Megadeth frontman/guitarist Dave Mustaine recently commented on his experiences touring with the “big four” (Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax) overseas, here’s what he had to offer on the experience:

“So now that the Big Four dates have come and gone, I feel it is time to check-in, say, “Hello” and tell you what has been going on in my world.

First off, when we left San Marcos and Mustaine Music Studios aka ‘Vic’s Garage,’ we had no idea what to expect, other than the fact that we wanted to make a point; we wanted to make the other bands feel comfortable, we wanted the fans to all leave this momentous occasion feeling completely satiated, we wanted the guys in Metallica to know that we could be depended on to pull our share…

I don’t know if we delivered for everyone, but for the tens of thousands of people each night, and ultimately hundreds of thousands of fans over the entire run of the Big Four festivals (affectionately dubbed “Sonisphere”), it seemed to me that the fans were finally able to put aside the silly stuff that the press has kept on life support for so many, many years. We did several round-table interviews with a member from each camp of the Big Four, and one thing that was a constant and that we all agreed on was that the press was the responsible parties for keeping the feuds alive.

You heard it straight from our mouths; we are all at peace with one another, and we all are friends. End of story – or in other words, several shit magazines will now have to learn how to write real interviews, reviews, and features, instead of causing so much turmoil with us four, all in the spirit of selling their publications.”

Megadeth abruptly ended their set last night at Rams Head Live in Baltimore, MD as a result of problems with the venues PA system. The band attempted to continue their set after some time but were eventually forced to cut the show short following a drink being spilled on the mixing board.

A video of band frontman Dave Mustaine’s initial address to the crowd during the set can be found below:

Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine recently commented further on the ‘top secret project’ he’s been working on as of late, he offered the following:

“We finally finished the top secret project I have been working on and let’s just say that I have no doubt that it will be in just about every Heavy Metal music fans’ hands, one way or another, within the next year. I am so thankful for the turnaround of events and for Megadeth being able to be a part of your music life for so many, many years.

From the moment we started working on this new track until just Monday, it was a nail-biting experience, but also from day one until its completion we were being challenged by the excitement of the project, keeping it up to the quality that they expect from us and that they deserve, all while trying to contain all of this good that has been happening for me and for Megs.”

Megadeth have officially reunited with original bassist David Ellefson. The official press release on the matter can be found below:

Megadeth founder and frontman Dave Mustaine has announced the return of original bassist David Ellefson (1983-2002) to the iconic multi-platinum group. This reunion is appropriately timed to Megadeth’s upcoming historic month-long Rust In Peace 20th anniversary tour which launches March 1 in Spokane, WA. At these incredibly special shows, Megadeth will play their landmark, genre-defining 1990 album Rust In Peace in its entirety, in addition to other Megadeth favorites.

“This shows the power of brotherly love and forgiveness,” Mustaine says. “David Ellefson belongs in Megadeth. Next we are going to show you the power of getting your asses kicked…HARD!”

David Ellefson concurs: “This is a huge moment for all of us, band and fans alike. It is a great celebration of the music from one of the biggest landmark albums of our career.”

Ellefson will join Mustaine and Megadeth band members Shawn Drover (drums) and Chris Broderick (guitar) on tour in support of the group’s current CD Endgame, which has received some of the highest critical accolades of the band’s career.

“We’d like to thank James LoMenzo for several years of loyal service on the bass, and wish him the very best,” Mustaine adds.

Megadeth frontman/guitarist Dave Mustaine recently checked in with the following update regarding the bands rehearsals for their upcoming “Rust In Peace” 20th anniversary tour:

“RIP rehearsal are going pretty good. We are sorting out some new gear, organizing the stuff we’ve got, hot-rodding everything, and deciding on several aspects of the show. Of course we realize that RIP was approximately 45 minutes long, and our show is longer than that, that we are going to need to keep several other classics in the show as well as our favorite new songs too.

So far we went over Holy Wars, Hangar 18, Tornado of Souls, Take No Prisoners, Five Magics, and Poison Was The Cure. I am letting a DAT run in the background for serendipity in case I have a moment where I come up with something new and it doesn’t slip away if I don’t record it.

