Megadeth

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,^{[5][better source needed]} 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.^[6] (The band had previously recorded another demo in Reseda, though former Megadeth guitarist Greg Handevidt has indicated he no longer has a copy).^[7]

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;^[2] however, other sources, including the Megadeth website^[8] as well as Ultimate Classic Rock, state that the lineup for the demo was Mustaine, Ellefson, and Rauch.^[9] Samuelson would not join the band until October of 1984,^[10] though Ellefson recalls Gar joining around April of 1984.^[2] The same year, Rauch would leave the group due to internal conflict.

Dark Angel and Wargod

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^{[citation needed]}, 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:^[11] Intimate with Evil and Burning Insanity.

Ultimately, Wargod would eventually split-up in 1987.

Grimace

Though it is not entirely clear exactly when, Rauch drummed in short-lived Missourian thrash group Grimace during the late 1980s.^[12] This band produced the song "Hell's Angel", which featured on their only recording, a self-titled demo.^{[13][better source needed]}