Gigantour 2005 Megadeth/Dream Theater........

[Kujo]

www.gigantour.com

Only 2 dates announced so far. I honestly dont know many songs by the other bands but with the 2 headliners I'm going to see this show. Of course I will be amazed if they actually come to florida.

[Izzy]

Yeah, Dave Mustaine proving that mad just isn't the word has AGAIN decided Megadeth shall continue, just months after declaring it was over, something he's been saying for years!

He's got a load of good bands on tour with him, its nothing less than a mini-festival. Apparently he's not heading over to the UK though, despite selling out every show over here British people are apparently sick of him, well atleast so he says

[echrisl]

Yeah, I'd go, but I saw 'Deth last November.  I'd rather see them in a club anyway, it's much more intimate, and cheaper.  I'd rather not pay extra to sit thru a bunch of crap bands.

[Malcolm]

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine has posted the following message I nthe "Forums" section of the band's official web site:

"Well, the weekend is upon us and it is a fabulous sunny day here in San Diego County. I am meeting with director Michael Sarna, who you remember did the 'Of Mice and Men' video, today to BBQ and go over a special project for Gigantour.

"We are discussing the making of a DVD of the entire event for your collection which will include everything from behind the 'metal curtain' of my office, working on the last details of the tour, to pre-production, to rehearsals and the bands all meeting up in Fresno, California, to taking the mighty festival on the road to you.

"It will hopefully feature songs, sound-checks, and other casual stuff that I know as a fan and friend of the bands of Gigantour, I will want to see. I hope you will too.

"There will be loads of stuff still updated and added to the Gigantour site in the days to come, and daily news updates regarding all the bands, so go there and check often!

"I will be announcing the next band for the second stage next week, as well as more confirmed tour dates.

"Lastly, Tuesday I will meet up with John Petrucci [DREAM THEATER] and Jeff Loomis [NEVERMORE] (who I am told once auditioned for MEGADETH, but I thought he was too young and said so?!?!), two amazing guitarist for a photo shoot in NYC. I am looking forward to meeting up with guys for numerous reasons, some of which are to hang out with great talent, but also to thank them for their contribution to this tour, and to this music genre that we all belong to. I also hope to get some tips from them too.

"I will try not to load myself with my favorite pizza in the world, yep, you all know, Ray's Pizza of NYC. And maybe I can meet Annie and some more Droogs again there if time permits. So if all my hard work at the gym has paid off, I should be able to afford to have two bites and a lick of a plain slice.

"I can't wait to see you all on the adventure, and thank you in person."

"I love you all and GOG!"

[Malcolm]

 More dates have been announced for Gigantour, a six-week festival trek co-headlined by MEGADETH and DREAM THEATER, who will be accompanied by other main-stage acts FEAR FACTORY, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN and NEVERMORE. Artists confirmed for the second stage include DRY KILL LOGIC, SYMPHONY X and BOBAFLEX. The dates so far are as follows:

Jul. 21 - Fresno, CA - Selland Arena
Jul. 22 - Las Vegas, NV - Thomas and Mack Arena
Jul. 23 - Phoenix, AZ - Cricket Amphitheater
Jul. 24 - Los Angeles, CA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Jul. 26 - Sacramento, CA - The Cove @ Cal Expo
Jul. 28 - San Diego, CA - OAT
Jul. 29 -Tucson, AZ - Casino Anselmo
Jul. 30 - Albuquerque, NM - Journal Amphitheater
Jul. 31 - Denver, CO - Coors Amphitheater
Aug. 02 - Dallas, TX - Nokia Live
Aug. 03 - Corpus Christi, TX - Concrete Street Amp
Aug. 05 - Atlanta, GA - Gwinett Arena
Aug. 06 - Orlando, FL - Hard Rock Live
Aug. 07 - West Palm Beach, FL - Sound Advice Amp
Aug. 08 - Tampa, FL - St. Pete's Times Forum
Aug. 10 - Detroit, MI - DTE Energy Amphitheatre
Aug. 11 - Ft.Wayne, IN - Coliseum Expo
Aug. 12 - Chicago, IL - Tweeter Center
Aug. 13 - Milwaukee, WI - Eagles Ballroom
Aug. 14 - Cleveland, OH - Tower City Amphitheater
Aug. 17 - Pittsburg, PA - Chevrolet Amphitheater
Aug. 19 - Portland, ME - Civic Center
Aug. 20 - Manchester, NH - Verizon Wireless Amp
Aug. 21 - Poughkeepsie, NY - Mid Hudson Civic Center
Aug. 23 - Wantagh, NY - Jones Beach Amphitheater
Aug. 24 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
Aug. 26 - Boston, MA - Bank of American Pavilion
Aug. 27 - Reading, PA - Soverign Center
Aug. 28 - Atlantic City, NJ - House Of Blues
Aug. 30 - Buffalo, NY - Darien Lakes Amphitheater
Sep. 02 - Montreal, Quebec - Bell Center
Sep. 03 - Toronto, Ontario - Molson Amphitheater

