MEGADETH Mainman On Dubai Trip: 'What A Blast! What A Surprise!'

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

"I just returned from [playing the Desert Rock festival in] Dubai and am in between stints of sleep amidst serious jet lag. But I can't wait to tell you how it was, so cut me some slack if I don't get this all right.

"Entering the plane at LAX, I sat up with the drummer Greg from 3 DOORS DOWN on the way to JFK Airport in New York. He was a cool dude and we talked about his former band PUDDLE OF MUDD, which has one of my favorite songs, that 'take it all away' song. Oddly, he didn't tell me about UGLY KID JOE, which his former singer Whitfield Crane and I toured when he was in LIFE OF AGONY.

"At JFK we met some of our fabulous crew and some of the crew guys for 3 DOORS DOWN at a pub by the gate. And before long the whole group was hanging telling road war stories. Getting into the plane, I immediately got sick and for only the second time in my career while flying I got sick. I was taken to be checked after we landed and could hardly eat a thing the whole time I was there in Dubai.

"Arriving at the hotel, which was really top-notch, we found out that all five bands would be there and that the sixth band, otherwise known as SAXON, would not be coming. Apparently something happened where they ended up not coming, although they really wanted to. I was very disappointed, being a fan of SAXON from way back when, and I even considered playing a SAXON song in their honor in their absence. Too bad we were so shortly in our relationship with our new bassist James Lomenzo or I would have done that. Good thing is we will be ready for whoever else doesn't make it

"James worked out like a charm and he continued that great feeling that James MacDonough gave me when he played for me; that feeling of something different, yet comfortably familiar on bass, and singer. I thought that J-Mac was a great singer and that it would be hard for someone to jump right in and play and sing as hard as he did. Fortunately J-L did and I am still streaming down the road of feeling great about writing and playing again.

"There have been times physically and emotionally I wanted to stop because I couldn't or it didn't feel the way it did in the beginning, which was total fun, excitement, and an element of danger. This trip was a blast, not only for the people, the concert, and the land, but to see and get to know my new bassist, to see him work his audience before and after the show, and to spend time with him and the Drovers — just four guys shooting the shit.

"Now, to tell you about Dubai. What a blast! What a surprise!

"I will tell you more when I wake back up from my much needed sleep.

"P.S.: We will be announcing some of the bands for Gigantour 2 very shortly so stay tuned."

Check out pictures of MEGADETH's performance in Dubai at Phride.com.