Iconic German WACKEN OPEN AIR has recently revealed the name of the bands who are confirmed for the next year festival. The list of the bands can be read below:
Iron Maiden
Megadeth
The Dropkick Murphys
Wardruna
Jinjer
Beartooth
Two Steps From Hell
Ensiferum
Deicide
Pentagram
Nervosa
Burning Witches
Hot on the heels of the first ever commercial release earlier this year of a rare acoustic set from 2001, Unplugged In Boston, metal giants MEGADETH have another treat in store for fans: a monster, fully electrified and electrifying concert extravaganza filmed in Argentina 2005 to a stadium full of 25,000 adoring fans. A Night In Buenos Aires finds founder/vocalist Dave Mustaine leading his band of metal magicians – guitarist Glen Drover, drummer Shawn Drover, and bassist James MacDonough – through several of Megadeth’s best loved tracks including “Symphony Of Destruction,” “Tornado Of Souls,” and “Holy Wars…The Punishment Due” PLUS several tracks from the then brand new album The System Has Failed. The concert is being released on all formats including digital, on CD as a 2 disc gatefold wallet, and in a deluxe 3LP vinyl set that comes in a variety of colors from 180 GRAM BLACK to PURPLE SPLATTER to CLEAR, RED & BLUE, as well as a deluxe multi-media box set that includes a Blu-ray, a DVD and two CDs! Each release comes with a complete set of liner notes written by Mustaine reflecting on this historic and memorable live performance.
For a sneak preview of this killer live album, just check out the group’s phenomenal version of the longtime fan favorite “Holy Wars…The Punishment Due,” which has been released today on all digital stores and on YouTube in a clip from the Blu-ray.
Just recently, Italian bass master and composer ALBERTO RIGONI (solo, BAD AS, NATURAL BORN MACHINE, Bassists Alliance Project, Vivaldi Metal Project etc.) announced his new project and EP, ‘Metal Addicted‘, coming out August 15th, containing covers of Pantera, Megadeth, Slayer, Metallica and Anthrax.
Today Alberto releases the second official video for MEGADETH‘s “Symphony Of Destruction“, watch it below.
Besides Alberto, ‘Metal Addicted’ EP features female singer Ira Green (Winner of THE VOICE as Rock singer in 2015), legendary drummer Marco Minnemann (The Aristocrats), guitarists Tommy Massara (Extrema), Loida Liuzzi (soloist) and Albert Marshall (soloist, session man).
Drums recorded at Lakeshore Studios (LA, USA) and mixed by Simone Mularoni at Domination Studio (Italy) Tracks mixed and mastered by Alberto Rigoni Tommy Massara photo by Luca Passerotti
Born in 1981, Alberto Rigoni is an Italian bass player and composer, internationally known for his career as a solo artist and as a member of the metal band BAD As, The Italians, Natural Born Machines Lady & THE BASS, co-producer of the Vivaldi Metal Project and member of progressive rock band TwinSpirits (no more active).
Between 2008 and 2020 Alberto has released worldwide 9 solo album (Something Different, Rebirth, Three Wise Monkeys, Overloaded, BASSORAMA, Duality, EvoRevolution, Prog Injection, Odd Times), spanning from progressive rock metal to fusion. His albums also featured legendary musicians such as Kevin Moore (ex Dream Theater), Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree, King Crimson), Marco Minnemann (the Aristocrats), Göran Edman (ex Yngwie Malmsteen), Michael Manring and many others. Alberto has been featured on the cover of magazines such as Bass Magazine (Japan), Bass Musician Magazine (USA), Bajos Y Bajistas (Spain), Basistas (Poland), TOP BASS (Poland). Moreover, in March 2015 the prestigious Bass Guitar Magazine (UK) released Alberto’s CD anthology called “Into THE BASS.”
Alberto has also recorded for several international artists such as Italian pop singer Alexia and he is also playing bass for Canadian rock singer and songwriter Kim Bingham (ex-Nelly Furtado) and The Italians, sharing stages with artists such as Alan Parson, Suzanne Vega, Jørn Lande, Paul Gilbert, Vinnie Moore and others.
In 2016 founded a new metal band called BADASS (now called BAD As) which released three albums (More Pain More Gain, Midnight Curse and Crucified Society.
