William Lee Rausch (born September 10, 1964) is an American drummer who played in several

thrash metal Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and often fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, 2007, . ...

bands based in California from 1983 to 1987. He is currently the drummer at a church in Indian Lake, Ohio.

Career

Megadeth

Rausch's career began in 1983 when former

Metallica Metallica is an American heavy metal band. The band was formed in 1981 in Los Angeles by vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and has been based in San Francisco for most of its career. The band's fast tempos, instrume ...

guitarist

Dave Mustaine David Scott Mustaine (born September 13, 1961) is an American musician. He is the co-founder, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and primary songwriter of the thrash metal band Megadeth, as well as their sole consistent member. Mustaine has relea ...

formed his own band called

Megadeth Megadeth is an American thrash metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1983 by vocalist/guitarist Dave Mustaine. Known for their technically complex guitar work and musicianship, Megadeth is one of the "big four" of American thrash metal along wit ...

. After trying several drummers, Rausch was hired. This was the first real Megadeth lineup, one that began playing live and recording, and consisted of Rausch, Mustaine, and

David Ellefson David Warren Ellefson (born November 12, 1964) is an American musician, best known for his long tenure as the bassist for thrash metal band Megadeth. Ellefson initially became an accomplished bassist and honed his songwriting skills while leadin ...

. In 1984, Megadeth recorded its first demo, ''Last Rites'', consisting of four titles. In the same year, Rausch left the group due to internal conflict and was replaced by

Gar Samuelson Gary Charles "Gar" Samuelson (February 18, 1958 – July 14, 1999) was an American musician best remembered for being the drummer for thrash metal band Megadeth from 1984 to 1987, contributing to their first two albums, '' Killing Is My Busines ...

Dark Angel and Wargod

After leaving Megadeth in 1984, Rausch played for another noteworthy thrash metal band in the region, Dark Angel. He played live shows with the band but never recorded anything official with them during his tenure. In 1986, Rausch joined the group of guitarist

Michelle Meldrum Michelle Meldrum (September 28, 1968 – May 21, 2008) was an American hard rock guitarist known for being a member of the bands Phantom Blue and Meldrum. Biography Meldrum was born in Detroit, Michigan, to a family of musicians and actors ...

, Wargod, replacing

Gene Hoglan Eugene Victor Hoglan II (born August 31, 1967) is an American drummer, acclaimed for his creativity in drum arrangements, including use of abstract devices for percussion effects and his trademark lengthy double-kick drum rhythms. Though his pla ...

who had just left the band to join Dark Angel. With Wargod, Rausch recorded a demo that year, but the group split in 1987. Rausch was no longer part of a band, but continues to play from time to time locally in northwestern Ohio.

References

*https://bravewords.com/news/bravewords-top-news-stories-of-2021-20-11 *https://bravewords.com/news/david-ellefson-looks-back-on-guitarist-kerry-king-leaving-megadeth-for-slayer-he-saw-there-was-an-audience-for-it-and-the-bay-area-was-the-holy-grail

External links

*http://www.metal-rules.com/metalnews/2010/12/09/megadeth-%E2%80%93-early-%E2%80%9984-%E2%80%9Crattlehead%E2%80%9D-live-recording/ *http://minutohm.com/2014/08/31/discografia-metallica-parte-9-nascimento-do-thrash-metal/discmet_9_10_megadeth-live-19th-february-1984-19-02-84-with-kerry-king/ {{authority control 1964 births Living people 20th-century American drummers American male drummers 20th-century American male musicians