For Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine, welcoming back guitarist Marty Friedman, who played on the band’s 1990 opus Rust in Peace and 1992’s follow-up favorite Countdown to Extinction, will be “like a gigantic birthday and Christmas present” -- and luckily fans will get to share his excitement as it all unfolds later this month.
Listen to Masters Of Metal and more on the free Audacy app
The special reunion, making this the first time Friedman has been on stage with the band in over 20 years, is set to happen at Megadeth’s first-ever concert at the famous Budokan in Tokyo, Japan on February 27. Megadeth: "They Only Come Out At Night" Live at the Budokan will also be live-streamed for just $15 and available on demand for a short time afterward.
“When Marty said, ‘Hey, I can play at this gig,’ I thought, ‘This is so magnificent,'” Mustaine told Rolling Stone, adding that he’s set to join current lead axe man Kiko Loureiro for three songs during the encore. “It’s gonna be so much fun to get Kiko and Marty together because they’re both geniuses on guitar. So, this is like a gigantic birthday and Christmas present for me.”
“It has been a long time -- 23 years to be exact since I’ve been on the same stage with Dave Mustaine making music,” Friedman shared in a statement. “We’ve both taken drastically different paths since then. That doesn’t change the fact that I’m extremely proud of the part that I played in Megadeth’s history and legacy. I’m also very, very proud of the band’s many great achievements and continued success in my absence. For right now, I just feel immense joy and some serious adrenaline. I am looking forward to playing with Megadeth at this very cool place, the Budokan.”
“We haven’t been to Japan in a long time,” Mustaine continued. “I thought that inviting Marty was just a very thoughtful thing to do. Megadeth has not been a band that has had a lot of guest appearances from other players. We are not a jam band. I asked Kiko how he felt about this, and Kiko is completely confident in his guitar playing."
“This is not like when the Police handed their instruments to U2 to pass the torch,” Mustaine adds. “This is doing something really grateful to the Japanese audience. We want it to be a gift. So everybody who bought that ticket before today, you’re welcome. … I’m really looking forward to this moment. It’s gonna be great.”
While you're in a headbanging mood -- follow more of Audacy's all-new stations like Masters Of Metal, IndustriALT, Don't Metal In My Affairs, Venom, Arena Rock, Wake Up and Rock, and The Roots of Rock for those who crave the early days.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram