Lee Rauch, an early drummer for Megadeth who performed on the band’s 1984 demo, has died on the age of 58.
The rocker’s loss of life was confirmed by his brother, Chris, by way of social media.
“As we speak is a really unhappy day, we misplaced my brother William Lee Rauch,” he wrote. “Lee was a really sturdy man of religion so I do know he’s with God now. He was an superior drummer, who helped launch one of many greatest steel names in historical past by being the primary drummer for Megadeth, enjoying alongside Dave Mustaine, Kerry King and David Ellefson. His coronary heart was set on making it large and got here very shut quite a few instances. Lee was a really loving and giving particular person who was extraordinarily exhausting working, he continued to play drums later in his life for the church which made him comfortable. He was a loving son and a really honorable man.
“Most of all, he was my brother and although I did not all the time be in contact the best way I ought to have, I beloved him very a lot and he will probably be significantly missed to my core. I really like you brother, good journey. Hope you get pleasure from that setup they have up there for you bro, wager its not as large as your blue set was although, lol.”
Lee Ruach joined forces with Mustaine, Megadeth’s founder, and bassist Ellefson in 1983. As a trio, this group recorded the band’s first demo, titled Final Rites, launched in 1984. It included three songs: “Final Rites/Cherished to Deth,” “The Cranium Beneath the Pores and skin” and “Mechanix.”
Megadeth’s lineup remained in flux throughout these early years. Guitarist King briefly left Slayer to affix Mustaine’s group. Megadeth’s first official gig occurred Feb. 17, 1984 in Berkeley, California and featured the 4 individual lineup of Mustaine, Ellefson, King and Rauch. King had a change of coronary heart after just a few reveals and returned to his earlier band (he remained in Slayer for all the band’s existence).
Ruach can be one other casualty of Megadeth’s lineup adjustments. By the top of ‘84, the drummer was out and changed by Gar Samuelson, who performed on the band’s first two studio albums.
Following his Megadeth stint, Rauch performed reveals with the thrash steel group Darkish Angel. Once more, his time within the band was short-lived. The drummer by no means recorded materials with Darkish Angel and was out of the group by 1985.
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