MEGADETH Mainman Congratulates ROADRUNNER On 'Endgame''s Chart Success

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine has issued the following update:

"I would like to congratulate Roadrunner for passing up their previous efforts, and also surpassing other various milestones in our recording career, becoming the 10th longest-charting record of my career.

"Yes, you heard right, of our more than 12 official releases, I am excited to say that [MEGADETH's latest album] 'Endgame' has lasted on the charts one week longer than 'United Abominations' [2007] did, and of the various albums before 'Endgame', it has done six weeks more than 'Rude Awakening' [2002], two more than 'The System Has Failed' [2004], and one week more than 'The World Needs A Hero' [2001], and it has tied 'Hidden Treasures' [1995]. It will tie 'Risk' [1999], and 'Back To The Start' [2005] if it remains on the charts next week.

"Thank you all for buying 'Endgame' and you should be able to hear it on 'Megadeth Radio' soon, so those of you that are planning on buying or are still undecided on buying our new album, the proof will be available for your ears real soon on the station; however, you can hear songs off of 'Endgame' at Megadeth.com in our audio player.

"I say this because this week is the 1,320th week that MEGS has been a band and we have been on the charts for 237 weeks. And 237/1320 is almost a sixth of our entire lives as MEGADETH. I hope that the next record I do will be a worthy successor to 'Endgame', and I have learned a lot since recording this last gem. And I want this last record for Roadrunner to be a great way to say thanks for having us.

"I look forward to helping tying and hopefully breaking our next goal for our previous records remaining on The Billboard Top 200 chart. The next milestone, once we pass our next target, would be the classics — 'Peace Sells' [1986] at 11 weeks, 'So Far So Good So What' [1988] and 'Youthanasia' [1994] at 23, 'Cryptic Writings' [1997] at 29, 'Rust In Peace' [1990] at 30, and the pinnacle of albums on the charts for MEGADETH, 'Countdown To Extinction' [1992] at 58 weeks.

"I have my fingers crossed that we will at least have the '8' in '58' next week, and we will work on the '5' after that."

It was only a couple of weeks ago that Mustaine was singing a different tune with regards to MEGADETH's record label. Writing on the band's official forum on October 16, Mustaine accused the U.S. branch of Roadrunner Records of dropping the ball in regards to the promotion of "Endgame". He wrote, "I don't know what to say. How a record company could be presented with a worldwide critically acclaimed record, and that they can let it plummet down the charts in just four weeks into the hundreds, is inexplicable.

"I knew I shouldn't have done this. Why didn't I trust myself?

"I regret a lot of things in my life, but this is the most regrettable."

"Endgame" has sold around 82,000 copies in the United States since its release seven weeks ago. The CD registered the following U.S. weekly sales, according to Nielsen SoundScan:

Week 1: 44,696
Week 2: 12,833
Week 3: 8,640
Week 4: 5,583
Week 5: 3,948
Week 6: 3,258
Week 7: 3,225

"Endgame" currently sits at position No. 156 on The Billboard 200 chart.