Gigantour follows MEGADETH's sold-out 2004 "Blackmail The Universe" tour in support of last year's "The System Has Failed" ? MEGADETH's tenth studio album ? which debuted on the charts at #18 and was critically hailed as a brilliant return to form. Bandmates Glen Drover (guitar), James MacDonough (bass) and Shawn Drover (drums) will once again join mainman Dave Mustaine on the road.

[Malcolm]

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine has posted the following message in the "Forums" section of the band's official web site:

"I was cruising the Gigantour site and noticed how many of the other bands fans are there. This is going to be very kewl because I believe you will meet and make new friends or get some good sparring in. I personally hope the former.

"I have also confirmed another band for the Stage 2 and that announcement will come later today. I am also thinking about adding another band to each stage, which could mean moving someone from Stage 2 to Stage 1, and I also have my sight on a really kewl new school band that does old school metal (actually two), and a veteran act for Stage 2.

"Stay tuned, it's gonna get real busy here before we leave for Europe on Monday morning. We are going to change our set list up for this summer (we have to in some places because we have less time than when we headline) and I think you will be surprised because they are some older songs. And I can't wait to see all of you awesome Droogies and She-Wolves again real soon.

"Finally, Lance was out here with me mixing a live track from Wembley of the 'Rust In Peace' lineup doing 'Rattlehead' for the DVD, as well as some instrumental mixes he did of some other little tidbits for soundbeds under the DVD's menu.

"And I will be seeing Michael Sarna for more filming of the Gigantour documentary this Friday; just more preliminary stuff like when we confirmed some of the other bands, and phone calls, etc. Also interview footage of why I am undertaking this insanity to please us all.

"Right? Right!

"Have a great day."

[Kujo]

Hard Rock Live in Orlando

Small venue with great acoustics. I dont see how they will be able to do a second stage though. I might have to go to both the Orlando and West Palm Beach show, another great venue. Thats a weekend that I probably wont remember

[Timothy]

Aug. 05 - Atlanta, GA - Gwinett Arena

I might go to this one .

[Malcolm]

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine and director Michael Sarna (MEGADETH's "Of Mice and Men" video) were together on Friday (May 27) filming material for the Gigantour documentary DVD. According to Mustaine, footage filmed so far includes "just more preliminary stuff like when we confirmed some of the other bands, and phone calls, etc. Also interview footage of why I am undertaking this insanity." The documentary will include everything from behind the "metal curtain" of Mustaine's office, working on the last details of the tour, to pre-production, to rehearsals and the bands all meeting up in Fresno, California, to taking the mighty festival on the road. Songs from the various bands on the tour, soundchecks, and other various stuff will be included on the DVD.

[echrisl]

Wow, they're not coming anywhere near me ... 

I do think that DVD should be cool, though, not to mention long overdue. 

[Malcolm]

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine has posted the following message in the "Forums" section of the Gigantour.com web site:

"A few days ago, while considering what to do for the first week or so of shows until THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN joins Gigantour, and what my options were at the time when my fantastic 'co-headliners' DREAM THEATER were going to have to depart, I mentioned that I may move someone to Stage 1 from Stage 2. Well, I am no longer considering that.

