Marshall Of Rock

Megadeth announced today that Dave Mustaine has overseen the upcoming 20th anniversary release of the band's most popular album 'Countdown To Extinction.' The album, which intitially went double platinum after it's 1992 release, will be re-issued as a double-CD set and digital album on November 6 via Capitol/EMI. The double cd-set is packaged in a lift-top box and will contain a remastered version of the album, with a second disc compiling an entire live set recorded at San Francisco's Cow Palace in 1992, which has never before been released in it's entirety. Megadeth have also scheduled U.S. tour dates in November and December, with the band performing the complete album live.

Liner notes have also been written by music journalist Kory Grow, and the reissue includes a 24 x 36 poster and four postcards featuring head shots of each member from the Countdown lineup.

Countdown to Extinction, Megadeth's fifth studio album, was recorded in Los Angeles in 1992 as rioting raged across the city in response to the Rodney King triAl Verdicts. American tensions weren't limited to LA, by any means, as the Gulf War was still fresh in people's minds, the state of the environment was becoming headline news, and President George H.W. Bush was seeking reelection in a heated campaign season.

Out of this turmoil, Megadeth was inspired to create Countdown to Extinction, considered by many to be the band's best and most accessible album. The group's previous albums, including So Far, So Good…So What! and Rust in Peace, included songs that tackled topics like censorship and religious bloodletting in the Middle East. But none were as polemical as the sonic missiles launched by 'Countdown.' Megadeth laced the songs with acid-tongued commentary about subjects ranging from the futility of war ("Architecture of Aggression") to the senseless brutality of caged hunting ("Countdown to Extinction"). "Foreclosure of a Dream" sampled George Bush's infamous "Read my lips" speech, making a statement about taxation endangering the American Dream.

Thanks to a perfect balance of hard-rock song structures, epic choruses, and fleet-fingered guitar work, Countdown to Extinction became an instant classic, benefiting from copious MTV and radio play. Spin magazine raved that 'Countdown' "may just be the finest thrash-metal album ever made," and before long, songs like "Symphony of Destruction," "Sweating Bullets," and "Skin O' My Teeth" had entered metal's canon of essential recordings. The album shot to No. 2 on the Billboard chart (it may have hit No. 1, if not for Billy Ray Cyrus' long chart-topping reign with Some Gave All), and it was certified double Platinum in the U.S. within two years, with sales of more than two million copies.

Megadeth was in top form, with Mustaine, the band's then 31-year-old singer and guitarist leading the album's assault with lyrics like "You know your worth when your enemies praise your architecture of aggression," not to mention his venomous rhythm guitar attack. His band mates completed the picture, as lead guitarist Marty Friedman blazed with memorable solos, bassist David Ellefson jammed dizzying arrays of low-end thunder, and drummerNick Menza attacked his kit. Megadeth sounded hungry, and the band was rewarded when the album earned a GRAMMY Award nomination (Best Metal Performance) and when its title cut garnered a Genesis Award from the Humane Society for raising awareness for animal rights issues.

Countdown to Extinction 20th Anniversary Edition:

CD 1:
1. Skin O' My Teeth
2. Symphony Of Destruction
3. Architecture Of Aggression
4. Foreclosure Of A Dream
5. Sweating Bullets
6. This Was My Life
7. Countdown To Extinction
8. High Speed Dirt
9. Psychotron
10. Captive Honour
11. Ashes In Your Mouth

CD 2 - Live At Cow Palace, 1992:
1. Intro
2. Holy Wars…The Punishment Due
3. Skin O' My Teeth
4. Wake Up Dead
5. Hangar 18
6. Countdown To Extinction
7. Foreclosure Of A Dream
8. This Was My Life
9. Lucretia
10. Sweating Bullets
11. In My Darkest Hour
12. The Conjuring
13. Tornado
14. Ashes In Your Mouth
15. Symphony Of Destruction

Tour dates:
Nov. 9 - Providence, RI - Lupo's
Nov. 10 - Huntington, NY - Paramount Theatre
Nov. 11 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
Nov. 13 - Wallingford, CT - Oakdale Theatre
Nov. 14 - Sayreville, CT - Starland Ballroom
Nov. 16 - Atlantic City, NJ - House of Blues
Nov. 17 - Niagara Falls, NY - Rapids Theatre
Nov. 19 - Stroudsburg, PA - Sherman Theater
Nov. 20 - Columbus, OH - LC Pavilion
Nov. 24 - Myrtle Beach, SC - House of Blues
Nov. 25 - Charlotte, NC - The Fillmore
Nov. 26 - Atlanta, GA - The Tabernacle
Nov. 28 - Kansas City, MO - Midland Theatre
Dec. 1 - Salt Lake City, UT - Great Saltair
Dec. 2 - Boise, ID - Knitting Factory
Dec. 4 - Reno, NV - Grand Sierra Theatre
Dec. 6 - Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues
Dec. 7 - Pomona, CA - Fox Theatre

Forbidden guitarist Craig Locicero has written a follow-up to his previous comments on his Facebook page in response to Dave Mustaine''s take that recent mass shootings in Colorado and Wisconsin were "staged" by President Obama. Locicero is out to "set the record straight" with regards to the kind of person he is and to clarify some of the points in his original comments. Read the entire post:

"What an interesting 24 hours it's been. I've been thrown under more buses then Evel Knievel had jumped in his entire lifetime. All of this is very interesting, the human reaction to what scares us.

