Mechanix
{{Other uses}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Mechanix
| type = song
| artist = Megadeth
| album = Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!
| released = {{Start date|1985|6|12}}
| recorded = December 1984 – January 1985
| studio =
- Indigo Ranch, Malibu, California
- Crystal Sound Labs, Hollywood, California
| genre =
- Thrash metal{{cite journal |author=CMJ Network, Inc |date=February 11, 2002 |title=Loud Rock |journal=CMJ New Music Report |page=45 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y7cms1PnqKUC&q=killing+is+my+business&pg=PT13 |access-date=November 24, 2013}}
- speed metal{{Cite web|title=Killing Is My Business.. and Business Is Good! - Review |url=https://www.metal-archives.com/reviews/Megadeth/Killing_Is_My_Business..._and_Business_Is_Good%21/659/|website=metal-archives.com|language=en}}
| length = {{Duration|4:20}}
| label = Combat
| writer = Dave Mustaine
| producer =
- Dave Mustaine
- Karat Faye
}}
"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{{cite web|date=August 27, 2007|title=Dave's band Panic?|url=http://www.megadeth.com/scorpion_archive.php?scorpion_id=59|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120706204749/http://www.megadeth.com/scorpion_archive.php?scorpion_id=59|archive-date=July 6, 2012|work=Megadeth.com}} and Metallica.{{cite web |title=THE MECHANIX |url=https://www.metallica.com/songs/the-mechanix.html |website=Metallica.com |access-date=1 August 2023}} The song was included on several Metallica demo tapes, including Power Metal{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/megadeth-story-of-killing-is-my-business|title=Megadeth’s Killing Is My Business: hamburgers, heroin and one of metal’s greatest debut albums|date=September 20, 2022|accessdate=August 4, 2023|work=Metal Hammer|last=Brannigan|first=Paul}} and No Life 'Til Leather.{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2015/03/metallica-unearths-1982-demo-tape-no-life-til-leather-for-first-ever-commercial-release/|title=Metallica unearths 1982 demo tape No Life ’til Leather for first-ever commercial release|date=March 3, 2015|accessdate=August 2, 2023|last=Gelsani|first=Michelle|work=Consequence}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Payne |first=Chris|title=Metallica to Reissue Early Cassette on Record Store Day|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/metallica-no-life-til-leather-cassette-reissue-2015-record-store-day-6487664/ |access-date=July 31, 2023|website=Billboard |language=en|date=March 3, 2015}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Polcaro |first1=Rafael |title=Great Forgotten Songs #71 – Megadeth "Mechanix"|url=http://rockandrollgarage.com/great-forgotten-songs-71-megadeth-mechanix/ |website=Rock And Roll Garage |date=September 4, 2018 |access-date=July 19, 2023}}
Lyrically, "Mechanix" is about having sex at a gas station and was inspired by Mustaine's time as a gas station attendant.{{cite magazine |last1=Grow |first1=Kory |title=Megadeth's Dave Mustaine: My Life in 15 Songs|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/megadeths-dave-mustaine-my-life-in-15-songs-118539/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=January 11, 2017 |access-date=August 2, 2023}} 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".{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/dave-mustaine-the-story-behind-metallica-s-the-four-horsemen/|title=DAVE MUSTAINE: The Story Behind METALLICA's 'The Four Horsemen'|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|date=August 15, 2011|accessdate=August 3, 2023}}
Controversy
