The World Needs a Hero is the ninth studio album by American thrash metal band, Megadeth. "The World Needs a Hero" was released on May 12, 2001 through Sanctuary Records. It is Megadeth's last album to feature original bassist David Ellefson until he returned in 2010. It is also the only Megadeth album to feature Al Pitrelli on lead guitar and the last of two studio albums to feature drummer Jimmy DeGrasso.