MegadethMegadeth are icons of heavy metal. They can definitely headline their own tours and have many times, but in November, they return to Australia and New Zealand as special guests for Iron Maiden.
“Well, Iron Maiden is a really big influence for Megadeth,” Dave Mustaine, guitarist, singer, and founder of Megadeth, tells The Music.
“I’ve been a fan ever since the Killers record came out [in 1981], and I even had the 45” single at the Soundhouse stage,” he adds. “Somebody stole that motherfucker. Send it back!”
The Music caught up with Mustaine for an upcoming major interview, which will be published soon. “And yeah, I love Maiden,” he shares, recalling a sweet moment when Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris approached him at his last show playing with Metallica.
“I remember the last show I did with Metallica, we were playing in New York, and Steve had come, and he was standing in the back of the venue,” Mustaine said. “Once we were done playing, I went out and talked with him for a while, and I really remember thinking he was a cool guy and that Maiden was going to be enormous. And of course, look at them.”
Discussing the band’s upcoming return to Australia, Mustaine has plenty to look forward to, including some “silly” stuff.
“I have a lot of special memories,” he says. “You know, some silly ones like Moreton Bay bugs, and some more personal ones like my friends over in New Zealand in Crowded House, and a lot of the landmark stuff. It’s neat to see.
“Probably my all-time favourite thing about coming to Australia is the fans, the beaches, and the bugs.”
While Megadeth released their final album earlier this year – an energetic self-titled record – Mustaine feels like he still has more to give, especially in a live performance setting.
“It doesn’t feel like the end is nigh,” he tells The Music. “It feels like we’ve got a lot left to accomplish. So, the shows that we have left to play, we’re going to give it our absolute all.”
Keep your eyes peeled for The Music’s forthcoming interview with Mustaine, which arrives soon.
Megadeth return to Australia as special guests for Iron Maiden on their Run For Your Lives Tour – a 50th anniversary run that commemorates their first nine albums.
The tour begins with a two-night stint at Auckland’s Spark Arena on Saturday, 7 and Sunday, 8 November. Then, the two legends of heavy metal head to Australia.
Launching at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Wednesday, 11 November, the Australian run continues at Melbourne’s AAMI Park on Friday, 13 November, Sydney’s Allianz Stadium on Sunday, 15 November, and concludes with two nights at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Wednesday, 18 and Thursday, 19 November.
The Melbourne and Sydney shows mark the first time that Iron Maiden have headlined outdoor stadiums in Australia. Tickets to all dates are now available, with promoters TEG Dainty running a Father’s Day sale that ends at 11:59 pm tomorrow.
