Why The Drums On “Wake Up Dead” Are Pure Thrash Genius
Join Dirk Verbeuren as he breaks down the drum parts from “Wake Up Dead,” the blistering Megadeth classic from their 1986 album ‘Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying?’. Originally recorded by Gar Samuelson, Dirk—Megadeth’s current drummer—is here at Drumeo to show you how to play this thrash metal classic on the kit.
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Chapters:
00:00 – Intro
00:19 – Song Overview
00:43 – Full Performance
04:58 – The Opening Fill & Verse Groove
06:18 – The Bridge
06:59 – The Lead Section
08:12 – Double Bass Madness
08:46 – The Outro Groove
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@DrumeoOfficial
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
If you want to learn how to thrash like Dirk, there's still time to get unlimited drum lessons for all of 2026 + a free practice pad & sticks (only until January 31): https://shop.musora.com/products/drumeo-new-year-deal
@Daminte
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
Anyone thinks that dirk's voice is kind of mr. Bean's?
@mattsabath
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
I lose track of how many riffs and solos there are in this song. Just incredible. Dirk is right. Dave Mustaine is a genius. Peace Sells But Who’s Buying is an absolute masterpiece.
@josephm6320
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
Lars can never..
@FRO-f6s3u
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
Wow. Loved that. What an amazing drummer. Great technique too. 💜💜💜🙏🙏🙏
@Zephirot080
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
Bro, Nicko never used double bass drums. He thinks it's cheating
@Diverse_Interests
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
Love that kit. Mat black tamas , chrome, gloss black cymbals and burnt gold, it’s like someone took a samurai warlords armour and hammered it out into a demon kit. Gorgeous. I’d want Japanese demon masks smoked out on the tamas subtly. Love it!
@robkilbride9242
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
Where are you getting that double bass was used on Somewhere in Time? Nicko is known to be one of the few legendary metal drummers not to use it. I asked Google AI and it said the same thing. And I saw no other results to contradict that.
@MVRWC
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
Loved this song from the first moment i heard it!
@SunsetDreamms
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
😍🙌🏽♥️
@renatoarthuraraujodejesus620
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
Devil island !!
@MasterChris666
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
amzing drummer loveeeeeeee
@justinwilliams4152
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
Ohhh yerrrrr m/
@ClumsyTheCosmicClown
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
Looks like he got hit by a tree or likes to chase parked cars.
@butchpadula2960
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
Very proud to say I got to see them once with Gar on Drums, the piece sells tour
@lüttndraken
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
Much simpler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tll4Dz-6PW8
@zDialecticChaos
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
fuck yes gar samuelson is my favorite
@GreekGuru74
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
I've never noticed how cool that kit is because of the dark colors, they don't pop up on stage. The matte black with Vic Rattlehead all over the kit is pretty badass!!
@matlojo
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
sorry, but double bass drum was introduced in argentina in 1973 by el reloj drummer locomotora esposito. https://youtu.be/1HRlnyvyBDo?si=lfUsNY4lZuwaQaFV
@samstrolia
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
If you like this song, definitely check out the Lamb of God + Mustaine cover that was released in April of 2022. Really a cool track to have Blythe's vocals featured imo
@MoonbeamBase
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
man nothing beats classic metal
@TheWrestler52
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
For a second I read the title as “Pure Trash” lol
@Trollberg
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
I want to hear hellhammer doing the drum cover
@mixtheo2076
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
nicko mcbrain never played double
@MrJexx1972
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
Flawless Victory!!
@nightcrawleroriginal
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
Music is like telling a story, you start from the beginning
play the story through, then finish the ending (for lack of a better word), Bonham/Jones mastered it.
watch the videos. And keep the Arms "In" Brandon. 🙂
Nice update thanks. 🙂
@jaisondalabona5373
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
TOP!
@NJDVLS9500
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
My Last Words, please!
@natallica_26
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
That guitar solo part in this song is one of my favourite music pieces at all
@WaarheidEerste
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
🔥🔥🔥🔥
@Metalandstuff
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
So easy to forget: Stefan Kaufmann the drummer on the original 1982 recording of "Fast as a Shark" by Accept. He is credited with bringing a new level of speed and double-bass drumming to the song, which is considered a precursor to thrash and power metal.
@OmarMoralesSs
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
falto mencionar, Darkness Descends, Pleasure To Kill, Eternal Devastation, Possessed By Fire, Doomsday For The Deceiver, The Dark, Game Over, Morbid Visions, Obsessed By Cruelty, Zombie Attack, Power And Pain, Beyond the Gates, The Force por mencionar algunos… no todooo debe ser de Big Four jeje aunque solo se mecionen 3
@iamgribs
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
Gar had such an odd style for metal, heard nothing like it before and since…hard to explain, it's loose but he's always in the right spot , if that makes sense
@MrHarrilasagna
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
FYI The screaming fans through the in ears is what Dirk was listening too.
🥁 Me-ga-deth 🥁
@adrienmignot
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 pm
There's no double bass in Maiden
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