On December 15th 2017, Rigoni together with bassist Jeff Hughell (Six Feet Under) released a new studio project called Bassists Alliance. The first album “Crush” featured top notch bassists such as Michael Manring, Adam Nitti, Steve di Giorgio, Colin Edwin, Mark Mitchell, Scott Reeder, Dmitry Lisenko, Brandino BassMaster, Ryan Martini, Leonid Maksimov, Tony Grey.
In 2019 founded a new AOR band called “Natural Born Machine” featuring famous Pink Cream 69 singer David Readman. Their debut album “Human” was released on February 19th 2021 by Pride and Joy Music.
Currently he is also collaborating with famous producer Hiro Furuya (Elton John, Eric Clapton, etc.) as session bassist.
His tenth album “For The Love of Bass” feat. all star bassists such as Nathan East, Lee Sklar, Michael Manring, Doug Wimbish and many others will be released on April 2nd 2021.
In just over a month, the must-see Metal Tour Of The Year co-headlined by MEGADETH and LAMB OF GOD will lay waste to cities across North America as the highly anticipated trek finally hits the road. Joining them as previously planned will be special guests TRIVIUM, however it has been announced today that due to international visa issues, special guests IN FLAMES will not be able to join the tour. Fans should not fear, joining the tour in their place will be none other than HATEBREED. Tickets and VIP packages for this most epic metal extravaganza are on-sale now from LiveNation.com.
MEGADETH, fueled by Dave Mustaine’s triumphant return to the stage following his diagnosis and recovery of throat cancer, will finally embark on their first North American tour since 2017. Speaking on the long-awaited announcement of the rescheduled run, MEGADETH’s leader and frontman, Dave Mustaine says,
“Can you hear that sound of armies on the march – of destruction on the horizon? That’s this tour, coming for you. We cannot wait to return to the stage and I promise you you do NOT want to miss these shows. You’re not going to know what hit you!”
LAMB OF GOD pressed ahead with the release of their crushing self-titled album, Lamb of God, which was one of the best- selling metal albums of 2020. The band now looks to take the show on the road as they return to the stage for the first time since the release of the record. Randy Blythe, inimitable frontman of LAMB OF GOD, adds,
“It’s been far too long since we got together to do our thing— by ‘we’ I mean bands, road crew, bus drivers, truck drivers, local venue staff, vendors, audience, parking lot attendants, the freaking janitors- the whole damn enchilada. ALL OF US. TOGETHER. Everyone has been waiting, but the time has come to put the puzzle back together— I honestly don’t think I’ve ever been more ready to hit the road with lamb of god. See y’all in a few months with Megadeth, Trivium, & now Hatebreed. Over a year with no live music? These shows are gonna be INSANE…”
Produced by Live Nation, the epic, rescheduled tour will now kick off on Friday, August 20th in Austin, TX and hit a further 27 cities before wrapping in Quebec City, QC on Saturday, October 2nd . Full tour itinerary below.
Megadeth and Lamb of God 2021 North American Tour Dates:
Fri Aug 20 Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater Sat Aug 21 Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory Sun Aug 22 Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman Tue Aug 24 El Paso, TX – Don Haskins Center Wed Aug 25 Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater Fri Aug 27 Denver, CO – Ball Arena Sun Aug 29 Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Federal Theatre Tue Aug 31 Reno, NV – Reno Events Center Wed Sep 01 Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre Thu Sep 02 Concord, CA – Concord Pavilion Sat Sep 04 Portland, OR – Moda Center Sun Sep 05 Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre Thu Sep 09 Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – Chicago Sat Sep 11 Danville, VA – Blue Ridge Festival* Sun Sep 12 Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater Mon Sep 13 Boston, MA – Leader Bank Pavilion Wed Sep 15 Camden, NJ – B&T Pavilion Thu Sep 16 Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center Sat Sep 18 Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center Sun Sep 19 Clarkston, MI – DTE Energy Music Theatre Mon Sep 20 Cincinnati, ON – PNC Pavilion Wed Sep 22 Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP Fri Sep 24 Mount Pleasant, MI – Soaring Eagle Casino Amphitheatre Sat Sep 25 Indianola, IA – Knotfest Iowa** Sun Sep 26 St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – St. Louis Tue Sep 28 Minneapolis, MN – Armory Thu Sep 30 Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage Fri Oct 01 Laval, QC – Place Bell Sat Oct 02 Quebec City, QC – Centre Videotron
*Festival Date featuring all 4 bands.
