* En anglais uniquement
Dave Mustaine usually gets all the credit for creating
Megadeth's fierce guitar attack on their classic early albums. But guitarist
Chris Poland was an integral part of
Megadeth's guitar tandem on what is considered by many to be two of thrash metal's first-wave classics (and an obvious influence on countless bands to follow), 1985's
Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good! and 1986's
Peace Sells...But Who's Buying? Born on December 1, 1957, in Dunkirk, NY,
Poland was more influenced by jazz-fusion bands than heavy metal acts early on, which resulted in a relocation to Los Angeles during the late '70s to play in a jazz-fusion band with fellow New York transplant/drummer
Gar Samuelson. By 1984,
Poland and
Samuelson had crossed paths with
Mustaine, which resulted in the formation of what many consider the definitive
Megadeth lineup (which was rounded out by bassist
Dave Ellefson). Along with
Metallica,
Slayer, and
Anthrax,
Megadeth was one of the trailblazers of the thrash metal genre (which were heavily influenced by
Motörhead and early
Iron Maiden, and served as a reaction of sorts against the then-thriving hair metal scene). Judging from the aforementioned
Megadeth releases, it appeared as though the
Mustaine-
Poland-
Ellefson-
Samuelson lineup would go on to become one of metal's all-time greats. This turned out to not be the case, however, as
Poland and
Samuelson would exit the band in 1987 under less than rosy circumstances (allegedly brought on by rampant drug abuse by all the bandmembers).
Poland would resurface briefly as a bass player for punk rockers
the Circle Jerks before launching a solo career, with the release of 1990's
Return to Metalopolis.
Poland would continue to issue sporadic solo albums over the years, as well as one-off releases with such bands as
Damn the Machine and Mumbo's Brain, while also working with
Megadeth in a sporadic, studio-only capacity (playing on demos for 1990's
Rust in Peace, and on 2004's
The System Has Failed).
Poland continues to work with other acts, including OHM, and has appeared on a pair of releases by
Lamb of God (2003's
As the Palaces Burn and 2004's
Ashes of the Wake). ~ Greg Prato