Dread and the Fugitive Mind

"Dread and the Fugitive Mind"
Single by Megadeth
from the album The World Needs a Hero
Released	2001
Recorded	April–December 2000[1]
Studio	Henson Recording Studios, Hollywood; Saltmine Studios, Mesa, Arizona; Scream Studios, Studio City, California
Genre	Thrash metal
Length	3:06
Label	Sanctuary
Songwriter(s)	Dave Mustaine
Producer(s)	Bill Kennedy Dave Mustaine
Megadeth singles chronology
"Moto Psycho" (2001) "Dread and the Fugitive Mind" (2001) "Promises" (2001)

"Dread and the Fugitive Mind" is a song by the American thrash metal band Megadeth. It was released in 2001 as the second single from their ninth studio album, The World Needs a Hero. It was originally released on the 2000 compilation album Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years as one of the two new tracks.^[2]

Background

"Dread and the Fugitive Mind" is about a thief wondering if there is a god.

"It’s about judgment. The great paradox is if there isn’t a God and you live your life like a good person, you haven’t lost anything. If there is a God and you lived your life like a dirt bag, you’re screwed. Basically what I’m saying is, ‘What if there’s no judgment?’ I think a lot of times people have gotten up on the moral hilltop and yelled down to the masses down at the bottom of the valley about their spiritual superiority and it just alienates you."

— Dave Mustaine^[3]

"Dread and the Fugitive Mind" has been played 165 times live by Megadeth, the most out of any song on The World Needs a Hero.^[4] The song was a setlist mainstay on "Metal Tour of the Year 2022" and the tour for The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead!.^[5]

Track listing

Promotional CD^[6]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Dread and the Fugitive Mind (radio edit)"	3:23
2.	"Dread and the Fugitive Mind (album version)"	4:25
3.	"Call Out Hook"	0:13

Personnel

Production and performance credits are adapted from the album liner notes, except where otherwise noted.^[7]

Megadeth

• Dave Mustaine – guitars, lead vocals
• David Ellefson – bass, backing vocals
• Jimmy DeGrasso – drums
• Al Pitrelli – guitars, backing vocals

Production

• Produced by Dave Mustaine; Co-produced by Bill Kennedy
• Mixed and engineered by Bill Kennedy
• Assistant engineers – Mark Valentine, Lance Dean, Jay Goin, Greg Edenfield
• Pro Tools – Chris Vrenna, Joe Bishara, James Murray, Sean Dever, Ken Mary, Lance Dean
• Mastered by Tom Jensen

Charts

Chart (2001)	Peak position
US Active Rock (Billboard)[8]	38

References

1. "Megadeth History". Megadeth.com. Archived from the original on March 15, 2009. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
2. "Year - Megadeth". AllMusic. Retrieved December 2, 2006.
3. Mustaine, Dave. "Dread and the Fugitive Mind". Genius. Retrieved December 6, 2022. It's about judgment. The great paradox is if there isn't a God and you live your life like a good person, you haven't lost anything. If there is a God and you lived your life like a dirt bag, you're screwed. Basically what I'm saying is, 'What if there's no judgment?' I think a lot of times people have gotten up on the moral hilltop and yelled down to the masses down at the bottom of the valley about their spiritual superiority and it just alienates you.
4. "Dread and the Fugitive Mind performed by Megadeth". Setlist.FM. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
5. "Songs played by year: 2022". Setlist.FM. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
6. "Megadeth – Dread And The Fugitive Mind". Discogs. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
7. The World Needs A Hero. Sanctuary Records. May 25, 2001. p. 7.
8. "Active Rock". Billboard). Retrieved December 7, 2022.