Lee Rauch, who played drums for the legendary thrash metal band Megadeth in their early days, died on June 23, 2023, at the age of 58. His brother Chris Rauch announced the sad news on Facebook, calling him “a very strong man of faith” and “an awesome drummer”. He did not reveal the cause of Lee’s death, but said it was “unexpected”. Lee Rauch was part of Megadeth’s first demo, Last Rites, recorded in 1984, along with Dave Mustaine, David Ellefson, and Kerry King. He left the band shortly after due to internal conflict and joined other metal bands such as Dark Angel and Wargod. He also played drums for a church later in his life. In this article, we will explore Lee Rauch’s musical career, personal life, and possible causes of death.
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Lee Rauch’s Musical Career: From Megadeth to Wargod
Lee Rauch’s musical career began in 1983 when he joined Megadeth, the band formed by Dave Mustaine after he was fired from Metallica. Rauch replaced the original drummer Dijon Carruthers, who left the group in late 1983. Megadeth’s first live show was at Ruthie’s Inn in Berkeley, California on February 17, 1984. A few weeks later, they recorded their first demo, Last Rites, which consisted of three tracks: Last Rites/Loved to Deth, The Skull Beneath the Skin, and Mechanix. The lineup for this demo is disputed, as some sources claim that Gar Samuelson had already replaced Rauch by then. However, according to Ultimate Classic Rock and the Megadeth website, Rauch was indeed the drummer for Last Rites.
Rauch did not stay long with Megadeth, as he left the band later in 1984 due to internal conflict. He was replaced by Gar Samuelson, who would play on Megadeth’s first two albums: Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good! and Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying?. Rauch then joined another thrash metal band from California, Dark Angel. He played some live shows with them but did not record anything official. In 1986, he joined Wargod, a band formed by guitarist Michelle Meldrum. He recorded their second demo, which featured two songs: Intimate with Evil and Burning Insanity. Wargod disbanded in 1987 and Meldrum formed a new band called Phantom Blue.
Rauch also played drums for a church later in his life, according to his brother Chris. He said that Rauch “was a very loving and giving individual who was extremely hard working” and that he “continued to play drums later in his life for the church, which made him happy”.
Lee Rauch’s Personal Life: A Loving Son and a Honorable Man
Little is known about Lee Rauch’s personal life, as he kept a low profile after leaving the metal scene. According to his obituary, he was born on September 10, 1964 in Missouri. He had a brother named Chris and a sister named Lisa. He enjoyed working with his hands, gardening, fishing, and going to automotive races. He was a loving son and a honorable man.
His brother Chris described him as “a very strong man of faith” who “loved God with all his heart”. He also said that he loved his brother very much and that he would miss him terribly. He asked everyone to keep their family in their prayers during this difficult time.
Lee Rauch Cause of Death: What Could Have Killed the Early Megadeth Drummer?
The cause of Lee Rauch’s death is still unknown at this time. His brother Chris did not disclose any details about his health condition or what led to his passing. He only said that it was “unexpected”, implying that it was not due to a chronic illness or a terminal disease.
However, some fans have speculated that Rauch may have died from complications related to drug abuse or alcoholism. This is based on the fact that many of his former bandmates struggled with addiction issues and some of them died from overdose or liver failure. For example, Gar Samuelson died in 1999 from liver failure at the age of 41. He suffered from addiction, diabetes, obesity, and liver problems throughout his life. He received a liver transplant in 1994 but continued to abuse drugs and alcohol afterwards. Another example is Nick Menza, who died in 2016 from heart failure at the age of 51 while performing on stage with his band OHM:. He had a history of drug abuse and had been diagnosed with a heart condition in 2007.
It is possible that Rauch also had similar problems with substance abuse and that they contributed to his death. However, this is only a speculation and there is no evidence to support it. It is also possible that Rauch died from natural causes or from an accident. Until his family or his official autopsy report reveal more information, the cause of Lee Rauch’s death remains a mystery.
Conclusion
Lee Rauch was a talented drummer who played a significant role in the early history of Megadeth, one of the most influential thrash metal bands of all time. He also played for other metal bands such as Dark Angel and Wargod, and later for a church. He was a loving brother, son, and man of faith who passed away unexpectedly at the age of 58. His cause of death is still unknown and may never be revealed to the public. He will be remembered by his family, friends, and fans as an awesome drummer and a honorable person. Rest in peace, Lee Rauch.