It may sound strange to hear that we are going over the songs that we already know, but this is a pivotal record in Heavy Metal and it didn’t become that way by playing what we think is right. We have all been under the microscope and we have found several things that we have improved on, as well as learning the new RIP songs, and I can’t stop smiling while we are playing.

Its kinda cool too to be brainwashing myself with RIP before we get ready to go into the studio for our ultimate Roadrunner record. I am not going to go on record and say anything yet until I can sing over these songs, but for now, watching Chris play these solos is mind-blowing. Its just like Marty was here again.

When you guys ’see’ Shawn you are going to be blown away, as well as how ferociously he is playing right now. Speaking of Shawn, we are getting ready to go with James up to the Grammys today, and do some pre-lim stuff. Shawn and I wrote “Head Crusher,” and the funny thing is that this is my eight nomination and I have never won.

I think what’s the use going, but then I see Shawn’s enthusiasm for his first time ever being nominated, and I am actually excited for our chances and for him. Of course we are nominated in a category with formidable competition, and they are all of our friends. I actually joked with Kerry King and said, “Can ya let us win it this year?”

Honestly, I don’t think I was ready to fully appreciate what this all means the previous times. I know that we may win, and that we may not. I know what it feels like to lose, and I would like to know what it feels like to win. I mean I would really be excited if Shawn and I won, but either way we have been recognized by our peers to be one of the best and I am proud to be back in the finals for the Grammys.”

Following Metallica’s recent confirmation that they will be sharing the stage with Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax this coming summer; members of Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax have also chimed in on the shows.

The official press release on the matter can be found below:

The world wide web has been abound with speculation on a possible “BIG FOUR” tour for several months. Now, SONISPHERE can exclusively reveal that METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX will play together for the first time in history, in a move that will have metalheads across the globe frenzied with excitement.

Says LARS ULRICH/METALLICA of this historic announcement:
“Who would have thought that more than 25 years after its inception, thrash metal’s big 4 would not only still be around and more popular than ever, but will now play together for the first time…what a mindfuck! Bring it on!”

“It’s about fucking time this happened,” said SLAYER’s KERRY KING. “and about time the fans finally get what they want. This is fucking awesome.”

ANTHRAX guitarist SCOTT IAN agrees, commenting on the enormity of the announcement.

“People have been talking about these four bands playing together since 1984. That’s twenty-six years of expectation!!! And the thing is, I believe not only will we live up to the expectations, we will shatter them!!

No other four bands as influential as the four of us have ever done this. Imagine if The Beatles, Stones, The Who and Zeppelin had done shows? Or Sabbath, Priest, Maiden, Motorhead? Well, I may be getting into some rarified air here but as a fan, that’s how big I feel this is.”

These four legendary acts broke out of the underground thrash movement to dominate the metal world in the 1980s, selling millions of records and packing arenas across the globe.

The metal giants have never before all shared the same stage, despite huge demand. But on 16th June 2010, METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX will take to the SONISPHERE stage at Bemowo Airport, Poland, to make the dreams of headbangers the world over become a reality.

A second Big Four appearance is planned for SONISPHERE CZECH REPUBLIC three days later, with more SONISPHERE shows featuring the awesome combo to be announced in the coming days and weeks.

“This is a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity for Heavy Metal “Fans” to see the four greatest Heavy Metal “Bands” in American History back together on one stage” concludes MEGADETH mainman DAVE MUSTAINE. “If there are any heads left at the end of this Festival that haven’t banged, they don’t belong there.”

Additional details on the Sonisphere Festival’s can be found over at www.sonispherefestivals.com.

Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine recently checked in with an update and addressed the long running rumors of a potential tour with the ‘big four’ (Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax. He had the following to say about the rumors:

“There has been a lot of talk about the possibility of a Big Four Tour and while I find the timing peculiar, the opportunity is a once in a lifetime opportunity, because we all are really so very different now, and the chances of this happening are probably not going to come around again in the future; due to personal plans, new ventures, and the inevitable passing of torches to the next generation in each of our respective genres (or the sub-genres that were created).
While there is nothing to say at this point, if it happens, when it happens we, as well as my other three fellow horsemen, will let you know.”