Died On This Date (July 14, 1999) Gar Samuelson / Megadeth Drummer
themusicsover Gar Samuelson
February 18, 1958 – July 14, 1999
Gar Samuelson was the original drummer for thrash metal band, Megadeth. Prior to joining Megadeth, Samuelson played in a jazz fusion band with future Megadeth guitarist, Chris Poland. But metal was Samuelson’s calling, and once he met Megadeth leader, Dave Mustaine, his mind was made up, he had to be in that band. Samuelson played on just two Megadeth albums, Killing Is My Business…And Business Is Good, and the classic, Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying? and toured with the band during those years. But heavy drug abuse, specifically heroin, led to his firing by the band in 1987. During the mid ’90s, Samuelson was playing alongside his brother in a thrash metal band called Fatal Opera which released two albums. The last years of his life found him in Orange City, Florida where he built and ran a recording studio. Gar Samuelson died on July 14, 1999 of liver failure at the age of 41.
What You Should Own
Malcolm Owen was the lead singer for British band, the Ruts, who scored a UK Top 10 hit with “Babylon’s Burning.” The reggae influenced punk band was part of an organization called the People Unite Collective and therefore very active in anti-racist causes. And although several of their songs had an anti-drug message, Owen died of a heroin overdose on July 14, 1980 at the age of 26.
Jonathan Melvoin was a keyboard player who worked with such artists as the Dickies, Prince, Wendy & Lisa, and the Smashing Pumpkins. The “Wendy” of Wendy & Lisa was in fact, his sister, Wendy Melvoin. In late 1995, Melvoin joined up with Smashing Pumpkins to lend his talent while on the road to support their brilliant Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness album, but previous incidents with heroin cut his tenure short when the band fired him. It was while he was finishing up that leg of the tour that Melvoin overdosed on heroin in his hotel room. It has been reported that then-Pumpkins drummer, Jimmy Chamberlin was in the room with him and tried to revive him after calling 911. His efforts failed and Jonathan Melvoin died on July 12, 1996 at the age of 34. His death reportedly inspired a few songs, including Sarah McLachlan’s hit, “Angel.”