"First things first, I never intended for one of my posts to be picked up by Blabbermouth. It wasn't expected. I didn't realize my profile was being trolled for these things, so this was no publicity stunt! That being said, I'm OK with it, because I stand by my words.

"I guess I deserve some of the backlash just for using Dave Mustaine as my point of reference.

"Sorry, Dave, I don't know you personally, but we have plenty of mutual friends and peers. However, just like I did here, you put yourself out there... a lot. I do think you are closer to truth then people want to [accept], but I also think your delivery was even worse then mine. Just my opinion.

"I'm not going to use this post to jump directly back into the subject at hand, the Aurara shootings. Which, by the way, is an awful tragedy and I hurt as much as anyone not directly related to the victims. But I will save the details that lead me to my hypothesis for next time. This post is just to set the record straight as to what kind of person I am, because from what I'm hearing A LOT of people got it all wrong.

"Now, if I'm ever taken away or publicly smeared just for my words, please keep in mind these things and don't believe anything else you hear...

"I'm non-violent, not crazy, not depressed, not in danger to myself or anyone else.

I don't own or even want any guns. In fact, I hate guns, so don't get me confused with Ted Nugent.

"I'm not in a popular band, so I'm not rich. I'm in the middle class with a wife and son I love more then anything else on the planet. What I say and do is for my son and his children. That takes me out of the tax-bracket angle.

"I was born into a lifetime Democrat family that looks like Jesse Jackson's Rainbow Coalition. I even voted for Obama in the last election... begrudgingly.

"I do NOT support either candidate for the next election and I think Ron Paul is a tool. Sorry. I also don't think Nader is the Cat's Meow. I'm simply disillusioned American citizen who sees through the facade.

"I, like tens of millions of others, would like to see our system fixed. Because it is obviously VERY broken!

"The idea that there is only Republicans and Democrats, right-wingers and left-wingers is INSANE and shame on us for buying into it. Shame on those who walk through the game sleeping. Shame on everyone for being content with the flawed system that's let the corporations and the churches run our politicians. Shame on those who think that just because they have a smart phone and live in a house with a TV and computer that they are free. There just isn't enough shame to go around.

"We the people? We fucked up!

"The way some of us deal with it is by openly calling it out for a discussion. That's who I am and how I'm wired and I'm not afraid to do it. What would be impressive if more people did that instead of just mailing it in and being defeated.

"So, in closing, the only reason the Aurora shootings have become a catalyst here is because the road it leads this country down. It's a twisted road with even more dissension and division in our near future. Even if [James] Holmes [the alleged shooter in Aurora, Colorado movie theater massacre] isn't a patsy, which I still believe he is, he's being used as leverage against the citizens. One just needs to see who gains and who loses from such a tragedy with clearer vision."

A few rockers have now weighed on on the recent statements made in Singapore on August 7th by Dave Mustaine of Megadeth. Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue/Sixx A.M., Craig Locicero of Forbidden, former RIP magazine editor Lonn Friend, Testament's Chuck Billy and more have shared their feelings in regards to Mustaine telling the concert audience "Back in my country, my president is trying to pass a gun ban. So he's staging all of these murders, like the Fast And Furious thing down at the border and Aurora, Colorado, all the people that were killed there. And now the beautiful people at the Sikh temple." Then adding "I don't know where I'm gonna live if America keeps going the way it's going because it looks like it's turning into Nazi America."

Nikki Sixx posted a link on his Facebook page to a Los Angeles Times article about Mustaine's coments and added these comments: "Dave Mustaine is a fucking asshole. I can't even imagine how deep this cuts the victims' families of these shootings. He owes every family an apology as well as our great country. Hey, Dave, if you think America is turning into 'Nazi America,' as you are quoted saying... Then move the fuck out..."

Craig Locicero of San Francisco Bay Area band Forbidden posted this on his Facebook page, which takes a different angle on the comments:

"So everyone wants to pile on [Megadeth mainman] Dave [Mustaine], who definitely has douchy tendencies.

"I don't know of anyone that has all of their facts straight on [James] Holmes [the alleged shooter in Aurora, Colorado movie theater massacre], but I STRONGLY believe there is the possibility that he was a patsy. But not summoned by Obama himself. That is where I think Mustaine was ignorant and gives him too much credit/blame. But used by those who control the ebbs and flows of society.

