What If Kerry King Had Stayed in Megadeth? A Look at What Could Have Been
Kerry King, Slayer’s legendary guitarist, briefly played with Megadeth in the band’s early days, bringing his fiery, aggressive playing style to Dave Mustaine’s thrash metal vision. In a recent Q&A with Metal Hammer, King reflected on his short stint with Megadeth and his thoughts on how the band’s trajectory might have changed if he’d stayed longer. King’s comments, alongside his well-documented admiration for Mustaine’s guitar work, ignite an interesting question: how might Megadeth’s music and legacy have evolved if King had been a permanent member?
Kerry King’s Brief Tenure with Megadeth
Kerry King joined Megadeth as the band’s second guitarist for its first five live performances in 1984. At the time, Megadeth was in its formative stages, just beginning to establish a reputation within the thrash metal scene. King’s reputation with Slayer, particularly for his razor-sharp riffs and blistering solos, brought a sense of anticipation and legitimacy to Megadeth’s early shows.
Reflecting on this experience, King noted that he viewed his time in Megadeth as a “gigantic learning situation.” In a 2015 interview with Loudwire, he described how Mustaine’s technical prowess on guitar had left a strong impression on him. King observed that Mustaine’s unique stage presence, including his intense focus while playing complex riffs, was something that he deeply admired, even admitting that he couldn’t replicate it himself. Yet, while King appreciated the opportunity to play alongside Mustaine, he ultimately returned to Slayer. According to King, working with Mustaine long-term might have been challenging, as he described Mustaine as a highly driven yet unpredictable personality.
What Could Have Been: A Hypothetical Musical Shift for Megadeth
King himself mused in his interview with Metal Hammer that if he and Mustaine could have “co-existed for four years,” Megadeth would have been “a very different band.” While King was careful to say he wouldn’t necessarily have made Megadeth “better,” he was confident he would have changed the band’s sound.
Had King stayed with Megadeth, it’s likely that the band would have leaned even harder into aggressive thrash elements. King’s guitar style, marked by frantic shredding, dissonant riffs, and chaotic solos, would have blended with Mustaine’s technical, complex compositions to produce a distinctly more intense sound. This combination might have steered Megadeth towards a darker, more extreme musical direction, something perhaps closer to Slayer’s influence on thrash and death metal. The soundscape of Megadeth albums like Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good! and Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying? might have been more relentless, chaotic, and apocalyptic.
The Dynamics Between King and Mustaine
King’s comment about needing to “co-exist” with Mustaine for any meaningful collaboration speaks to the volatile nature of thrash metal partnerships, especially among such strong personalities. Mustaine, known for his perfectionism and high standards, has gone through numerous lineup changes in Megadeth, often due to creative or interpersonal clashes. King, who has always been fiercely loyal to Slayer, may have found Megadeth’s internal politics and Mustaine’s sometimes abrasive leadership style difficult to navigate.
Interestingly, both musicians share similar roots and backgrounds, having come up in the same California thrash metal scene. They are both also passionate guitarists known for their intense commitment to their craft. However, Mustaine’s reputation for being exacting and sometimes uncompromising might have clashed with King’s own dedication to Slayer and his strong-willed nature. It’s possible that had King stayed in Megadeth, it could have led to tension, potentially impacting the music or even the longevity of the band in its early days.
King’s Influence on Megadeth’s Sound and Thrash Metal at Large
Had King continued with Megadeth, it’s likely that his distinct sound would have become a defining characteristic of the band’s early music. King’s trademark solos are rooted in atonality, speed, and raw aggression, contrasting with Mustaine’s technical yet melodic soloing style. Combining these approaches could have created an innovative thrash metal hybrid, blending the brutality of Slayer with the finesse of Megadeth.
This blend might have paved the way for Megadeth to become even more influential in the thrash and death metal genres. While Megadeth already occupies a unique space within the “Big Four” of thrash metal (alongside Slayer, Metallica, and Anthrax), King’s contributions could have taken their music in a more brutal, extreme direction, potentially shifting Megadeth’s trajectory and their influence within the genre.
King’s Relationship with Other Metal Legends: Mercyful Fate and Judas Priest
Beyond Megadeth, King also expressed interest in other legendary metal acts. In his Metal Hammer interview, he revealed that he had once hoped to join Mercyful Fate, a band he deeply admired. When discussing his backstage conversation with Mercyful Fate guitarist Hank Shermann, King humorously recalled saying, “I thought you guys might come knocking,” to which Shermann seemed genuinely surprised. King’s love for Mercyful Fate, known for their dark, occult themes and intricate compositions, aligns with his own interest in extreme metal.
King also mentioned Judas Priest, particularly referencing a moment when Richie Faulkner was ill, and there was consideration of the band performing with only one guitarist. King admitted that although he would have loved the chance to play with Judas Priest, stepping in as their sole guitarist would have been an “impossible” challenge due to the band’s signature dual-guitar setup. Judas Priest’s sound, heavily reliant on the interplay between its two guitarists, would have been difficult to reproduce faithfully with only King at the helm.
The Lasting Impact of King’s Decision
King’s return to Slayer solidified his role in one of thrash metal’s most iconic bands, a decision that arguably benefited both Slayer and Megadeth. By remaining loyal to Slayer, King helped drive the band’s relentless pursuit of speed and aggression, producing albums like Reign in Blood and South of Heaven that became classics. Meanwhile, Mustaine was able to further develop Megadeth’s distinct sound, characterized by intricate guitar work and politically charged lyrics.
Had King stayed with Megadeth, Slayer might not have evolved into the brutal, boundary-pushing band it became, and Megadeth’s musical direction might have veered closer to Slayer’s aggressive style rather than the technical, melody-infused thrash they are known for. The thrash metal genre as a whole might have shifted slightly, with Slayer potentially becoming less intense and Megadeth possibly incorporating more chaotic, fast-paced elements into their sound.
Kerry King and Dave Mustaine’s Legacy in Metal
Both Kerry King and Dave Mustaine have left an indelible mark on metal, though in distinctly different ways. King’s dedication to Slayer and his blistering, chaotic guitar style helped shape the extreme side of thrash and death metal. Mustaine, with his intricate compositions and relentless pursuit of musical excellence, gave Megadeth a complex, refined sound that often tackled themes of politics, society, and existential struggle.
Had their partnership in Megadeth continued, it’s likely that the thrash metal genre would look quite different today. King’s influence on Megadeth could have given the band a more aggressive edge, while his absence allowed both Slayer and Megadeth to develop their unique identities. This divergence ultimately benefited the metal scene by adding diversity to the thrash metal genre, with Slayer known for their unrelenting aggression and Megadeth recognized for their precision and complexity.
So: A Thrash Metal What-If
Kerry King’s time in Megadeth remains a fascinating footnote in metal history. Although brief, it opened the door to intriguing possibilities and highlighted the unique talents and personalities of King and Mustaine. King’s decision to return to Slayer helped solidify that band’s brutal legacy, while Mustaine’s vision for Megadeth remained uncompromised. Had King stayed, we might have seen a more aggressive, darker Megadeth, but in the end, King’s departure allowed both Slayer and Megadeth to follow their own paths. This what-if scenario is a reminder of how one musician’s decision can shape the course of an entire genre, leaving fans to wonder about the music that might have been.
