MD.45
Encyclopedia
MD.45 was a side project of Megadeth
guitarist/frontman Dave Mustaine
, Fear
guitarist/vocalist Lee Ving
on singing duties, Electric Love Hogs
and future Goldfinger
bassist Kelly LeMieux
and former Suicidal Tendencies
member Jimmy DeGrasso
(who later joined Megadeth for Risk and The World Needs A Hero) on drums. The band name derives from the initials of the band members: M and D for Mustaine, Dave, and V and L for Ving, Lee (assuming that VL is a Roman numeral for 45, which is in fact erroneous because 45 is actually represented as XLV).
in Japan first on May 29, 1996 and in other nations on July 23, 1996. According to the album's liner notes, The Creed was originally a Megadeth demo song, which is on the 2004 remastered edition of the album featuring the then line-up of Megadeth.
Almost a decade later, while Capitol Records
was releasing remastered versions of Megadeth's back catalog, Dave Mustaine chose to remaster The Craving. According to the liner notes, during the remastering process, it was realized that the vocal track and harmonica track were missing. These have been seen as suspicious omissions since Ving's vocals and harmonica work had been a drastic departure from the sound of Megadeth, and partial reasons fans initially hadn't accepted the album.
It should be noted however, that in his book, Mustaine mentions that he chose to replace Ving's vocals to better appease the Megadeth audience and hopefully have better sales.
To complete the remaster, Mustaine chose to do the vocals himself and simulate the harmonica parts on the guitar.
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
guitarist/frontman Dave Mustaine
Dave Mustaine
David Scott "Dave" Mustaine is the founder, main songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Prior to Megadeth, Mustaine was the first lead guitarist and a co-songwriter of the heavy metal band Metallica until he was fired from the band in 1983. In 2009, he...
, Fear
Fear (band)
Fear is an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1977. The band is credited for helping to shape the sound and style of American hardcore punk, the group started out as part of the early California punk rock scene, and gained national prominence after an infamous 1981...
guitarist/vocalist Lee Ving
Lee Ving
Lee Ving Lee Ving Lee Ving (born Lee James Capellaro; April 10, 1946 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is an American musician, most famous for his role as lead singer and rhythm guitarist for Los Angeles-based punk rock band Fear, and actor. In the late 1960s Ving joined Sweet Stavin Chain Blues Band...
on singing duties, Electric Love Hogs
Electric Love Hogs
Electric Love Hogs were a short-lived American funk metal band formed in San Diego, California in 1991. The band's lineup consisted of John Feldmann , Dave Kushner , Donni Campion , Kelly LeMieux and Bobby Hewitt...
and future Goldfinger
Goldfinger
Goldfinger is the seventh novel in Ian Fleming's James Bond series, first published in the UK by Jonathan Cape on 23 March 1959. Goldfinger originally bore the title The Richest Man in the World and was written in January and February 1958...
bassist Kelly LeMieux
Kelly LeMieux
Kelly LeMieux is a studio session bass guitar player. He is best known for his work in the Dave Mustaine project MD.45. He was touring bass player for Los Angeles punk band Fear in 1997 and 1998...
and former Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1981 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Mike Muir, its leader and only permanent member. The band is sometimes credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash"...
member Jimmy DeGrasso
Jimmy DeGrasso
Jimmy DeGrasso is an American heavy metal drummer. He is currently the drummer for F5.DeGrasso was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and graduated from Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1981....
(who later joined Megadeth for Risk and The World Needs A Hero) on drums. The band name derives from the initials of the band members: M and D for Mustaine, Dave, and V and L for Ving, Lee (assuming that VL is a Roman numeral for 45, which is in fact erroneous because 45 is actually represented as XLV).
History
The first (and only) album released was The CravingThe Craving (album)
The Craving is the only album released by MD.45, which was a side project of Megadeth guitarist/frontman Dave Mustaine, along with Fear guitarist/vocalist Lee Ving on singing duties, bassist Kelly LeMieux and former Suicidal Tendencies and Alice Cooper drummer Jimmy DeGrasso...
in Japan first on May 29, 1996 and in other nations on July 23, 1996. According to the album's liner notes, The Creed was originally a Megadeth demo song, which is on the 2004 remastered edition of the album featuring the then line-up of Megadeth.
Almost a decade later, while Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
was releasing remastered versions of Megadeth's back catalog, Dave Mustaine chose to remaster The Craving. According to the liner notes, during the remastering process, it was realized that the vocal track and harmonica track were missing. These have been seen as suspicious omissions since Ving's vocals and harmonica work had been a drastic departure from the sound of Megadeth, and partial reasons fans initially hadn't accepted the album.
It should be noted however, that in his book, Mustaine mentions that he chose to replace Ving's vocals to better appease the Megadeth audience and hopefully have better sales.
To complete the remaster, Mustaine chose to do the vocals himself and simulate the harmonica parts on the guitar.
Lineup
- Lee VingLee VingLee Ving Lee Ving Lee Ving (born Lee James Capellaro; April 10, 1946 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is an American musician, most famous for his role as lead singer and rhythm guitarist for Los Angeles-based punk rock band Fear, and actor. In the late 1960s Ving joined Sweet Stavin Chain Blues Band...
- Vocals (Original issue) - Dave MustaineDave MustaineDavid Scott "Dave" Mustaine is the founder, main songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Prior to Megadeth, Mustaine was the first lead guitarist and a co-songwriter of the heavy metal band Metallica until he was fired from the band in 1983. In 2009, he...
- Guitar, Vocals (on remastered) - Kelly LeMieuxKelly LeMieuxKelly LeMieux is a studio session bass guitar player. He is best known for his work in the Dave Mustaine project MD.45. He was touring bass player for Los Angeles punk band Fear in 1997 and 1998...
- Bass - Jimmy DeGrassoJimmy DeGrassoJimmy DeGrasso is an American heavy metal drummer. He is currently the drummer for F5.DeGrasso was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and graduated from Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1981....
- Drums
Discography
| Date of Release | Title | Label | Chart positions | US sales |
| July 23, 1996 | The Craving The Craving (album) The Craving is the only album released by MD.45, which was a side project of Megadeth guitarist/frontman Dave Mustaine, along with Fear guitarist/vocalist Lee Ving on singing duties, bassist Kelly LeMieux and former Suicidal Tendencies and Alice Cooper drummer Jimmy DeGrasso... |
Slab Records | 53,000 | |
| July 24, 2004 | The Craving The Craving (album) The Craving is the only album released by MD.45, which was a side project of Megadeth guitarist/frontman Dave Mustaine, along with Fear guitarist/vocalist Lee Ving on singing duties, bassist Kelly LeMieux and former Suicidal Tendencies and Alice Cooper drummer Jimmy DeGrasso... (Remastered) |
Capitol Records Capitol Records Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine... |