Megadeth Contemplate Playing Older Songs On Tour

Megadeth mainstay/speed metal originator Dave Mustaine is adored and hated for his take-no-shit attitude, and has made friends and enemies the world over for saying it how he sees it whether he's right or wrong.

While many people have revelled in Mustaine's gossipy past, there's a distinct lack of drama as his band (completed by guitarist Chris Broderick, drummer Shawn Drover and bassist James LoMenzo) prepare to release Endgame, their 12th studio effort. The 11-track album is coherent, complex and compelling and showcases the inner peace Mustaine has spent years developing.

"I'm quite happy," he states matter-of-factly, referring not just to life but Endgame and the band's forthcoming tour. "The chemistry in the band is really working. I'm particularly excited because James just came over and I said that since we have such a varied catalogue, we should just pick our most mind-blowing songs (for our upcoming tour with Slayer)."

Mustaine says with Megadeth working so well, the band may even reach as far back as their 1985 Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good! debut for songs to perform.

"We couldn't perform some songs for the big arenas because (they're) so fast, by the time we start the song and the intro hits the back of the room, the song's over on the stage," he notes.

"We want to make sure the shows are as great sounding as possible, so we've had to forego songs we want to play in order to give a better example of how we sound, what our songs are like, 'cause this is the only chance we get to show people what Megadeth is about.

"We're gonna be adding a lot of old songs to the set; stuff you haven't seen for a long time. To me, that kind of stuff is really fun. We might add, 'These Boots Are Made For Walkin'.' It's simple but there's so much haulin' ass at the end that you really have to be prepared to do it. You gotta come ready to work."

Given his bandmates' storied histories (they've spent time with Dio, Nevermore, Eidolon, Black Label Society and... um... While Lion), being ready to work is no issue. Unfortunately for Mustaine, there is a contentious issue. Were it up to the enthusiastic bassist LoMenzo, the quartet might be off and running on some sort of cover jam spree.

"James thought the idea was great. He thought it would be interesting to do 'I Ain't Superstitious.' He said, 'At the end of a set, it's always great to do a cover song.'

"I'm like, 'Well, yeah... if you're not playing a 60-minute set with Slayer and trying to squeeze every second of space to get a song in! Why do I want to do a song by Jeff Beck and a song by Willie Dixon when I could be doing a song by me? Know what I'm saying?'"

Megadeth will play these dates:

Oct. 5 Auckland, New Zealand @ Logan Campbell Centre
Oct. 7 Brisbane, Australia @ Riverstage
Oct. 8 Sydney, Australia @ Hordern Pavilion
Oct. 9 Melbourne, Australia @ Festival Hall
Oct. 11 Adelaide, Australia @ Thebarton Theatre
Oct. 13 Perth, Australia @ Challenge Stadium
Oct. 17 Chiba, Japan @ Makuhari Messe
Oct. 19 Osaka, Japan @ Namba Hatch
Oct. 20 Nagoya, Japan @ Diamond Hall