MEGADETH's MUSTAINE: Final GIGANTOUR Bands To Be Announced In Next Several Days

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

"On Thursday I went up to LA to meet with my management for some important decisions about this summer.

"First up was a friendly visit to ESP Guitars and Allen Steelgrave. We talked about the summer in both tours of Euro/UK and the US Gigantour, and how much fun we had doing meet and greets at music stores and that we would like to do some again while out on the road. I also suggested that Glen and I do some guitar clinics, although I have no idea what a clinic is. ESP is also considering being one of the sponsors for Gigantour and we have a really kewl idea that we are working on and will reveal soon.

"Next was a meeting with Kevin Flaherty and Stacey Freeman of EMI about the Greatest Hits record 'Back to the Start' and the DVD for the bonus package. I am satisfied with the package and have given my approval on everything involved and we are now headed for an official summer release. There are some really rad surprises on this, like I mentioned before, and I hope you like them!

"Next was a top-secret telephone call overseas to the possible headliner of our second stage, followed by an even more secretive meeting for lunch with a new company we are going to work with. Suffice to say, you will notice a HUGE change around 'all-things-mega' real soon.

"Finally, I met with my agent Keith Sarkisian of William Morris to pick the final bands for the second stage, Also to select the band that is going to fill in for DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN for the first few days on the main stage until they join up with Gigantour.

"We will be making a statement of who they are in the next several days. I told James and Shawn who they were and they were stoked!!! So if that tells you anything, we are in good company. I actually look forward to hearing all of them on this tour and hope to make their careers stronger with the success of Gigantour.

"As far as SYMPHONY X goes, hey their agent is talking to our agent. Someone here has a left hand that doesn't know what the right hand is doing. We would like to see them on, as does Mike Portnoy — who recommended them — but I understand if they are focused in on their new offering. And if it doesn't work out, I wish them the very best in the studio.

"The list is complete with back-ups for the bands that are on, in case they can't stay out on tour, or there are any matters that they would have to unfortunately end early. I hope that all of my first choices and the guest for stage one accept my invitation, but it's not like I have never been told no before."