THE FIRST POTENTIALLY COOL THING DAVE MUSTAINE HAS DONE ALL YEAR
Dave Mustaine has been going out of his way to be a Megadouche this year. The real question is, what kind of effect — if any — will his (often undeniably bigoted) political beliefs have his on his career? Over the weekend, a friend who writes for another prominent metal website told me they’re not even going to cover Megadeth anymore, so disgusted are they by his antics; another reputable source tells me some labels are hesitant to sign Megadeth (their contract with Roadrunner now being up) because “times have changed… [Mustaine] doesn’t make enough money to make putting up with his bullshit worth it.”
The real test of whether or not Megadeth’s fans care about Mustaine’s personal views on the state of the world may be this: will they turn out for the band’s just-announced North American headlining tour, on which ‘Deth will celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Countdown to Extinction by playing the album in its entirety?
I have to say, I’m conflicted myself. I’m a firm believer that Mustaine’s vocal chords should be retired — and not just because of his rhetoric. I saw Megadeth live twice in 2011, and on at least one of those occasions, Mustaine’s vocals were so off-key that he made Vince Neil sound like frickin’ Pavarotti. And recent live footage of the band suggests that such a performance isn’t the exception — it’s the rule. Meanwhile, I know if I was at a Megadeth performance and Mustaine decided to go on some kind of misguided political rant, I’d either wanna throw my beer at him, walk out, or throw my beer at him and get thrown out.
But it’s no secret that I love Countdown to Extinction with all my heart, and the chance to hear the band perform some of the cuts from that album that they rarely play live any more may be too much for me to pass up, even if this version of Megadeth is missing some key ingredients from the Megadeth that actually made the record– like Marty Friedman and Nick Menza. I tell ya what, if Mustaine somehow lured/allowed them back into the band, I’d go see this tour in a heartbeat. In fact, the news that the band will also re-release Countdown on November 6 with a bonus live recording of a 1992 Megadeth concert the band in played in San Francisco almost makes me feel like my best bet may just be listening to said bonus live recording and not attending this trek. ‘Cause that recording will not only have Friedman and Menza on it, but, presumably, also features a Mustaine whose voice doesn’t sound like a poodle being raped by Peter North.
What do you folks think? Will you go to this tour, or is the combined prospect of a shitty Mustaine vocal performance and a shitty Mustaine political rant enough to keep your money firmly in your wallet?
Dates are below if you do plan to attend. Support will come from Kyng, a hard rock band I really like (which is something else to consider when deciding whether or not to attend).
Nov 09 – Providence, RI @ Lupo ‘s Heartbreak Hotel
Nov 10 – Huntington, NY @ Paramount Theatre
Nov 11 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
Nov 13 – Wallingford, CT @ Oakdale Theatre
Nov 14 – Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
Nov 16 – Atlantic City, NJ @ House Of Blues
Nov 17 – @ Niagara Falls, NY @ Rapids Theatre
Nov 19 – Stroudsberg, PA @ Sherman Theater
Nov 20 – Columbus, OH @ LC Pavilion
Nov 24 – Myrtle Beach, SC @ House Of Blues
Nov 25 – Charlotte, NC @ Fillmore
Nov 26 – Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
Nov 28 – Kansas City, MO @ Midland Theatre
Dec 01 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Great Saltair
Dec 02 – Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory
Dec 04 – Reno, NV @ Grand Sierra Theatre
Dec 06 – Las Vegas, NV @ House Of Blues
Dec 07 – Pomona, CA @ Fox Theatre
-AR
[via Metal Insider]