According to Mustaine, he told Metallica to not use any of his compositions after he had been fired from the band.{{cite web |last1=Pementel |first1=Michael |title=Dave Mustaine Tells Joe Rogan What 'Bothered' Him The Most About Getting Kicked Out Of Metallica |url=https://www.wearethepit.com/2022/08/dave-mustaine-talks-to-joe-rogan-about-getting-kicked-out-of-metallica/ |website=We Are The Pit |date=August 23, 2022 |access-date=August 31, 2022}} However, the band reportedly kept using solos and riffs invented by Mustaine, as well as entire songs, including "Mechanix".{{cite web|first=Jaan|last=Uhelszki|title=Metallica Week: Kirk Hammett interview|url=http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/metallica-week-kirk-hammett-interview-173297|publisher=MusicRadar|date=September 11, 2008|access-date=June 7, 2015|archive-date=July 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702091921/http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/metallica-week-kirk-hammett-interview-173297|url-status=live}}{{cite book|title=Kill 'Em All liner notes|year=1983|publisher=Megaforce Records}} The band added in a slower middle part inspired by Lynyrd Skynyrd song "Sweet Home Alabama", of which Mustaine claims authorship.{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/dave-mustaine-on-winning-first-grammy-good-thing-is-it-didnt-say-metallica-on-the-freakin-award|title=DAVE MUSTAINE On Winning First GRAMMY: 'Good Thing Is It Didn't Say 'METALLICA' On The Freakin Award|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=March 2, 2018|accessdate=March 11, 2024}} The two songs have sparked debate among heavy metal listeners over which one is superior.{{cite web |last1=Liebler |first1=Raizel |title=Loud Moments in Metal Law History: The Four Horsemen v. Mechanix |url=https://thelearnedfangirl.com/loud-moments-in-metal-law-historyfourhorsemenvmechanix/ |website=The Learned Fangirl |access-date=August 31, 2022}} 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".{{cite news |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugHCAVEYPuw |access-date=March 11, 2024 |title=Megadeth's Dave Mustaine interview 20th February 1984 |date=October 30, 2008|work=YouTube}}
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,{{Cite web|url=https://www.metallica.com/songs/the-mechanix.html|title=Metallica Song Catalog: The Mechanix |website=www.metallica.com}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/dave-mustaine-blames-lars-ulrich-for-no-life-til-leather-delay|title=Dave Mustaine blames Lars Ulrich for No Life 'Til Leather delay|first=Scott|last=Munro|date=September 20, 2022|website=Metal Hammer|accessdate=March 11, 2024}}
Accolades
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left;" |
| scope="col"| Year
! scope="col" | Publication ! scope="col" | Country ! scope="col"| Accolade ! scope="col"| Rank |
|---|
| scope="row"| 2022
| style="text-align:center;" | United States | The Top 20 Best Megadeth Songs Ranked{{cite web |last1=Stewart-Panko |first1=Kevin |title=The top 20 best Megadeth songs ranked|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/megadeth-best-songs-top-20-ranked/2 |website=Metal Hammer |date=July 14, 2022 |access-date=August 29, 2022}} | style="text-align:center;"| 12 |
| scope="row"| 2018
| style="text-align:center;" | United States | The 15 Best Megadeth Songs: Critic's Picks{{cite magazine |last1=Titus |first1=Christina |title=The 15 Best Megadeth Songs: Critic's Picks |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/best-megadeth-songs-top-15-8210738/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=August 29, 2022}} | style="text-align:center;"| 11 |
Personnel
Production and performance credits are adapted from the liner notes of Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!.{{cite book |year=2002 |title=Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! liner notes (2002 reissue) |publisher=Loud Records |pages=2, 7–8}}
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Megadeth
- Dave Mustaine – lead vocals, lead guitar{{cite web |title=Megadeth MECHANIX |url=https://megadeth.com/releases/5060/ |website=Megadeth.com |access-date=August 31, 2022}}
- David Ellefson – bass, backing vocals
- Chris Poland – rhythm guitar
- Gar Samuelson – drums
Production
- Produced and mixed by Dave Mustaine and Karat Faye
- Co-produced by Megadeth
- Pre-production by Jay Jones
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2002 remix and remaster
- Mixed by Bill Kennedy
- Pro Tools by Chris Vrenna
- Mastered by Tom Baker
The Final Kill 2018 remix and remaster
- Mixed by Mark Lewis
- Mastered by Ted Jensen
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