"You see, I had contemplated having six acts on each stage, but at that length of time and with that amount of talent, each band would have had their set-time cut down, and I would just be having bands on for the sake of having bands on.

"I am not a 'second-guesser' kind of guy, and I am going to stick with five acts per stage, and keep the set times as long as I can with respect to each band and their accomplishments so far.

"Of course, there is sure to be some instances where one act is bigger than another in a different city as opposed to their position on the bill, but the 'goings on' behind the scenes on a touring festival like this is quite laborious and once things are in a groove, it is much easier AND better for the crew working in the trenches everyday to keep it in the groove. You must know that the bands make it 'rock', but the crews make it "roll."

"So, here are the set times for Stage 1:

MEGADETH - Co-headline (90 mins)
DREAM THEATER - Co-headline (90 mins) confirmed through 6/21-9/3/2005
FEAR FACTORY - Special Guests (45 mins) confirmed 6/21-9/11/2005
THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN - Guests (30 mins) confirmed 8/2-9/11/2005
NEVERMORE - Guests (30 mins) confirmed 6/21-9/11/2005

Stage 2:

LIFE OF AGONY (40 mins) confirmed 6/21-9/11/2005
SYMPHONY X (30 mins) confirmed 6/21-9/11/2005
DRY KILL LOGIC (20 mins) confirmed 6/21-9/11/2005
[last act to be confirmed this week] (20 mins) 6/21-9/11/2005
BOBAFLEX (20 mins) confirmed 6/21-9/11/2005

"Once DREAM THEATER has to leave, I have my short list for the next act to finish out the last week of Gigantour 1 in North America; ANTHRAX, TESTAMENT, and OVERKILL are just to name a few. In fact, I left things with Scott Ian and we both agreed, that it would be a perfect time and position for ANTHRAX, as I am sure it would.

"So, for now, I am pretty much done with all of the selecting talent, excluding the announcement of the "new school who does old school" metal band coming up this week. The holiday took precedence over the tour business and I was unable to wrap this up before the weekend, but it will get finished this week.

"I want to wish a great Memorial Day Weekend to the friends here who celebrate it, and to all of my awesomes guests on the roster for Gigantour 1."

[Malcolm]

ANTHRAX's reunited classic lineup of Joey Belladonna (vocals), Dan Spitz (guitar), Frank Bello (bass), Scott Ian (guitar) and Charlie Benante (drums) will be taking the place of DREAM THEATER on the Gigantour after the Toronto date and will be playing the last five shows of the tour. The following dates will feature ANTHRAX:

Sep. 06 ? Edmonton, AB @ TBA
Sep. 08 ? Calgary, AB @ TBA
Sep. 09 ? Vancouver, BC @ TBA
Sep. 10 ? Seattle, WA @ TBA
Sep. 11 ? Portland, OR @ TBA

[Neemo]

ANTHRAX's reunited classic lineup of Joey Belladonna (vocals), Dan Spitz (guitar), Frank Bello (bass), Scott Ian (guitar) and Charlie Benante (drums) will be taking the place of DREAM THEATER on the Gigantour after the Toronto date and will be playing the last five shows of the tour.

SHIT SHIT SHIT!!!!! fuck that sucks, I'm going to the Toronto show!!! Please Anthrax start in Toronto!!! I don't want to see Dream Theatre! Maybe I'll get lucky and Scott Ian will come out and play a little ditty with Dave. I'm right up front that would rule! I can dream, can't I?!

[Rob]

I'd so rather see Anthrax than Dream Theater.  Honestly I'm a bit dissapointed with Gigantour's lineup.  Of course seeing Megadeth is worth the rpice of admission alone.  But I was expecting to have a few really good acts on the bill.  Dream Theater is ok, but I was hoping for more old school metal bands.  Anthrax is a great addition for the end of the tour, but I was also hoping for bands like Testament, Overkill, and Exodus to be on the bill. 

