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- Murder in the Front Row
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