Chuck Behler

Charles Conrad Behler (born June 13, 1965) is an American drummer best known for his role as a member of the thrash metal band Megadeth from 1987 to 1989.^[1]^[2] Behler, born in Livonia, Michigan, initially served as the drum technician for Megadeth's previous drummer, Gar Samuelson, before replacing him in 1987.^[3] During his tenure with the band, he contributed to their third studio album, So Far, So Good... So What! (1988), which featured tracks like "In My Darkest Hour" and marked a pivotal period in Megadeth's early discography amid lineup changes and internal tensions.^[2]^[3] Behler departed the group in 1989, reportedly due to substance abuse issues, and briefly joined the short-lived band War Party in the early 1990s alongside former Metal Church guitarist Jay Reynolds and bassist Ron Cordy, though no recordings from that project have surfaced.^[2] In subsequent years, Behler maintained a lower profile in the music scene but made notable reunion appearances with former Megadeth colleagues. He performed with bassist David Ellefson in August 2019 at the Token Lounge in Westland, Michigan, and in February 2023, he joined Ellefson and guitarist Jeff Young—both from his Megadeth era—for a set with the supergroup Kings of Thrash at The Machine Shop in Flint, Michigan, marking their first onstage collaboration in 35 years; the performance included renditions of "In My Darkest Hour" and a cover of the Sex Pistols' "Anarchy in the U.K."^[3] These events highlighted Behler's enduring connection to Megadeth's thrash metal legacy and his technical prowess as a drummer.^[3]

Early life

Childhood and family

Chuck Behler was born on June 13, 1965, in Livonia, Michigan.^[2] Livonia, located in the Detroit metropolitan area, is a suburban bedroom community.^[4]

Musical beginnings

Livonia, Michigan, is a suburb of Detroit known for its proximity to the city's influential music scene.^[5] During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Michigan's punk and metal scenes flourished in the Detroit area, with pioneering acts like the MC5 and the Stooges shaping raw, high-energy sounds that influenced a generation of musicians.^[6]^[7]

Career with Megadeth

Joining the band

In the mid-1980s, Megadeth experienced significant lineup instability as the band navigated the challenges of rising fame and internal issues, including substance abuse among members. Drummer Gar Samuelson and guitarist Chris Poland, key contributors to the band's early thrash metal sound on albums like Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! and Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?, were fired in July 1987 after repeated absences from soundchecks and performances due to drug problems.^[8]^[9] Chuck Behler, a Detroit native who had served as Samuelson's drum technician during Megadeth's tours, was recruited as the new drummer later that year. Bandleader Dave Mustaine, already familiar with Behler through his role in the crew, selected him to fill the vacancy, valuing his technical knowledge of the band's setup and his proven ability to deliver the precise, high-speed rhythms essential to Megadeth's aggressive thrash style. Behler's prior experience supporting Samuelson's jazz-influenced yet thrash-adapted drumming made him a seamless transitional fit, allowing the band to maintain momentum amid the upheaval.^[8]^[3] Behler's integration began with immediate rehearsals alongside bassist David Ellefson and the incoming guitarist Jeff Young, as the band worked to solidify its revamped quartet. This new lineup, featuring Behler on drums, was publicly revealed in November 1987, marking a fresh chapter for Megadeth as they prepared for upcoming tours and recordings. Early sessions, including informal demos, helped Behler acclimate to the group's demanding pace and Mustaine's vision for evolving their sound.^[10]^[11]

Contributions and departure

During his tenure with Megadeth, Chuck Behler contributed drums to the band's third studio album, So Far, So Good... So What!, released on January 19, 1988, by Capitol Records, which peaked at number 28 on the Billboard 200 and was later certified platinum.^[12] His drumming appears on all tracks, including the emotionally charged "In My Darkest Hour," written by frontman Dave Mustaine in response to the death of Metallica bassist Cliff Burton, helping maintain the album's aggressive thrash metal foundation amid the band's internal turmoil.^[13]^[8] Behler's straightforward, high-energy style supported the record's continuation of rapid tempo shifts and politically charged themes, though bassist David Ellefson later described it as a partial mismatch for Megadeth's increasingly complex sound during this transitional period.^[14]^[13] Behler also participated in the music video for the album's lead single, a cover of the Sex Pistols' "Anarchy in the U.K.," featuring the full band lineup.^[15] From late 1987 through 1988, he supported live performances on tours including Dio's North American tour and the world tour promoting So Far, So Good... So What!, culminating in a high-profile festival appearance at the Monsters of Rock at Castle Donington alongside Iron Maiden and Guns N' Roses.^[12]^[8] Behler's time with the band ended in early 1989 when he was fired amid personal issues, including the recent birth of his girlfriend's child and an incident where he was too intoxicated to perform at a show in Nottingham, England.^[13]^[8] He was replaced by his former drum technician, Nick Menza, marking the start of a more stable rhythm section for Megadeth's subsequent evolution.^[12]