"Take a long view of this upcoming dog-and-pony show called our 'free' election. If you do, you can see where the lines of division on race, sexuality, religion, freedom of speech and our rights to assemble are being drawn.

"Things are uglier than they have been in any recent history.

"Whichever side wins the fake election in November, there will be a backlash from the polarized extremists on the other side. This government and military are fully anticipating it as a certainty.

"So what does that mean in this very subject?

"These shootings are a possible catalyst to eradicate the right to bear arms in this country. It makes most people say, 'Hey, enough is enough. Let's make guns illegal here!' That sounds dandy to some folks, but it's beautiful music to the ears for those who crave division amongst our citizens.

"Take away the guns from all of the radicals and eradication becomes much easier. But nowhere near everyone with a gun is a radical.

"So while Dave supposedly shoved his feet into his mouth once again, I say he's close to the truth. A lot closer then most people want to accept.

"One thing is certain. People suck.

"Watch these videos for a little more [insight] and go ahead and hate the messenger if you wish."

Testament vocalist Chuck Billy told the New York Daily News, "I think he must be back on drugs to even think what he is saying makes any sense. There is freedom of speech and there just putting your foot in your mouth." Testament has toured many times in the past with Megadeth.

Broken Hope guitarist Jeremy Wagner said, "I'd like to see Mustaine face any of the victims from either tragedy and tell them that Obama did this to them. In fact, Mustaine, tell that to Ashley Moser who had a bullet lodged in her throat, a gunshot wound to her abdomen, and lost her 6-year-old daughter Veronica Moser-Sullivan when James Holmes fired upon them.

"I'm one of thousands who wish Mustaine would just keep his volatile mouth shut," added Wagner.

"I find it hard to accept this diatribe at face value," former RIP magazine editor Lonn M. Friend told the Daily News. "I go back 25 years with Mustaine and have long found him to be both a creative and conscious artist, a spiritual man who has battled and survived some pretty savage demons. These accusations are lunacy and just don't sound like the evolved rocker I know. Maybe he broke a string."

“ To speak in such a way is to take focus off of the true face of this problem - the victims,” says Eye Empire’s Donald Carpenter. “It is ignorant, irresponsible and a part of the problem.”

Mustaine, who once wrote the lyrics to the anti-George H.W. Bush administration song "Foreclosure of a Dream," has swung sharply to the right since he ditched alcohol and drugs and became a born-again Christian.

"This is why people should never get sober,” deadpanned Metalocalypse’s Brendon Small.

Dave Mustaine of Megadeth wanted to "clarify" his recent statement that Barack Obama was responsible for the recent mass shootings in Colorado and Wisconsin, making as appearance on conspiracy theorist Alex Jones show today. Mustaine told the crowd in Sigapore on August 7th, "Back in my country, my president is trying to pass a gun ban. So he's staging all of these murders, like the Fast And Furious thing down at the border and Aurora, Colorado, all the people that were killed there. And now the beautiful people at the Sikh temple. I don't know where I'm gonna live if America keeps going the way it's going because it looks like it's turning into Nazi America."

Mustaine told Jones, "To clarify things, no one can deny there were criminal rogues in the administration. CBS News got the memos, Congress has the information and basically, Larry Pratt, the head of Gun Owners Of America, who is a highly respected person, said that if they would stage 'Fast And Furious,' they'd be capable of staging everything. And it was all done to blame the Second Amendment. We'd be fools not to look at this. Our U.S. border patrol agents were killed. And like I said, I was just quoting Larry Pratt. That's it bottom line."

He added, "In the heat of the moment, when you're onstage and you're talking, sometimes you're not as eloquent as you'd like to be. Like I said, I was just quoting what Larry said. We really need to investigate this and we need to have the Attorney General release the documents and find out who's responsible for this. People died and the democratic process says, 'Let's investigate this. Let's find out what's going on here.' I love our country and my whole thing with this is that I think we should just look into it. . . I just think that we deserve to know the truth — that's it. I'm a patriot. I've always been controversial. I'm a political songwriter. And this wasn't done to hurt any our my fellow countrymen. I think that it's something that we really, really need to look into."

Somebody's level of paranoia has reached new heights. Megadeth's Dave Mustaine who has been outspoken in the past about whether or not President Barack Obama was born in the U.S., said during a concert in Singapore on August 7th that the President helped stage the recent movie theater shootings in Aurora, Colorado and at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

In the video, Mustaine says, "My president is trying to pass a gun ban so he's staging all of these murders like the Fast and Furious thing down at the border and Aurora, Colorado, all the people that were killed there. And now the beautiful people at the Sikh temple." He continues, "I was talking to JD our promoter here tonight,...I was saying, 'I don't know where I'm gonna live if America keeps going the way it's going because it looks like it's turning into Nazi America.'

Regardless of how you or I feel about Obama, Romney or any politician on the left or right, I guess Mustaine must believe that the Bush administration staged 9/11 too, right? LOL