Megadeth

MEGADETH frontman Dave Mustaine has big news for metal fans: Gigantour is back, and Megadeth has a new guitarist. The third installment of Gigantour - the acclaimed traveling heavy music festival launched in 2005 by Mustaine--will kick off April 12 in Denver, CO with headliner Megadeth, Scandinavian death metal band IN FLAMES, Finland's CHILDREN OF BODOM, Arizona's modern extreme JOB FOR A COWBOY and Oakland, CA heavy power trio HIGH ON FIRE all confirmed. The 29-date trek will criss-cross North America and wraps May 22 in Phoenix , AZ.

Mustaine sums up the philosophy behind v, hailed by Revolver magazine as "the mother of all shred-fests" : "If the bands and the fans are treated well, then the entertained and the entertainers go home happy - it's a win-win situation." Since its inception in 2005, Gigantour has galvanized bands that emphasize true musicianship and virtuosity, offering them a new opportunity to showcase their talents. "I think that in a small way, we are cleaning up the environment of crappy bands," he says, laughing. "All of the people that really love this kind of music know that they can count on these bands to deliver the goods this year."

In other Megadeth news, the group has officially welcomed new guitarist Chris Broderick (Nevermore, Jag Panzer) to the band after parting ways with Glen Drover - which was hinted at back in November. "I've noticed [on the Internet] that people are pissed with me over the way things were handled with Glen quitting the group," says Mustaine, "but they're gonna be pissed even more when they hear how fierce we are with Chris! Megadeth is playing at a new level." Broderick will make his live debut with Megadeth February 4 in Finland, where the group--guitarist/singer Mustaine, guitarist Broderick, drummer Shawn Drover and James Lomenzo on bass - is kicking off a long string of international dates which wrap March 14 in Bangalore, India. The full itinerary, including Gigantour UK dates, is below. To see Broderick in action, click here

Gigantour features bands hand-picked by Mustaine with a sharp eye on true musicianship and a heavy focus on top-notch guitarists. The first incarnation in 2005 included DREAM THEATER, FEAR FACTORY, NEVERMORE, LIFE OF AGONY, SYMPHONY X, DRY KILL LOGIC and BOBAFLEX, while the 2006 trek included LAMB OF GOD, OPETH, ARCH ENEMY, OVERKILL, INTO ETERNITY, SANCTITY and THE SMASHUP. The trek always offers a strong connection between fans and musicians.

VIP ticket packages are available--via www.gigantour.com, www.megadeth.com and www.ticketmaster.com, and -- whereby fans can take a personal photo with Megadeth at an exclusive meet and greet session and receive an official tour laminate, guitar picks, etc.

For more Megadeth news, check out here or leave a message for Dave Mustaine at 866-597-MEGA.

Megadeth live dates:

February (Megadeth headlining dates)

4 - Helsinki, Finland - Old Ice Hall

6 - Stockholm, Sweden - Arena

7 - Oslo, Norway - Sentrum Scene

8 - Copenhagen, Denmark - KB Halle

10 - Berlin, Germany - Columbiahalle

11 - Dortmund, Germany - Westfallenhalle

13 - Luxembourg City, Luxembourg - Den Atelier

14 - Amsterdam, Holland - Paradiso

15 - Antwerp, Belgium - Hof Ter Lo

February (Gigantour UK with Megadeth, Job For a Cowboy, Evile)

17 - Norwich, UK - UEA

18 - Nottingham, UK - Rock City

19 - Glasgow, Scotland - Academy

20 - Newcastle, UK - Academy

22 - Birmingham, UK - Academy

23 - Manchester, UK - Academy

24 - London, UK - Brixton Academy

February (Megadeth headlining dates)

26 - Paris, France - Elysee Montmartre

28 - Barcelona, Spain - Razzmatazz

29 - Madrid, Spain - Macumba

March (Megadeth headlining dates)

1 - Bilbao, Spain - Santana 27

3 - Zurich, Switzerland - Rohstofflager

4 - Milan, Italy - Alcatraz

5 - Pordenone, Italy - Palasport

7 - Zlin, Czech Republic - Zimni Stadion (Metalmania 2008)

8 - Katowice, Poland - Spodek (Metalmania 2008)

10 - Munich, Germany - Zenith

11 - Frankfurt, Germany - Hugenottenhalle

14 - Bangalore, India - Rock In India Festival

April (Gigantour with Megadeth, In Flames, Children of Bodom, Job For a Cowboy, High on Fire

12 - Denver, CO - The Fillmore

13 - Albuquerque, NM - Journal Pavilion

15 - Dallas, TX - Nokia Theatre

16 - Corpus Christi, TX - Concrete Street Pavilion

17 - Houston, TX - Verizon Wireless Theatre

19 - Louisville, KY - Louisville Gardens

20 - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle

22 - New York, NY - Hammerstein Ballroom

24 - Worcester, MA - Palladium

26 - Baltimore, MD - Merriweather Post Pavilion

28 - Quebec City, QC - Pavilion De La Jeunesse

29 - Montreal, QC Bell Centre

30 - Toronto, ON Arrow Hall

May

1 - London, ON - John Labatt Centre

3 - Detroit, MI - DTE Music Center

4 - Cleveland, OH - Time Warner Cable Amphitheater

6 - Chicago, IL - Aragon

7 - Milwaukee, WI - Eagles Ballroom

9 - Minneapolis, MN - Myth

10 - Winnipeg, MB - Convention Center

11 - Saskatoon, SK - Prairieland Exhibition Hall

12 - Edmonton, AB - Shaw Conference Center

14 - Calgary, AB - The Corral

16 - Vancouver, BC - Pacific Coliseum

17 - Salem, OR - Salem Armory

19 - San Jose, CA - Event Center @ San Jose State

20 - San Diego, CA - Cox Arena

21 - Los Angeles, CA - Long Beach Arena

22 - Phoenix, AZ - Mesa Amphitheatre