[Kujo]

I'd so rather see Anthrax than Dream Theater.? Honestly I'm a bit dissapointed with Gigantour's lineup.? Of course seeing Megadeth is worth the rpice of admission alone.? But I was expecting to have a few really good acts on the bill.? Dream Theater is ok, but I was hoping for more old school metal bands.? Anthrax is a great addition for the end of the tour, but I was also hoping for bands like Testament, Overkill, and Exodus to be on the bill.?

I thought it was an odd pairing for co-headliners, but I like both bands and haven't seen either so I am excited for this show to happen. The only problem I have is the show at the Hard Rock in Orlando starts later than the other shows, so we probaly wont be getting all the bands.

[Malcolm]

MEGADETH frontman Dave Mustaine has posted the following message in the "Forums" section of the band's official web site:

"I have to tell you that what I thought was going to be a questionable afternoon out in Cadott, Wisconsin, turned out to be a really kewl evening afterall.

"One must remember that I was friends with some of the guys in both RATT and CINDERELLA, regardless of what some of you may be saying, and it was quite fun and amusing to see them.

"I unfortunately missed RATT, but wanted to see them because Warren is such a genius on guiter, and actually pulling off some of the best guitar solos in a rock radio type band. I don't know how to catagorize them other than my friends, and except for catching up with Bobby (who always seemed to be the most no-nonsense guys of all of the band), and seeing Warren for two minutes, I completely missed them.

"Next up was UFO, and I was pumped to see them, but I think I had too high of expections and dejectedly crawled away from the stage after the third song, because my heroes were not the same. I don't know who the guitar player was, and he was pretty good, but no Paul Chapman, and NEVER Michael 'the Madman' Schenker. And where the hell is Pete Way!!!

"Fortunately after that suprise, seeing Jeff LaBar and the boys in CINDERELLA was kewl. Regardless of what the 'I hate every thing cuz I like metal' rulebook says, I can recognize good pop songwriting, and Tom has a unique and fantastic rock vocalist sound.

"Well, now it is our turn, and all I kept thinking about (and laughing) was what Willie Gee was saying before we went to get ready. While doing a Paul Stanley impression about the girls of Wiconsin, he said, 'Oy Vey,' which he has disquised as 'Oh Yeah' over the years, and continued . . . 'I know why they call this place the Dairy State,' and as I am sure you could imagine the audience waiting with baited breath for Pauly to tell us why.

"He finished by saying, again, 'Oy Vey, because you girls have some big titties!'

"I laughed so hard, and all I could think about was the faces of the fans. I could see it now, . . . 'If you believe in rock and roll -woah-woah, you sing along on this next song. Utter!' Paul Stanely, you rock!!

"The end of the show was the best part, because the reserved seats I was told were purchased for the entire weeked in some cases, and after it got late, a lot of people were heading off, so I said at the last song to the security if they would be so kind as to allow the people in the back to come down front for this last song and it worked beautifully. And on one got hurt.

"Last night was the first day of full on pre-production, and besides making the set-list, and trying to get to know these fine men and women that would partake in this maiden voyage, I made some improvements with my rig, our stage volumes, and lead patches.

"Today, I am going to go surfing with my wife and kids, and the Drovers are going to go down there too at some point. Then it is down to do my first walk through with pyro. I am so excited about this. This will be my next step up the ladder and I hope that it brings as much excitement to the shows as I feel when I see others doing it.

"Our beloved webmaster should just about be ready to have the blogs, journals, and chat room ready, if they aren't already now. So go over to the Gigantour site and make yourself at home, because that is going to be the main site for all of the activity for all the bands for the next two months.

"And I have noticed alot of my favorite regulars here are nowhere to be seen over there. What gives? Anyway, I love you all, and can't wait to share this next stage of my life with you again."

[Mr. Dick Purple]

Woa its great that Dave have a little time to post in Megadeth message board I wonder if Axl have ever done that here, anyone?? 

[Rob]

Dave posts on the message board all the time.  One time he threatened to throw everybody off cause they were saying how he should bring Marty Friedman back.  I think its awesome that Dave likes Ratt and Cinderella.

