“I'd hear Dave Mustaine aimlessly riffing on the couch, and it's the riffs that ended up on the first two Megadeth – and, frankly, Metallica – records”: Megadeth's first lead guitarist Greg Handevidt on the birth of a metal institution

Megadeth's early lineup featuring Greg Handevidt

From a lead guitar perspective, Megadeth's formative years are dominated by Chris Poland and Jeff Young.

With his fusion-inspired licks, Poland defined Megadeth's first two records, Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good! (1985), and Peace Sells… But Who's Buying? (1986). Jeff Young did, in fact, swoop in to save the day, handily shredding his way through 1988's So Far, So Good… So What! But none of that would have been possible if not for another unsung hero of the six-string, Greg Handevidt – aka Megadeth's first lead guitarist.