MEGADETH Mainman Checks In From Europe

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

"Well, the U.K./European tour ends tonight [Feb. 26] and what a great tour it has been. I have met so many of you and been able to put names to faces (with your help) and I certainly enjoyed myself.

"As you may know, we are going to be back this summer in June to play some more U.K./Euro festivals, but those are few and far between. In the meantime, we are going to Japan and Australia, and have been approached to play Indonesia again, as well as Iceland for a first time. We are still deciding what we want versus what we need to do.

"I am thrilled at the turn out of old-school fans, and I want to make mention of all the new faces that were brought along by you faithful Droogs. Thank you for bringing them to see us for the first time.

"When the tour returns to the United States and Canada you will see we have gotten much closer on stage because of all the time we've spent together. I feel since this is one of the best tours the boys have been on, or so they say, that this big ole Grist Mill Wheel has ground us down, and refined us to be considerably tighter from our last meeting.

"We have added a ton of songs that, depending on my voice (or lack thereof),we can move around. Songs like 'Killing Road', 'Reckoning Day', 'Train of Consequences', to name a few, are some of the songs we switched out from the first leg to where we are now.

"Glen [Drover, guitar] wanted to see if anyone was into us adding 'My Last Words' to the set for Japan and thereafter?!?!

"Lastly, I hope yer all well and have considered my last post. It was a bit heavy, I confess, but it needed to be said. Some of you disagreed and thought it was an attack on the previous guys' playing, which it was not. And frankly my beloved Droogies, I have been wrong in the past; I know I will be again, if I wasn't this time.

"Regardless, I want to take this time to thank you all for being a part of this site when I am up, when I am down, and when I am getting a lil bit crazy. My hectic life is starting to wind down and I will talk more about it next week when I get home to keep you as close to my heart as I've always tried to keep you.

"Thanks for loving me, warts and all. I guess I could just be another fake musician that posts exactly what you wanna hear, but then that would mean I am not Dave Mustaine anymore. And I know I don't want that.

"P.S.: I didn't skip Chuck [Behler, former MEGADETH drummer], I just plain forgot him . . . my bad."