[Malcolm]

Launch Radio Networks reports: MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine's Gigantour festival is up and running, sharing road time with established tours such as Ozzfest and the Warped Tour. Mustaine told Launch he knows comparisons are inevitable, but he isn't encouraging them. "There are some other festivals that are out in similar nature," he said. "You know, Ozzfest has some bands from our genre and some of the subcultures and subgenres and stuff, but you know, my intention was never to be disrespectful to Ozzy or to Sharon (Osbourne) or to try to say 'Hey, Gigantour's better,' because, you know frankly, they're my friends. I would like to keep it that way."

In addition to MEGADETH, Gigantour's lineup includes DREAM THEATER, FEAR FACTORY, LIFE OF AGONY, NEVERMORE, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, SYMPHONY X and BOBAFLEX.

Gigantour stops today (Thursday, July 28) at the SDSU Open Air Theatre in San Diego, California.

[Malcolm]

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine has posted the following message in the "Forums" section of the band's official web site:

"We had a looooooong drive from Corpus Christy to Atlanta yesterday, and after hours and hours in the bus, we finally made it safe to our hotel. We stopped long enough to drop off Shawn and Glen [Drover, MEGADETH drummer and guitarist, respectively] with Shawn's family and they were ecstatic so see them.

"Meanwhile, we are starting to turn the rudder on Gigantour to head north after tomorrow's show. I look forward to meeting more of you as we go along and playing in front of you if we don't meet.

"Backstage Access: Due to the overwhelming success of the Platinum Tickets and the time it takes to take photos with everyone, and to sign articles, shake hands, and answer questions, we are having to work extra hard backstage before we go on. This package, as you can imagine, is very special for us and for the fans who order them and we really want to make it worthwhile for you. Sometimes there have been fans that arrive late and we still make sure to take the time to give them what they were offered, even though the photographers have to set everything back up again and it interferes with us getting ready for the show when we have to go out of the way for late people.

"Also, there is a company called F.Y.E. that sell all of the bands on Gigantour's latest records and are offered a chance to purchase an autographed copy, or if there is time, to run through a quick-paced line to get the new records signed by the bands that they have chosen. This is not a meet-n-greet, and nothing more than a 'How ya doing?' is to be expected, and while most people are grateful, there are a few whiners that don't realize what a great opportunity this is for them to meet the bands that they like before the concert is over, merely for buying a CD and standing in a line.

"Next, there is the fan club which is comprised of much more than just joining a club and getting a picture and an autograph. I try real hard to accomodate all of our fan club members, and when Dave McRobb [webmaster] selects the ten people who get to meet us, that is it. We are not taking pictures or signing more than one item before we go on because we are on a very tight schedule. Add that to all of the other things that come along with this club and I can't think of one other club that does quite so much for their fans. And for the ten that get to come back and meet us, again it is a quick hello, sign one item, and see a little of what the 'backstage activity' is. It is not even remotely comparative to the Platinum tickets, which makes time for photos and backstage tours. However, the Platinum tickets don't include any of the numerous benefits the fan club offers.

"Lastly, to the pathetic persons that are suggesting I intend on selling the performance of DREAM THEATER, Burton [Bell, FEAR FACTORY frontman], Russell [Allen, SYMPHONY X singer], and myself's tribute to Darrell [Abbott, late PANTERA guitarist], you disgust me. I doubt I have ever seen such shameful thinking posted here, ever. As far as the performance goes, it will not be put up here or at Gigantour.com, nor will it be 'offered' to the MEGADETH fan club. It will be included as a gift on the Gigantour DVD, if I even include it now. And Vinnie [Paul, PANTERA drummer], Darrell, and the PANTERA family would probably be pissed at this shallow ignoramus' thinking. In fact, I talked to Rita [Dimebag's longtime girlfriend] after the concert and she thanked me, as well as Vinnie being there too and sending his thanks after we left.

"I am not going to ask McRobb ban you few for posting this. You have already been sentenced to a label of shameful posts in a very cool, diverse, friendly and welcoming community here. I hope you rethink your assinine accusations so we can be friends, but guys, you really are pathetic.

"Here's hoping you come to your senses, and if not you go to a different forum from now on!!"