| Lee Rauch | |
| Landscape: | yes |
| Background: | non_vocal_instrumentalist |
| Birth Date: | September 10, 1964 |
| Birth Place: | Marion, Ohio, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Lakeview, Ohio, U.S. |
| Genre: | Thrash metal |
| Occupation: | Drummer |
| Years Active: | 1983–1987 |
| Past Member Of: | Megadeth, Dark Angel, Wargod, Grimace |
William Lee Rauch (also spelled Rausch; September 10, 1964 – June 23, 2023) was an American drummer who played in several thrash metal bands based in California from 1983 to 1987.
Rauch's career began in 1983. Former Metallica lead guitarist Dave Mustaine formed Megadeth shortly after having been abruptly fired from Metallica for "his problems with drink, drugs, and aggression towards fellow bandmembers".[1] After Megadeth's "first drummer Dijon Carruthers departed the group in fall of 1983", Rauch was hired.[2]
Megadeth, consisting of Rauch, Mustaine, Slayer guitarist Kerry King, and Ellefson,[3] played their first live gig at Ruthie's Inn in Berkeley, California on February 17, 1984.[4] A little under a month later, on March 9, 1984, Megadeth recorded their first publicly released demo, Last Rites. This consisted of three tracks: Last Rites/Loved to Deth, Mechanix and The Skull Beneath the Skin.[5] The band had previously recorded another demo in Reseda, though former Megadeth guitarist Greg Handevidt has indicated he no longer has a copy.[6]
The lineup on this demo is debated, with former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson claiming the lineup consisted of himself, Mustaine, and Rauch's replacement Gar Samuelson; however, other sources, including the Megadeth website[7] as well as Ultimate Classic Rock, state that the lineup for the demo was Mustaine, Ellefson, and Rauch.[8] Samuelson would not join the band until October of 1984,[9] though Ellefson recalls Gar joining around April of 1984. The same year, Rauch would leave the group due to internal conflict.
After leaving Megadeth in 1984, Rauch would play for Dark Angel, another well-known thrash metal band from California; however, though Rauch did play live shows with the band, he never recorded anything official with them during his tenure.
In 1986, Rauch joined guitarist Michelle Meldrum's band Wargod, replacing Gene Hoglan who had left the group to join Rauch's previous band, Dark Angel. With Wargod, Rauch recorded their second demo, consisting of two tracks: Intimate with Evil and Burning Insanity.
Ultimately, Wargod would eventually split-up in 1987.
Though it is not entirely clear exactly when, Rauch drummed in short-lived Missourian thrash group Grimace during the late 1980s. This band produced the song "Hell's Angel", which featured on their only recording, a self-titled demo.[10]
Rauch graduated from Toledo Whitmer High School in 1982.[11] Though Rauch was no longer a part of any bands after Grimace in the late 1980's, he would continue to play from time to time locally in northwestern Ohio. Later in his life, Rauch also spent time as the owner of a local handyman business, as well as the church drummer at Indian Lake Community Church in Indian Lake, Ohio. According to his obituary, "He [Rauch] enjoyed working with his hands, gardening, fishing, and going to automotive races".
Rauch died on June 23, 2023, at the age of 58.[12] His cause of death is currently unknown, but Rauch dying has been described as "unexpected".[13]