1982	Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield form Metallica. Dave Mustaine leaves Panic and joins Metallica. Ron McGovney is hired as Metallica's bassist. March, Metallica's first gig at Radio City in Anaheim. March, Metallica opens for Saxon on their "Denim and Leather" tour. April, Brad Parker (a.k.a. Damian Phillips) is hired as Metallica's second guitarist. Brad leaves band after one gig, Metallica's only as a five-piece band. May, James Hetfield takes up rhythm guitar in addition to vocals. June, "Hit the Lights" is included on Metal Massacre compilation. Rare demo album No Life 'til Leather is released. December, Cliff Burton leaves Trauma to replace Ron McGovney.
1983	March, Cliff Burton's first gig with Metallica. April, Dave Mustaine is fired from Metallica, Kirk Hammet leaves Exodus to replace him. Metallica's first album, Kill 'Em All, is released. Dave Mustaine gets together with bassist David Ellefson, guitarist Kerry King, and drummer Lee Rash to form Megadeth. Kerry King assists Megadeth on tour and then returns to Slayer. Lee Rash is replaced by Gar Samuelson. Chris Poland is hired to fill the gap Kerry King helped with. Hawaii (Marty Friedman's second band) releases One Nation Underground. December 31st, Mustaine becomes Megadeth's singer.
1984	November, Megadeth is signed to Combat records. Hawaii releases Loud Wild and Heavy.
1985	May, Megadeth releases Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good! Hawaii releases The Natives Are Restless.
1986	Cliff Burton dies in bus accident. November, Megadeth releases Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? Capitol Records signs Megadeth, gets rights to Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? from Combat. Overkill opens for Megadeth on "Wake Up Dead" tour. Chris Poland and Gar Samuelson are fired after last show of tour in Hawaii.
1987	February, Megadeth opens for Alice Cooper's "Constrictor" tour. Megadeth tours with Mercyful Fate. Chuck Behler hired as Megadeth's drummer. Jay Reynolds of Malice helps out Megadeth until they find a suitable replacement for Chris Poland, guitarist Jeff Young. Marty Friedman's and Jason Becker's Cacophony releases Speed Metal Symphony.
1988	March, Megadeth releases So Far, So Good... So What! Megadeth opens for Dio on European tour. Megadeth featured in acclaimed documentary, Decline of Western Civilization 2: The Metal Years. August, Megadeth plays Castle Donnington with KISS, and Iron Maiden as the headliner. Megadeth opens for the "Monsters of Rock" tour. Marty Friedman releases his first solo album, Dragon's Kiss. Megadeth cancels Australian tour. Dave Mustaine helps produce Sanctuary's Refuge Denied.
1989	Cacophony releases Go Off! Jeff Young and Chuck Behler are fired. Mustaine is arrested for impaired driving, forced to clean up in 12-step program. July, Nick Menza, is hired as Megadeth's drummer.
1990	January, Megadeth covers Alice Cooper's "No More Mr. Nice Guy" for Wes Craven's Shocker soundtrack, their only song as a three-piece band. Jason Becker is diagnosed with Lou Gehrigs's disease, Cacophony officially breaks up. February, Marty Friedman is hired as Megadeth's lead guitarist. October, Megadeth releases Rust in Peace. October, Megadeth joins Slayer, Suicidal Tendencies, and Testament for "Clash of the Titans" tour.
1991	March, Megadeth opens for Judas Priest, in support of their new album Painkiller. April, Dave Mustaine gets married to Pamela Anne Casselberry. April, Rusted Pieces video is released. July, Megadeth's "Go to Hell" featured on Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey soundtrack. US "Clash of the Titans" tour featuring Slayer, Anthrax, Megadeth, and opener Alice in Chains.
1992	May, Megadeth's "Breakpoint" featured on Super Mario Bros soundtrack. July, Megadeth releases Countdown to Extinction. November, Exposure of a Dream video is released. Megadeth tours the USA with Stone Temple Pilots. Dave Mustaine covers Democratic national convention for MTV. Marty Friedman releases Scenes, with Nick Menza on drums. Dave Mustaine's son, Justis, is born.
1993	Dave Mustaine makes a guest appearance on Diamond Head's Death and Progress. February, Dave Mustaine overdoses in a getting high attempt. The quote on MTV's "Night of the Living Megadeth" regarding it was a joke. Megadeth plays Milton Keynes Bowl with Diamond Head and Metallica. Megadeth opens for Iron Maiden for a few dates on their European Tour. Aerosmith kicks Megadeth off their American "Get A Grip" tour, Jackyl takes their place. Pantera opens for Megadeth's "Countdown to Extinction" Tour. June, Megadeth's "Angry Again" featured on Last Action Hero soundtrack. November, Megadeth's "99 Ways to Die" featured on The Beavis and Butthead Experience soundtrack.
1994	Halloween, Megadeth releases Youthanasia, plays on MTV's "Night of the Living Megadeth" October, Megadeth covers "Paranoid" for Nativity in Black: A Tribute to Black Sabbath.
1995	January, Megadeth's "Diadems" featured on Tales from the Crypt Presents: Demon Knight soundtrack. January to February, "Youth" worldwide tour with Corrosion of Conformity. March, Megadeth releases Hidden Treasures compilation in Europe. May, Evolver: The Making of Youthanasia video is released. July, Megadeth releases Hidden Treasures compilation in USA and Japan. July to August, "Reckoning Day" tour with Flotsam and Jetsam, Korn and Fear Factory. Marty Friedman releases Introduction, with Nick Menza on drums.
1996	Dave Mustaine collaborates with Lee Ving of Fear on MD.45, The Craving. November, Marty Friedman releases True Obsessions (Shrapnel Records). David Ellefson's son, Roman Alexander, is born. David Ellefson produces Helstar's reunion album, Multiples of Black.
1997	June, Megadeth releases Cryptic Writings. Remix of Megadeth's "Almost Honest" included on Mortal Kombat Annihilation soundtrack.
1998	January 28th, Dave Mustaine's daughter, Electra, is born. Megadeth takes part in "Ozzfest'98" July, Nick Menza and Megadeth have parted ways. July, Jimmy DeGrasso is hired as Megadeth's drummer. October 23rd, David Ellefson's daughter Athena is born.
1999	Megadeth enters the studio with producer Dann Huff in Nashville to record their follow up to Cryptic Writings. Megadeth spend the summer playing radio shows, and eventually join Iron Maiden for a European tour in September. "Crush 'Em" is released on the Universal Soldier 2 Soundtrack and eventually makes its way into NHL arenas and WCW. Risk is released on August 31, 1999, and is certified gold a month later.
2000	Al Pitrelli joins the band replacing Marty Friedman. The band starts work on it's 10th release. Megadeth leaves Capitol Records. Megadeth signs with Sanctuary Records. "Kill the King" is number one most added song at rock radio. Megadeth releases Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years. The band returns to the studio in LA to finish recording their new release. Megadeth closes out the millenium in Anchorage, Alaska with the promise of a web broadcast of the New Years Eve show.
2001	New album 'The World Needs A Hero' to be released in May. May 14: Europe May 15: USA
2002	New album 'Rude Awakening' released in March. DVD/VHS released in April. Killing Is My Business... (Deluxe Edition) also released in 2002!

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