I’ve made no secret over the years how I was the stereotypical, Beavis and Butt-Head watching metal head type growing up in the ’90s. Yet by the time the late ’90s had arrived and I had relocated to Volusia County, FL, I had no idea at the time that I was neighboring at that point with legendary metal drummer Gar Samuelson of Megadeth, who was now residing right next door to me in nearby Orange City.
After performing on the first two, now-classic Megadeth albums – 1985’s Killing Is My Business…and Business Is Good! and 1986’s Peace Sells…but Who’s Buying?, Samuelson was abruptly dismissed from the group along with guitarist Chris Poland for substance abuse issues in 1987. Yet his playing on each of these records was enough to earn him a rightful spot alongside the the greats within the thrash metal world.
Samuelson briefly played in an act called Metalist prior to relocating to central, FL and forming Fatal Opera in 1990, alongside his brother Stew Samuelson on guitar, Dave Inman on vocals (and later Andy Freeman), Travis Karcher on bass, and guitarist Jeff Bloom (and later, Billy Brehme). The band released two albums throughout the ’90s – 1995’s Self-Titled effort, and 1997’s The Eleventh Hour, before Samuelson’s untimely passing from liver failure in 1999 at the age of just 41. (Former Megadeth bandmate Dave Mustaine would later announce Gar’s death at the Woodstock festival that same year, and the reissue of the first album in 2002 would ultimately be dedicated to him). A belated third effort titled Fatal Opera 3 was also released years later in 2022.
Needless to say when I first heard about all of this sometime later in the 2000’s, I was intrigued, and eventually started slowly but surely checking out his work with Fatal Opera, which was all fairly solid enough in its own right. Fast forward to 2020, I started retracing of sorts some of Gar’s steps, visiting the area (as best as I could anyway – see photo below) where Gar turned a former barn in Orange City into a recording studio, and opening communication with bassist and former Fatal Opera bandmate Travis Karcher.
For whatever reason, life got in the way though, and the project more or less just fizzled out. But alas, I’m not one to let things go by the wayside no matter how much time might’ve passed, and it was finally time to pay tribute to Samuelson the only way I knew how (and in time for what would’ve been his 68th birthday on February 18th no less, too), and began talking to Karcher once more about resurrecting the project.
When I initially spoke with him nearly six years ago now, we of course discussed that previously-mentioned recording studio, to which Karcher said; “I think the band would be flattered to hear it called it a studio, since we built it out of an old tractor barn/metal shed. (Laughs) Gar called it Headstone Heavy Recorders, and most of the experience was self-taught. I’d be surprised if the building is still there, although it may be, but I doubt it’d still be in the condition it was when we used it.”
Location of the former Headstone Heavy Recorders in Orange City, FL, built and utilized by the metal band Fatal Opera in the 1990’s. (Photo by Jesse Striewski, October 2020)
Once I started talking with Travis again recently in late 2025, I wanted to go back even further, and hear how he and Gar had originally met. He informed me; “I met both Gar and Stew through a friend of mine, John, who was a rock memorabilia collector, specifically guitar pics. He was thumbing through the Volusia County phone book one day and found Gar and called him, and was surprised when he actually answered. Gar said he didn’t have anything for him, but that he was looking for a bass player for a band he was starting with his brother. I went and auditioned on a Tuesday, and came back again two days later for another rehearsal. After that, my equipment didn’t leave Gar’s house for ten years. I was nineteen at the time and fresh out of high school, and Gar and Stew were in their 30’s.”
He continued; “In that time there were a lot of lineup changes, but the core of Gar, Stew, and myself always stayed the same. We also had a record contract with the German label Massacre Records (which also had King Diamond on it), and put out two albums on their label.” He continued further; “I still talk to (guitarist) Bill Brehme, and actually asked him to play leads on some of the current material I’m working on. Bill and I were involved in a minimal role in Fatal Opera 3, but it was mostly Andy’s show. I really haven’t spoken to Andy in a few years. Most of us are not too thrilled with the way that project came out.”
Still unsure if I had ever caught the band live during their ’90s run, I was also wondering what venues the band had played “back in the day.” Karcher stated; “We played a lot of shows around Florida. We started at a small bar near the Naval training center in Orlando called the Sunburst Pub. We also played at the Fairbanks Inn, The Beacham Theater, The Fern Park Station, and probably a few more I’m forgetting about. And we also played a lot of Daytona gigs, a few shows in Tampa and Jacksonville, and some road trips down south to Melbourne, Fort Lauderdale, and Fort Myers.”
Fatal Opera flyer from the personal collection of bassist Travis Karcher.
A few more things I was definitely curious about was whether or not Fatal Opera ever played any Megadeth covers in their set lists or not, as well as what Gar’s thoughts were on the band’s material released after his tenure with them. Karcher explained; “We never played any of the Megadeth stuff, nor was it ever talked or thought about. I think we all understood that Fatal Opera was its own project.”
He continued; “Of course Gar thought So Far, So Good…So What! would’ve been better with him playing on it, but I think he liked Rust in Peace since we heard it before it came out via a demo and listened to it around the studio. I also remember him saying Countdown to Extinction was a little too commercial, though I know Gar really liked and respected Nick Menza.” And as far as what Gar might’ve (hypothetically) thought on Megadeth’s latest, final studio album if he were still here with us today? Karcher stated; “I think he would’ve thought that it was more or less Dave solo with hired guns?”
And last but not least, regarding what Travis has been up to himself these days musically that we touched upon earlier? He informed me; “I’ve been working with an electronic music producer friend of mine who comes from the EDM world. We are working on some crossover style music in the same vein as Nine Inch Nails or Stabbing Westward. I don’t really know what to call it at the moment, but it’s loud and aggressive, just the way I like it!”
We’ll definitely keep an eye out for any and all upcoming music from Travis (and be sure to do the same!), and happy heavenly birthday, Gar!
