Mechanix

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1985 song by Megadeth

title: "Mechanix" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1982-songs", "1985-songs", "megadeth-songs", "metallica-songs", "songs-written-by-dave-mustaine"] description: "1985 song by Megadeth" topic_path: "arts/music" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanix" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary 1985 song by Megadeth ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox song"]

FieldValue
nameMechanix
typesong
artistMegadeth
albumKilling Is My Business... and Business Is Good!
released
recordedDecember 1984 – January 1985
genreThrash metal
length
labelCombat
writerDave Mustaine
::

| name = Mechanix | type = song | artist = Megadeth | album = Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! | released = | recorded = December 1984 – January 1985 | studio =

| name = The Four Horsemen | type = song | artist = Metallica | album = Kill 'Em All | released = | recorded = May 10–27 1983 | studio = Music America (Rochester, New York) | genre = Thrash metal | length = | label = Megaforce | writer = | producer =

  • Paul Curcio

"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!, released in 1985 under Combat Records. "Mechanix" has been featured on several Megadeth releases, including multiple greatest hits compilations and live albums.

The song was performed live by Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine's first two bands, Panic, and Metallica. The song was included on several Metallica demo tapes, including Power Metal and No Life 'Til Leather. After Mustaine was ejected from the band, Metallica reworked the song into "The Four Horsemen", which was featured on their 1983 debut album Kill 'Em All. In the years following its release, there has been dispute over the track's songwriting credits.

Background and songwriting

"Mechanix" was originally written by Mustaine as a member of Panic. After Panic's dissolution, Mustaine joined Metallica in 1981, bringing "Mechanix" with him. The song was recorded for the band's second demo tape No Life 'Til Leather released in 1982. In 1983, Mustaine was ejected from the band due to substance abuse and personal clashes with other band members. Following Mustaine's departure, the rest of Metallica expanded "Mechanix" by adding sections that had also been written by Mustaine. Metallica frontman James Hetfield then re-wrote the lyrics to be about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and the song was re-titled "The Four Horsemen." "Mechanix" had originally been played by Metallica at the same tempo as "The Four Horsemen." However, after Mustaine's firing, he decided to speed up all the songs he had written, including "Mechanix," as he wanted to be "faster and heavier" than Metallica.

Lyrically, "Mechanix" is about having sex at a gas station and was inspired by Mustaine's time as a gas station attendant. According to Mustaine, Hetfield was inspired to re-write the song's subject after Mustaine suggested that the band cover the Gamma song "Four Horsemen".

Controversy

According to Mustaine, he told Metallica to not use any of his compositions after he had been fired from the band. However, the band reportedly kept using solos and riffs written by Mustaine, as well as entire songs, including "Mechanix". The band added in a slower middle part inspired by Lynyrd Skynyrd song "Sweet Home Alabama", of which Mustaine additionally claims authorship. The two songs have sparked debate among heavy metal listeners over which one is superior. In an interview after Megadeth's second show at The Stone, San Francisco, Mustaine 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".

There is some dispute regarding songwriting credits of the song. Metallica lists the song as a James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich and Dave Mustaine composition on their official website, while Megadeth credits the song as having been written solely by Mustaine. In a 2022 tweet, Mustaine stated that the dispute over songwriting royalties caused a planned reissue of No Life 'Til Leather that was due in 2015 to be canceled.

Accolades

::data[format=table]

YearPublicationCountryAccoladeRank20222018
Louder SoundUnited Stateslast1=Stewart-Pankofirst1=Kevintitle=The top 20 best Megadeth songs rankedurl=https://www.loudersound.com/features/megadeth-best-songs-top-20-ranked/2website=Metal Hammer
BillboardUnited Stateslast1=Titusfirst1=Christinatitle=The 15 Best Megadeth Songs: Critic's Picksurl=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/best-megadeth-songs-top-15-8210738/magazine=Billboard
::

Personnel

Production and performance credits are adapted from the liner notes of Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!, and Kill 'Em All except where noted.

The Mechanix

;Megadeth

;Production

  • Produced and mixed by Dave Mustaine and Karat Faye
  • Co-produced by Megadeth
  • Pre-production by Jay Jones

;2002 remix and remaster

;The Final Kill 2018 remix and remaster

The Four Horsemen

Metallica

Production

  • Paul Curcio – production
  • Jon Zazula – executive producer
  • Chris Bubacz – engineer
  • Andy Wroblewski – assistant engineer
  • Jack Skinner – mastering
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering (Elektra reissue)
  • George Marino – 1995 remastering

References

References

  1. (August 27, 2007). "Dave's band Panic?". Megadeth.com.
  2. "THE MECHANIX".
  3. Brannigan, Paul. (September 20, 2022). "Megadeth’s Killing Is My Business: hamburgers, heroin and one of metal’s greatest debut albums". [[Metal Hammer]].
  4. Gelsani, Michelle. (March 3, 2015). "Metallica unearths 1982 demo tape No Life ’til Leather for first-ever commercial release". [[Consequence (publication).
  5. Payne, Chris. (March 3, 2015). "Metallica to Reissue Early Cassette on Record Store Day".
  6. (September 4, 2018). "Great Forgotten Songs #71 – Megadeth "Mechanix"".
  7. (January 11, 2017). "Megadeth's Dave Mustaine: My Life in 15 Songs".
  8. (August 15, 2011). "DAVE MUSTAINE: The Story Behind METALLICA's 'The Four Horsemen'". [[Blabbermouth.net]].
  9. (August 23, 2022). "Dave Mustaine Tells Joe Rogan What 'Bothered' Him The Most About Getting Kicked Out Of Metallica".
  10. Uhelszki, Jaan. (September 11, 2008). "Metallica Week: Kirk Hammett interview". [[MusicRadar]].
  11. (1983). "Kill 'Em All ''liner notes''". [[Megaforce Records]].
  12. (March 2, 2018). "DAVE MUSTAINE On Winning First GRAMMY: 'Good Thing Is It Didn't Say 'METALLICA' On The Freakin'{{'}} Award". [[Blabbermouth.net]].
  13. "Loud Moments in Metal Law History: The Four Horsemen v. Mechanix".
  14. (October 30, 2008). "Megadeth's Dave Mustaine interview 20th February 1984". [[YouTube]].
  15. "Metallica Song Catalog: The Mechanix".
  16. Munro, Scott. (September 20, 2022). "Dave Mustaine blames Lars Ulrich for No Life 'Til Leather delay".
  17. (July 14, 2022). "The top 20 best Megadeth songs ranked".
  18. "The 15 Best Megadeth Songs: Critic's Picks".
  19. (2002). "Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! liner notes (2002 reissue)". [[Loud Records]].
  20. (1983). "Kill 'Em All".
  21. "Megadeth MECHANIX".

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1982-songs1985-songsmegadeth-songsmetallica-songssongs-written-by-dave-mustaine