Most longtime Metallica fans know that Dave Mustaine was the band’s original lead guitarist. He and the band parted ways, and they enlisted former Exodus guitarist Kirk Hammett to take his place before recording their debut album, Kill ‘Em All. Some may not realize, though, that the Megadeth founder co-wrote several songs from his former band’s first two albums.
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The list below isn’t exhaustive. Mustaine has more writing credits on Metallica’s debut. These are just some of the best collaborations from the iconic band’s original lineup.
[RELATED: Dave Mustaine Rips Ex-Metallica Bandmates: “I Wrote a Lot of Their Music That Made Them”]
1. “Jump in the Fire” from Kill ‘Em All
Dave Mustaine reportedly wrote what would later become “Jump in the Fire” when he was a teenager. He brought the song to the band in a rough state, and the other members of Metallica helped refine it and make it what it is now. One of the most notable changes is the lyrics. Mustaine’s original composition was about sex. James Hefield wrote a new set of lyrics about being cast into Hell to better fit with the band’s overall vision.
2. “The Four Horsemen” from Kill ‘Em All
Originally titled “Mechanix,” this might be Dave Mustaine’s biggest contribution to Metallica. He wrote the song while in Panic before joining Metallica. After joining the band, Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield made some changes to the song, and it became “The Four Horsemen.” Notably, Hetfield changed the lyrics, and they added a second bridge. However, Mustaine likely wrote that as well. Also, the Metallica version contains a riff loosely based on “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Those who want to hear something closer to the original version of the song can find “Mechanix” on Megadeth’s debut album, Killing Is My Business…And Business Is Good.
3. “Ride the Lightning” from Ride the Lightning
Dave Mustaine’s contributions to Metallica’s output didn’t stop after their debut album. He has a pair of writing credits on the band’s sophomore album, Ride the Lightning, including the title track. While the song was mostly a collaborative effort, a version of a riff written by Mustaine appears in the song.
4. “The Call of Ktulu” from Ride the Lightning
“Call of Ktulu,” a simplified spelling of the title of the H.P. Lovecraft story The Call of Cthulu, was the first instrumental released by Metallica. They began work on the song while Dave Mustaine was still in the band. He wrote the intro section of the song. He later used the same chord progression in the classic Megadeth song “Hangar 18.”
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