99 Ways to Die (song)

"99 Ways to Die"
Single by Megadeth
from the album The Beavis and Butt-Head Experience and Hidden Treasures
Released	November 23, 1993
Recorded	1992
Genre	Thrash metal heavy metal
Length	3:58
Label	Capitol
Songwriter(s)	Dave Mustaine
Producer(s)	Max Norman Dave Mustaine
Megadeth singles chronology
"Angry Again" (1993) "99 Ways to Die" (1993) "Train of Consequences" (1994)
Music video
"99 Ways to Die" on YouTube

"99 Ways to Die" is a song by the American thrash metal band Megadeth. The song was recorded for the soundtrack to The Beavis and Butt-head Experience, and was released as a single and a music video. The song was nominated in the "Best Metal Performance" category at the 1995 Grammy Awards.^[1]

Background

"99 Ways to Die", is about band frontman Dave Mustaine's ex-fiancée, Diana.^[2]

The song has rarely been performed live by Megadeth, with it only appearing live a handful of times in 1995. Mustaine played the song for the first time in over 20 years at the "Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp" in Deerfield Beach, Florida, in January, 2022.^[3] The song was performed with some campers as well as Brittany Denaro (AKA Britt Lightning), guitarist for the band Vixen.^[4][5]

Critical reception

The "Hidden Treasures" EP received generally mediocre reviews from critics, with "99 Ways to Die" being one of the only songs received well. AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote that the EP does not have many "first-rate songs" and that only "99 Ways to Die" made an impression.^[6] The Rolling Stone Album Guide was dismissive of the EP; the staff reviewer commented that the album is worth hearing only for "99 Ways to Die".^[7]

Track listing

All credits adapted from CD single.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Beavis And Butt-Head Laugh"	0:11
2.	"Intro With Beavis And Butt-Head"	0:22
3.	"99 Ways To Die" (Edit)	3:39
4.	"Outro With Beavis And Butt-Head"	0:14
5.	"99 Ways To Die" (LP Version)	3:57

Charts

Chart (1993)	Peak position
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[8]	23

Personnel

Credits are adapted from "Hidden Treasures" liner notes and "99 Ways to Die" CD.^[9]

Megadeth

• Dave Mustaine – guitars, lead vocals
• David Ellefson – bass, backing vocals
• Marty Friedman – guitars, backing vocals
• Nick Menza – drums

Production

• Production - Max Norman and Dave Mustaine
• Executive production - Mike Judge and Tony Berg
• Engineering - Max Norman
• Mixing: Max Norman and Dave Mustaine
• Musical supervision - John Cannelli
• Guitar/bass/amplifier technician - Michael Kaye
• Drum technician - Bruce Jacoby

References

1. Staff writer (January 6, 1995). "The 37th Grammy Nominations". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
2. Grow, Kory (11 January 2017). "Megadeth's Dave Mustaine: My Life in 15 Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 14 December 2022. The lyrics are about Diana, my muse [laughs], the same woman I was dating around "Loved to Deth." I wrote "Tornado of Souls," "Trust," "This Was My Life," "99 Ways to Die" – those were all about her, too.
3. "Watch Dave Mustaine perform Megadeth's "99 Ways To Die" at last month's Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp". Chaoszine. 21 February 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
4. "DAVE MUSTAINE PERFORMS MEGADETH'S "99 WAYS TO DIE" AT ROCK 'N' ROLL FANTASY CAMP; VIDEO". Brave Words. 20 February 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
5. "Watch DAVE MUSTAINE Perform MEGADETH's '99 Ways To Die' At Last Month's 'Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp'". Blabbermouth. 19 February 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
6. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Megadeth – Hidden Treasures". AllMusic. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
7. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. p. 534. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
8. "Megadeth Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
9. Hidden Treasures liner notes (Media notes). Capitol Records. 1995. p. 2.