Gar Samuelson
Background information
Birth name	Gary Charles Samuelson
Born	(1958-02-18)February 18, 1958 Dunkirk, New York, U.S.
Died	July 14, 1999(1999-07-14) (aged 41) Orange City, Florida, U.S.
Genres	Heavy metal speed metal thrash metal jazz
Occupation	Drummer
Years active	1975–1999
Formerly of	Megadeth,Fatal Opera, The New Yorkers

Gary Charles "Gar"Samuelson (February 18, 1958 – July 14, 1999) was an American musician best remembered for being the drummer forthrash metal bandMegadeth from 1984 to 1987, contributing to their first two albums,Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (1985) andPeace Sells... but Who's Buying? (1986). He is considered one of the most influential drummers of thrash metal, having pioneered the incorporation ofjazz fusion into the subgenre.^[1]

Samuelson initially started out playing for The New Yorkers, which included himself, his brother Stew,Chris Poland and Robbie Pagliari, among others.^[2] The stint lasted from the late '70s into the early '80s.

After meeting withDave Mustaine andDave Ellefson of Megadeth in 1984, he was asked to join the band on October 24, 1984.^[3] GuitaristChris Poland soon followed, and Mustaine referred to this as "the first real line-up" in theVH1 special on the band.^[4] Mustaine stated in an interview withMetal Forces, that Samuelson was able to "mix up a beat."^[5]

Samuelson went on to serve as Megadeth's drummer until 1987.^[6] He appeared on the band's first two albums (Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good, andPeace Sells... but Who's Buying), and played with them on both tours. However, Samuelson was ultimately fired due to his drug addiction.^[7]

At theWoodstock Festival in 1999, Mustaine announced to the crowd that Gar had died. In honor of Gar, Megadeth played Peace Sells as the closing song in their set.^[8]

After leaving Megadeth, Gar formed a band with Megadeth touring musician, Mike Albert. The band, called Metalist, disbanded prior to signing to record label Combat Records.^{[citation needed]}

Gar later formed the bandFatal Opera, which featured his brother Stew on guitar. The first album, which was released in 1994, had Dave Inman on vocals, Travis Karcher playing bass and Billy Brehme on guitar. The band's second album, Eleventh Hour, was released in 1997 and featured Andy Freeman on vocals. Fatal Opera 3, which was a collection of demos, was worked on extensively by his former bandmates and released in 2022.^[9]

Samuelson played on two full-length albums and two demos, and remained a member of the band until his death.^{[citation needed]}

Samuelson died inOrange City, Florida, on July 22, 1999, at the age of 41. The cause of death was reportedly liver failure.^[1][7] He was cremated.^{[citation needed]} His former bandmates in Megadeth dedicated the 2002 remaster ofKilling Is My Business... and Business Is Good to "the memory of Gar Samuelson".^[7]

Megadeth

• Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (1985)
• Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? (1986)

Fatal Opera

• Fatal Opera (1995)
• The Eleventh Hour (1997)
• Fatal Opera 3 (2022) (Posthumous release)^[10]

• 1958 births
• 1999 deaths
• People from Orange City, Florida
• American jazz drummers
• American heavy metal drummers
• Megadeth members
• Deaths from liver failure
• People from Dunkirk, New York
• American people of Swedish descent
• 20th-century American drummers
• American male drummers
• Jazz musicians from New York (state)
• American male jazz musicians
• 20th-century American male musicians

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