" 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,
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.
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.
Lyrically, "Mechanix" is about having sex at a gas station and was inspired by Mustaine's time as a gas station attendant.
Controversy
According to Mustaine, he told Metallica to not use any of his compositions after he had been fired from the band.
However, the band reportedly kept using solos and riffs written by Mustaine, as well as entire songs, including "Mechanix".
The band added in a slower middle part inspired by
Lynyrd Skynyrd song "Sweet Home Alabama", of which Mustaine additionally claims authorship.
The two songs have sparked debate among heavy metal listeners over which one is superior.
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".
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,
Accolades
Personnel
Production and performance credits are adapted from the liner notes of
Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!,
and
Kill 'Em All except where noted.
The Mechanix
- Megadeth
- Production
-
Produced and mixed by Dave Mustaine and Karat Faye
-
Co-produced by Megadeth
-
Pre-production by Jay Jones
- 2002 remix and remaster
- The Final Kill 2018 remix and remaster
The Four Horsemen
Metallica
Production
-
Paul Curcio – production
-
Jon Zazula – executive producer
-
Chris Bubacz – engineer
-
Andy Wroblewski – assistant engineer
-
Jack Skinner – mastering
-
Bob Ludwig – mastering (Elektra reissue)
-
George Marino – 1995 remastering
