Gar Samuelson, the man who sat behind the drumkit for Megadeth during the band's rise from obscurity to multi-platinum success, died at his Florida home last week at the age of 41.

Spokespeople for the late drummer say that Samuelson died of undiagnosed complications to the liver in Orange City, Florida on July 14.

Samuelson hooked up with Megadeth early in the band's career and went on to play on the band's breakthrough recordings "Killing Is My Business, And Business Is Good" (which went gold) and "Peace Sells, But Who's Buying" (which went multi-platinum).

Samuelson left the band in 1987 and was eventually replaced by Nick Menza, who himself left the group last year.

Samuelson spent the past few years running his own recording studio in Orange City. Services will be held for Samuelson in Orange City on July 31.