Megadeth released their album Rust in Peace in 1990. The album has since been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in the United States, has received tons of accolades over the years, and is widely regarded as one of the best thrash albums of all time. The album also featured the classic Megadeth lineup of vocalist and guitarist Dave Mustaine, guitarist Marty Friedman, bassist David Ellefson, and drummer Nick Menza.
On September 8, Mustaine will tell the story of the album's creation in a new book titled Building the Perfect Beast.
Building the Perfect Beast details the making of Megadeth’s iconic record, Rust In Peace, which was released in 1990, at an incredible time of flux and creativity in the rock world. Relayed by the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of Megadeth himself, Dave Mustaine, the book covers the process of hiring the band and supporting cast, of trying to handle the ensuing success, and ultimately the pressure of fame and fortune-which caused the band to finally break-up. In short, it’s a true story of groundbreaking anti-pop that was moving toward the mainstream (or the mainstream that was moving toward the band), at a time of great cultural change, power, ego, drugs, and other vices that went hand-in-hand with Rock N’ Roll, circa the late eighties-early nineties.
Little did Mustaine know that the birth pangs of the record were nothing compared to the oncoming pain and torment that would surround it. Alcohol, drugs, sex, money, power, property, prestige, the lies the band was told by the industry-and the lies they told each other-were just beginning, and much like rust in real life, these factors would ultimately eat away at the band’s bond until only the music survived.
Building the Perfect Beast is a story of perseverance, of scraping off the rust off that builds over time on everything: ourselves, our relationships, pop culture, art, and music.
A listing for the book is available here.
