Peter Frampton Blames Megadeth for Canceled Show, Dave Mustaine Says He’s “Talking Out of His Ass”
In what might be one of the most unexpected back and forth between old rock dudes, Peter Frampton and Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine apparently have differing ideas as to why their separate shows at Virginia Credit Union Live! at the Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia were canceled last week.
It all started when Megadeth announced that their show last Sunday was being axed due to “unexpected and unpredictable circumstances.” At the time, the band said the show would not be rescheduled. Super bummer for the fans that had tickets, but hey — them’s the breaks sometimes.
Then, two days later Frampton announced that he too had to cancel his show at the same venue, once again blaming “unforeseen circumstances.” Nothing more was said about the incident until a couple days later when, while performing at The Met in Philadelphia, Frampton decided to throw Megadeth under the bus.
“So, we had a show canceled the other day because of weather. And also Megadeth did a soundcheck, I think a couple of days before our show, and after they finished their soundcheck, there was structural damage to the stage. I’m not blaming them — could have been another band — but it looks pretty like it. So, sorry, Megadeth. I had to rat on you.”
Structural issues at venues are nothing to fuck with. There have been severe consequences in the past when poorly constructed or damaged stages have caused injuries or death at shows, so yeah — that’s a valid reason for canceling a show.
Yet according to Megadeth’s publicists at Schneider Rondan Organization, that’s not actually what happened. In a statement provided to Blabbermouth, the organization said the following:
“Based on Peter Frampton’s recent statement, Meagdeth feels it’s important to clear up some misinformation about the group’s recent show cancellation (Sunday, September 15 at Virginia Credit Union Live! at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia). As recently reported, Frampton stated that Megadeth’s soundcheck damaged the venue, forcing Frampton to also cancel his show there a few days later.
“Megadeth did not even get a chance to sound check at all in Richmond, Virginia contrary to what Peter Frampton reports. Megadeth’s rigger was in the venue’s steel grid system above the stage getting ready to hang the lights when he noticed there was damage to the venue’s grid. He pointed this out immediately to the promoters and the venue. It was determined that it was unsafe for Megadeth to hang their production or put the band on stage at the risk of in-house grid failure to support the weight of the touring lighting and sound which could fall on the band, crew members, or audience, as it could cause serious injury or death. Therefore, Megadeth, the local promoter, the venue, and booking agents had no other option than to cancel the show.”
Not one to let that be the only comment on the matter, Dave Mustaine weighed in with a comment I can’t hear without hearing a terrible impression of his voice in my head:
“It seems Frampton was misinformed about our show being canceled. The decision was purely based on safety. It’s disappointing when someone you admire talks out their ass about you.”
It’s safe to assume that’ll be the end of it. Both artists are currently on the road with their respective bands, so unless they happen to cross paths again, this is it.
