"Wake Up Dead"
Single by Megadeth
from the album Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?
Released1986, 1987 [UK]
Recorded1986
GenreThrash metal
Length3:38
Label
Songwriter(s)Dave Mustaine
Producer(s)
  • Dave Mustaine
  • Randy Burns
Megadeth singles chronology
"Wake Up Dead"
(1986)		 "Peace Sells"
(1986)
Music video
"Wake Up Dead" on YouTube

"Wake Up Dead" is a song by American thrash metal band Megadeth, and was the lead single from their 1986 album Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?, written by Dave Mustaine. It has since become a staple at their concerts, being their sixth most played song.[1]

Lyrics

"Wake Up Dead" features lyrics which describe a man who has been cheating on his wife or girlfriend and is sneaking into his house, knowing that if his wife finds out about his other lover, she will kill him.[2] Mustaine said that "Wake Up Dead" was written about him cheating on a girl with whom he was living. He stayed with her because he was homeless at the time and needed a place to stay. Unfortunately, he was in love with another girl and thought the one he lived with would be mad because he was cheating on her. He had to leave her because he thought she had intentions to kill him.[3]

Music video

A music video was produced for the song, directed by Penelope Spheeris. The video begins with a shot of the stage surrounded by a metal wire fence. A group of fans gather around and rush at the stage, and the band begins to play.[4] Fans crowd surf and climb the fence while the band plays. The video has a blue hue throughout. The video was released on April 28, 1987.[5]

Accolades

Year Publication Country Accolade Rank
2022 Louder Sound United States The Top 20 Best Megadeth Songs Ranked[6] 7
2018 Billboard United Kingdom The 15 Best Megadeth Songs: Critic’s Picks[7] 3

Track listing

7-inch edition

  1. "Wake Up Dead"
  2. "Good Mourning/Black Friday"

12-inch edition

  1. "Wake Up Dead"
  2. "Black Friday (Live)
  3. "Devils Island (Live)

Cassette edition

  1. "Wake Up Dead"
  2. "Black Friday (Live)
  3. "Devils Island (Live)

Charts

Chart (1986) Peak
position
UK Singles[8] 65

Lamb of God version

"Wake Up Dead (ft. Dave Mustaine)"
Single by Lamb of God featuring Dave Mustaine
ReleasedApril 1, 2022 (2022-04-01)
Recorded2022
GenreThrash metal
Length3:43
LabelEpic Records
Songwriter(s)Dave Mustaine
Lamb of God singles chronology
"Memento Mori"
(2020)		 "Wake Up Dead (ft. Dave Mustaine)"
(2022)		 "Nevermore"
(2022)

American heavy metal band Lamb of God covered the song alongside Dave Mustaine in 2022. Released on April 1, 2022, the recording features contributions from all four current Megadeth members although only Mustaine is credited as a featured artist.[9][10]

Background

Since 2021, Megadeth and Lamb of God have gone on two legs of a tour they co-headline, titled "Metal Tour of The Year".[11] To celebrate, the bands decided to record a song together. However, this is not their first collaboration. Former Lamb of God drummer Chris Adler, brother of guitarist Willie Adler, played drums on Megadeth's 2016 album, Dystopia.[12] Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine commented, "We had a blast playing with Lamb of God on their cover of 'Wake Up Dead,' almost as much fun as we're going to have playing every night on 'Metal Tour of the Year.' I'm looking forward to seeing everyone!", while Lamb of God singer Randy Blythe said, "What better way to kick [the tour] off than a little inter-band jam session? All nine members of Megadeth and Lamb of God are on the thrash classic 'Wake Up Dead'—turn it up, and we'll see you on the road!"[13]

Music video

The music video for the song shows each musician recording his part of the song from their houses.[14]

Personnel

Lamb of God

Guest musicians

Other covers

References

  1. ↑ "Megadeth Tour Statistics". setlist.fm. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  2. ↑ Konow, David (2009). Bang Your Head: The Rise and Fall of Heavy Metal. Crown Publishing Group. p. 244. ISBN 978-0-307-56560-0.
  3. ↑ Popoff 2002, p. 134.
  4. ↑ "Megadeth: Wake Up Dead". IMDb. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Megadeth: Wake Up Dead". IMDb. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  6. ↑ Stewart-Panko, Kevin. "The top 20 best Megadeth songs ranked". Louder Sound. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  7. ↑ Titus, Christina. "The 15 Best Megadeth Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  8. ↑ "Megadeth". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Lamb of God Releases Music Video For Cover Of Megadeth's 'Wake Up Dead' Featuring Dave Mustaine". Blabbermouth.net. April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  10. ↑ "LAMB OF GOD release 'Wake Up Dead' feat. MEGADETH". Metal Planet Music. April 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  11. ↑ "Megadeth & Lamb of God 2022". Metal Tour Of The Year. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  12. ↑ Childers, Chad (March 29, 2015). "Megadeth Reveal Lamb of God's Chris Adler as Their New Drummer". Loudwire. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  13. ↑ Hadusek, Jon (April 2022). "Heavy Consequence New Music Releases Lamb of God and Megadeth Join Forces for New Version of Megadeth's "Wake Up Dead": Stream". Consequence Heavy. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  14. ↑ Grow, Kory. "Lamb of God, Megadeth Pledge Allegiance to the Riff on Megajam 'Wake Up Dead'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  15. ↑ "EXODUS And OVERKILL Members Join Forces For Quarantine Cover Of MEGADETH's 'Wake Up Dead'". Blabbermouth.net. May 26, 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
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