Get Ready To Be Megadethized!
Megadeth returns and will perform following Dave Mustaine‘s throat cancer diagnosis.
They recently opened up for Five Finger Death Punch at the Hartwell Arena in Helsinki, Finland, and delivered an 11-song set including fan favorites “Hangar 18,” “Peace Sells” and “Symphony of Destruction.” This was Megadeth’s first show since Oct. 27, 2018, at the Stadion Kridosono in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Mustaine announced the news regarding his health last June:
“I’ve been diagnosed with throat cancer,” he wrote. “It’s clearly something to be respected and faced head-on — but I’ve faced obstacles before. I’m working closely with my doctors, and we’ve mapped out a treatment plan which they feel has a 90 percent success rate. The treatment has already begun.”
During his treatment, he was required to cancel Megadeth’s entire tour schedule for 2019, which includes the headline slot on the inaugural Megacruise, so instead, Lamb Of God recruited to take their place. Good news though, Dave and the rest of the gang will continue their work in the studio to create a follow-up to their Grammy Award Winner, 2016’s Dystopia.
One of the tracks from the “in-the-works” album features vocals by bassist Dave Ellefson which was inspired by one of Kiss’s biggest hits.
Mustaine recalled:
“I said, ‘Yeah, we should write a song like ‘Beth,’ where it’s a ballad and it’s just you singing it. I think you should write a song about what it’s like being in Megadeth with me, because I read all your lyrics, and I know that your lyrics are aimed at me. You’re upset. So why don’t you write about it?’ … It was actually really cool to see Ellefson writing something and hear him singing.”
A month prior to the Megacruise, Mustaine shared an update regarding his condition:
“I’m almost through the last round of treatment and my doctors are feeling very positive regarding my progress,” he wrote. “I want to thank all of you for the support and well wishes these last few months. I can’t express enough gratitude as it has made this hard road easier knowing you are in my corner fighting with me!”
He also revealed that his former Metallica bandmate, James Hetfield texted him a message of support:
“Contrary to what anybody says, and contrary to any of the act that we put on, I love James and I know that James loves me and cares about me,” he said. “You can see that when the moment of truth is here and I’m telling the world that I’ve got a life-threatening disease. Who comes to stand next to me? James.”
Megadeth with Five Finger Death Punch will continue on the road until Feb. 20 concluding their tour in Budapest, Hungary. Check the tour dates below.
Megadeth, Jan. 20, 2020, Helsinki, Finland, Set List
1. “Hangar 18”
2. “Wake Up Dead”
3. “Sweating Bullets”
4. “Dawn Patrol”
5. “Trust”
6. “A Tout Le Monde”
7. “She-Wolf”
8. “Dystopia”
9. “Symphony of Destruction”
10. “Peace Sells”
Encore
11. “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due”
Watch the video below Dave Mustaine Is Back!: