Headcrusher

Album: Endgame (2009)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was the lead single from thrash metal act Megadeth's twelfth studio album, EP Endgame.
  • The band debuted this on June 24, 2009 at the General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
  • Frontman Dave Mustaine told Jam! Music that this song is "about a medieval torture device." He added: "It's straightforward, no-nonsense Megadeth thrash metal."
  • This was the first Megadeth release to feature guitarist Chris Broderick after Glen Drover's departure in 2008.
  • Endgame was recorded at the band's new, self-built studio in San Marcos, California - Vic's Garage. The studio was named after Megadeth's iconic mascot character, Vic Rattlehead, whose image appears on several of their albums.
  • The song was originally submitted as a musical idea by Megadeth guitarist Shawn Drover. Dave Mustaine started listening to the beginning of the song and just hated it. He recalled to Noisecreep: "I'm thinking to myself, 'Why don't I like this thing?' He kept on pushing me to listen to it more so I finally decided to learn it on guitar. Once I started figuring it out on guitar I go to Shawn, 'Dude, no wonder I don't like it, it's the beginning of (1990 Rust in Peace track) 'Take No Prisoners,' I asked him how was I supposed to use the riff again."

    Mustaine did collaborate with Drover on the rest of his idea. "Yeah, I listened to the rest of the song idea he had," he said, "and it was great music. So sometimes you just have to go through crap like that to get to the good stuff."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

Gene Simmons of Kiss

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."

Charlie Daniels

Charlie DanielsSongwriter Interviews

Charlie discusses the songs that made him a Southern Rock icon, and settles the Devil vs. Johnny argument once and for all.

Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum

Dave Pirner of Soul AsylumSongwriter Interviews

Dave explains how the video appropriated the meaning of "Runaway Train," and what he thought of getting parodied by Weird Al.

Carol Kaye

Carol KayeSongwriter Interviews

A top session musician, Carol played on hundreds of hits by The Beach Boys, The Monkees, Frank Sinatra and many others.

Kevin Godley

Kevin GodleySongwriter Interviews

Kevin Godley talks about directing classic videos for The Police, U2 and Duran Duran, and discusses song and videos he made with 10cc and Godley & Creme.