Mechanix
"Mechanix" | |
---|---|
Song by Megadeth | |
from the album Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! | |
Released | June 12, 1985 |
Recorded | December 1984 – January 1985 |
Studio |
|
Genre | |
Length | 4:20 |
Label | Combat |
Songwriter(s) | Dave Mustaine |
Producer(s) |
|
"Mechanix" is a song by the American thrash metal band Megadeth. It is the eighth and final track from their debut studio album, Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!, which released in 1985 under Combat Records. "Mechanix" has been featured on many Megadeth releases, including multiple greatest hits albums, as well as live albums.
The song was performed live by frontman
Background and songwriting
"Mechanix" was originally written by Mustaine while he was in the band
Lyrically, "Mechanix" is about having sex at a gas station and was inspired by Mustaine's time as a gas station attendant.[10]
Controversy
When Mustaine was kicked out of Metallica, he reportedly told the band to not use his songs.[11] However, the band not only used solos and riffs, but some of Mustaine's entire songs, including "Mechanix".[12][13] Metallica frontman James Hetfield wrote lyrics about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and added a bridge and a slower "Sweet Home Alabama" inspired part with a guitar solo in the middle (Mustaine claims the authorship of the latter).[14] The two songs have sparked debate between many metal fans over which one is better.[15] In an interview after Megadeth's second show (which took place at The Stone in San Francisco), Mustaine talked about the set they played, and said "... and then (we) go into the Mechanix, off of the No Life 'Til Leather demo. Exactly that way. Not with this 'Four Horsemen' wimp shit".[16]
There is some dispute regarding songwriting credits for the song. Metallica lists the song as a James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich and Mustaine composition on their official website,[17] while Megadeth credits the song as solely by Mustaine. The dispute over songwriting royalties caused a planned reissue of No Life 'Til Leather to be canceled, according to Mustaine.[18]
Accolades
Year | Publication | Country | Accolade | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | Louder Sound
|
United States | The Top 20 Best Megadeth Songs Ranked[19] | 12 |
2018 | Billboard | United States | The 15 Best Megadeth Songs: Critic's Picks[20] | 11 |
Personnel
Production and performance credits are adapted from the liner notes of Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!.[21]
Megadeth
Production
|
2002 remix and remaster
The Final Kill 2018 remix and remaster
|
|
References
- CMJ New Music Report: 45. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
- ^ "Killing Is My Business.. and Business Is Good! - Review". metal-archives.com.
- ^ a b "Dave's band Panic?". Megadeth.com. August 27, 2007. Archived from the original on July 6, 2012.
- ^ "THE MECHANIX". Metallica.com. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- ^ Brannigan, Paul (September 20, 2022). "Megadeth's Killing Is My Business: hamburgers, heroin and one of metal's greatest debut albums". Metal Hammer. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
- ^ Gelsani, Michelle (March 3, 2015). "Metallica unearths 1982 demo tape No Life 'til Leather for first-ever commercial release". Consequence. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- ^ "DAVE MUSTAINE: The Story Behind METALLICA's 'The Four Horsemen'". Blabbermouth.net. August 15, 2011. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- ^ Payne, Chris (March 3, 2015). "Metallica to Reissue Early Cassette on Record Store Day". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
- ^ Polcaro, Rafael (September 4, 2018). "Great Forgotten Songs #71 – Megadeth "Mechanix"". Rock And Roll Garage. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
- ^ Grow, Kory (January 11, 2017). "Megadeth's Dave Mustaine: My Life in 15 Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- ^ Pementel, Michael (August 23, 2022). "Dave Mustaine Tells Joe Rogan What 'Bothered' Him The Most About Getting Kicked Out Of Metallica". We Are The Pit. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
- MusicRadar. Archivedfrom the original on July 2, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2015.
- ^ Kill 'Em All liner notes. Megaforce Records. 1983.
- ^ "DAVE MUSTAINE On Winning First GRAMMY: 'Good Thing Is It Didn't Say 'METALLICA' On The Freakin Award". Blabbermouth.net. March 2, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
- ^ Liebler, Raizel. "Loud Moments in Metal Law History: The Four Horsemen v. Mechanix". The Learned Fangirl. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
- ^ "Megadeth's Dave Mustaine interview 20th February 1984". YouTube. October 30, 2008. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
- ^ "Metallica Song Catalog: The Mechanix". www.metallica.com.
- ^ Munro, Scott (September 20, 2022). "Dave Mustaine blames Lars Ulrich for No Life 'Til Leather delay". Metal Hammer. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
- ^ Stewart-Panko, Kevin (July 14, 2022). "The top 20 best Megadeth songs ranked". Metal Hammer. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
- ^ Titus, Christina. "The 15 Best Megadeth Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
- ^ Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! liner notes (2002 reissue). Loud Records. 2002. pp. 2, 7–8.
- ^ "Megadeth MECHANIX". Megadeth.com. Retrieved August 31, 2022.