Later career

Other bands and projects

Following his departure from Megadeth in 1989, Behler maintained an active presence in the Detroit heavy metal scene, drawing on his experience from the band to pursue various local projects. In the late 1980s, he contributed to Street Elite, a hard rock outfit from the area, appearing on their 1985 single "One Class Act" and participating in subsequent recordings like "The Battle," which captured the raw energy of the Midwest underground sound.^[1] In the early 1990s, Behler formed War Party alongside guitarist Jay Reynolds (formerly of Malice) and bassist Ron Cordy, blending thrash influences with heavy riffs in a short-lived collaboration. The group produced unreleased material described by Reynolds as "some heavy songs," though no official recordings were ever issued, reflecting the transitional challenges of the post-thrash era for many musicians.^[16]^[2] Behler also engaged in minor projects within the 1990s metal and punk circuits, including drumming on The Meanies' 1990 demo, a raw collection that showcased his versatile style in the local punk-metal crossover scene. These efforts, along with occasional session work, kept him connected to the Detroit underground without major commercial breakthroughs.^[2]

Recent activities

In August 2019, Behler reunited onstage with former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson for the first time in over 30 years during Ellefson's performance at the Token Lounge in Westland, Michigan, where they played several songs together.^[17] In 2023, Behler made a notable guest appearance with Kings of Thrash—featuring his former Megadeth bandmates David Ellefson on bass and Jeff Young on guitar—at The Machine Shop venue in Flint, Michigan, on February 24. This performance marked the first time the trio had played together in 35 years, reuniting to deliver classic Megadeth tracks such as "In My Darkest Hour" and "Anarchy in the U.K.", evoking the era of the band's 1988 album So Far, So Good... So What!.^[11]^[3] Later that year, on October 6-7, Behler joined Ellefson, Young, and Chris Poland for a public appearance at the Hollywood Show convention in Burbank, California, where the former Megadeth members signed autographs and interacted with fans, reflecting on their shared history.^[18] Behler has occasionally shared brief reflections on his Megadeth tenure in promotional clips tied to these events, such as a 2023 video discussing his entry into the band as Gar Samuelson's replacement. However, no extensive interviews from the 2020s have been widely documented. These sporadic engagements highlight Behler's role in informal tributes to Megadeth's early lineup, without formal involvement in organized band events. As of November 2025, Behler maintains a low public profile with no announced ongoing musical projects or regular performances, suggesting a shift toward retirement from active playing while remaining connected to former colleagues through occasional reunions.

Discography

With Megadeth

Chuck Behler served as the drummer for Megadeth's third studio album, So Far, So Good... So What!, released on January 19, 1988, by Capitol Records.^[12] He performed drums and percussion on all tracks, contributing to the album's thrash metal sound amid lineup changes following the departures of guitarist Chris Poland and previous drummer Gar Samuelson.^[19] The album was recorded at Music Grinder Studios in Los Angeles, California, and produced by Dave Mustaine and Paul Lani.^[19] Key singles from the album featuring Behler's drumming include "In My Darkest Hour," released in 1988 as a promotional 12-inch vinyl in the United States, which became a staple in Megadeth's live sets and was accompanied by an official music video directed by Penelope Spheeris.^[20] Another single, "Anarchy in the U.K.," a cover of the Sex Pistols track released on February 17, 1988, also included Behler's percussion and featured a guest guitar solo by Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols; it was supported by an official music video showcasing the band's performance.^[21]^[22] Behler's contributions appear in later compilations such as the 2005 box set Warchest, which includes the original So Far, So Good... So What! album with his drum recordings intact, though a 2004 remix by Mustaine and engineer Ralph Patlan adjusted some elements without altering core performances.^[23] No official live albums from Megadeth's 1988 tour era featuring Behler have been released, though his drumming is preserved in the studio material above.^[24]

Other recordings

Beyond his work with Megadeth, Chuck Behler contributed drums to the Detroit-based band Street Elite's 1985 single "One Class Act," recorded at Plum Studio in Dearborn Heights, Michigan.^[25] This 7-inch release featured original tracks showcasing the group's heavy metal style, with Behler providing the rhythmic foundation alongside bassist Jeff Traudt. In the early 1990s, Behler joined War Party, a short-lived project led by former Malice guitarist Jay Reynolds, which toured extensively and came close to securing a major record deal.^[26] Despite generating heavy, riff-driven material during rehearsals and live performances, the band produced no official releases, leaving the recordings unreleased to date.^[16] Behler performed drums on the track "Love Hurts" (a Nazareth cover) for David Ellefson's 2020 covers album No Cover, released by Combat Records.^[27]