Riots, Skydiving, Achy Breaky Hearts: Inside Megadeth's 'Countdown to Extinction'

On July 14th, 1992, Megadeth released their pivotal fifth full-length, Countdown to Extinction. Arriving in the wake of Metallica's big break into rock radio, 1991's "Black Album," Dave Mustaine swerved away from the hyper-technicality of his 1990 landmark, Rust in Peace, and penned catchier, more streamlined songs with massive shout-along choruses in an attempt to solidify Megadeth's place in a changing metal climate. The gambit worked, as Countdown to Extinction landed at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and remains the band's best-selling album — boasting fan-favorite hits like "Symphony of Destruction" and "Sweating Bullets." 

From recording "stone sober" during the L.A. Riots and crazy skydiving stunts, to getting bested on the charts by Miley Cyrus's dad, here are 10 things you didn't know about the eternally explosive Countdown to Extinction. Watch now.