Megadeth is a thrash metal band from Los Angeles, California.

The group was formed in 1983 by guitarist

Dave Mustaine and bassist David Ellefson. It is credited as one of thrash metal's "big four" with Anthrax,
Metallica and Slayer, responsible for the genre's development and popularization. Megadeth's music
features fast rhythm sections and complex arrangements; themes of death, war, politics and religion are
prominent in the lyrics. The success of its debut album on an independent label led to Megadeth signing
with Capitol Records. The band's first major-label album, Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? (1986), greatly
influenced the underground metal scene; albums and worldwide tours in the 1990s brought Megadeth
public recognition. The group has sold 50 million records worldwide, earned U.S. platinum certification for
six of its fourteen studio albums, and received eleven Grammy nominations. The band's mascot, Vic
Rattlehead, regularly appears on album artwork and since 2010 in live shows. The group has experienced
controversy over its musical approach and lyrics: concerts have been canceled, albums banned, and MTV
refused to play two videos that it considered to condone suicide.