**Festival Date, Knotfest Iowa does not include Hatebreed
It was one of the most unique and sought-after concert experiences in MEGADETH fandom – an intimate, scaled-down performance featuring Dave Mustaine & Co. on acoustic guitars stripping down their heavy metal anthems to their primal elements. These special engagements became the stuff of legend over the years and recordings of these performances were made available exclusively through the Megadeth fanclub. But now, the band have partnered with Los Angeles-based indie label Cleopatra Records to make this experience open to all with the first-ever commercial release of Unplugged In Boston, a spectacular acoustic concert recorded in 2001.
Coming just on the heels of the band’s stylishly aggressive album The World Needs A Hero, the set list kicks off with one of that album’s best tracks, the turbulent “Dread And The Fugitive Mind” before launching into a string of older favorites including several from the 1997 album Cryptic Writings as well as an excerpt from “Holy Wars…The Punishment Due.” But Mustaine & gang save the best for last, closing the show with a superb one-two punch of “Moto Psycho,” Hero’s highest charting single, and the unforgettable “Symphony Of Destruction,” Megadeth’s mainstream breakthrough that still manages to get the audience’s blood pumping! All in all, it’s an extraordinary concert that Megadeth fans will not want to miss!
Unplugged In Boston will be available on digital as well as digipak CD and vinyl in an array of color options to choose from.
Legendary Producer Max Norman and Coney Hatch Bassist Andy Curran recently were interviewed live on The Metal Voiceon Part 2 of a continuous Max Norman producer series.
Topics of conversation included Max Norman’s production work on: Coney Hatch Albums, Outa Hand and Friction; Megadeth Rust in Peace (Engineer), Countdown to Extinction and Youthanasia; Loudness Thunder in the East, Lightning Strikes, Soldier of Fortune.
In the interview Max Norman also made a statement in regards to David Ellefson’s recent dismissal by Megadeth. And Andy Curran mentions the upcoming Triumph 40 year anniversary box set of ‘Allied Forces’ that he put together.
Some highlights in the interview
On recording of the solos for Countdown to Extinction and who should play them “This is the responsibility of the producer, it is to maximize what you get. When I did ‘Countdown To Extinction’ I realized that Marty Friedman was such a great soloist so basically I said to Dave ( Mustaine) Marty should be doing pretty much all the solos, Dave (Mustaine) can do a few but Marty should do pretty much all the solos. When you are making a product at the end of the day you want to make it as good as possible. ” Max Norman
Statement in regards to David Ellefson recent incident on parting ways with Megadeth “My girlfriend sent me a link to the video I had no idea and I didn’t know what it was but I can’t unsee it now, that is the problem. I feel sorry for David (Ellefson), he made a mistake, it was a silly thing to do, I feel sorry for him. I also have kind of mixed feelings about this. I understand Mustaine removing him from the band. The one thing that Dave Mustaine will not tolerate is being made fun of because of his upbringing I guess and because of the way he is. I think (Mustaine) thought about this and thought about it. It’s a brand he has to protect. I don’t know this for a fact (just assuming) he was probably thinking I can’t go out on stage with this guy because everybody is going to be pointing at him (making a hand gesture). So I can’t really blame Mustaine but I see both sides of the story. I certainly don’t think that David Ellefson is a pedophile; he is probably guilty of what 90% of the other musicians out there have done at one stage or another. It feels a little weird because he is a pastor and there is this religious thing there as well. I see both sides and I don’t want to be judgmental about it. I feel sorry for David cause it’s going to affect his whole life and he has a whole lot of other stuff going on and it’s going to affect that stuff too, the guy is going to go through a real hard time. The only other thing I would like to say is if David (Ellefson) sees this maybe he will do this. I do think that he (Ellefson) should apologize publicly to his wife and his family for the embarrassment and maybe to Megadeth too I don’t know. But like I said I am not going to judge it. It is very unfortunate and kind of sad. Who knows the whole story, no one knows.” Max Norman
The origins about the Loudness album title Thunder in the East “I distinctly remember at the end of recording the album Friction (Coney Hatch), Max Said to us, so lads what are you going to call the record and I had pages and pages of titles and I was bouncing them off Max. And because we were from Eastern Canada I said what do you think about ‘Thunder in the East’ and Max said can I have that for Loudness? I was like absolutely you can. ” Andy Curran
“I have a totally different recollection of getting that title but Andy Curran might be right? I do remember flying back from Tokyo to New York and I was looking at a newspaper in the racing section because I was bored and I found out there were lots of really good names of horses. I thought this is a good source of album names and I remember seeing ‘Thunder in the East’ as one of the names of one of the horses. That’s my recollection.” Max Norman