For more than 30 years Megadeth have been synonymous with heavy metal music. Recognized as one of the pioneering “big four” progenitors of thrash, the L.A.-based band have have been releasing music and touring the globe since their formation in 1983—and they show no signs of slowing down.

Currently on the road behind their latest full-length album—Dystopia, their 15th studio effort, released earlier this year—the quartet comes to the City National Civic in San Jose this Thursday with Amon Amarth, Suicidal Tendencies, Metal Church and Butcher Babies

It hasn’t all been easy. The members of Megadeth have encountered plenty of obstacles over the years, ranging from substance abuse to numerous lineup changes. However, according to the Dave Mustaine, the group’s founding singer, guitarist and lead songwriter, the current incarnation of Megadeth is as vital as it ever has been.

Mustaine partially attributes his band’s newfound strength to the addition of two new players—Kiko Loureiro and Dirk Verbeuren—who joined Mustaine, along with co-founder David Ellefson, quite recently.

“Kiko definitely did give us a blood transfusion of sorts,” Mustaine says, speaking over the phone from his home in Nashville. “And it’s really fun for us to go out and get these new guys out there and let people see what they’re all about.”

Verbeuren takes over from Chris Adler—the full-time drummer for Philadelphia death metal outfit Lamb of God who laid down the drum tracks for Dystopia. Mustaine says he sees flashes of two former Megadeth drummers in his playing. “Dirk is remarkable,” he says. “The first time I played with him I said, ‘I love this guy, he’s like Nick Menza and Gar Samuelson rolled into one.’”

Samuelson, who played with the band from 1984-87 and appeared on Megadeth’s first two albums, Killing is My Business…and Business is Good! and Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying? died in 1999. Menza, who hit the skins from 1989-98, and played on fan favorites Rust in Peace and Countdown To Extinction, among others, passed away unexpectedly in May at the age of 51. His death came as a shock to both Mustaine and a legion of fans around the globe.

“I know he’s in a better place now, so I’m happy for him, he had a super successful career, he’s got a beautiful child that he left behind, and his legacy speaks for itself, there’s not a lot of guys that make that kind of statement in heavy metal,” says Mustaine.

Mustaine says the band’s current lineup is fun to play with and feels more like a family than many of the group’s more recent iterations.

“We didn’t hang out at all,” he says of previous Megadeth casts. “That’s bad for me, because when you’re spending years of your life with people, you want to be able to hang out more than just ‘I’ll see you up at the salt mine today.’”

With more than 35 years of experience as a professional musician—including his well-known stint as an early member of Metallica—the 55-year-old shredder is also excited to help younger acts get exposure by taking them on tour.

“It’s fun to be able to take these bands [on tour] because in a way you have the power to help break some bands,” he says, noting that many of the bands that have opened up for Megadeth in the past, from Stone Temple Pilots to Pantera to Korn, went on to superstardom. “I love being able to do that for people—to give them a shot, an opportunity to do something that they wouldn’t necessarily do.”

He’s also excited to hit the road with older, more established bands, including ones that inspired him when he was younger.

“Metal Church is a band I loved growing up listening to,” he says. “I remember that very first record that they had, that guitar riff for the song ‘Metal Church’ was just mind-blowing. That was one of the most metal riffs I head ever heard in my life up to that point.”

Megadeth
Sep 29, 6pm, $50-$60
City National Civic, San Jose

How big is heavy metal in San Jose? Gigantor. Megadeath and Motorhead filled the San Jose Event Center with rabid metal fans last night. Our photographer caught the action from the pit.

Photos by Jennifer Anderson.

See the complete gallery.

By all accounts, Lemmy Kilmister should be dead. He drinks a fifth of Jack Daniel’s a day, been smoking since he was 11 and eats only meat and cheese. Anthrax’s Scott Ian put it best when he said Motorhead is one of those metal bands that’s cool for the punks to like. They’re fast, dirty, and louder than a 747. Lemmy, however, has always said Motorhead is not metal band, they’re a rock ‘n’ roll band. They’ll play Thursday at the San Jose State Event Center as part of Megadeth’s Gigantour.

With more than 30 years under their belt and over 20 albums, they show no signs of slowing down. After being fired from Hawkwind in 1975, for “doing the wrong drugs,” Lemmy formed Motorhead, a name derived from a slang term for speed freaks and a song he had written. Throughout their career, they’ve spawned numerous iconic songs, including “Bomber,” “Killed by Death,” “Overkill,” and, of course, their signature “Ace of Spades.”

Also performing at this Gigantour show is Megadeth, a band Dave Mustaine formed out of spite after being fired from Metallica. He wanted to be faster, heavier, and was out for their blood. Their second album, 1986’s Peace Sells…but Who’s Buying? is an essential thrash metal assault, and 1990’s Rust in Peace is the highlight of their career.

Danish rockers Volbeat and Italian gothic metal band Lacuna Coil start things off. – Beau Dowling

Megadeth has had a lot of ups and downs over the years, which is probably fitting for a band that started basically as a grudge after Dave Mustaine got thrown out of Metallica. It’s been one crazy story after the other, but the craziest yet may be that Megadeth is back in top form, a decade after Mustaine broke up the band to undergo a year of shock therapy and re-training on his arm for severe nerve damage that could have meant he’d never play again.

Instead, their latest, Thirteen, has been nominated for two Grammys and is easily their best album since 1990’s Rust in Peace. To support it, Mustaine is restarting his heavy metal festival Gigantour, with Motorhead, Volbeat and Lacuna Coil joining Megadeth for a tour that comes to the San Jose Event Center on Thursday, Feb. 23.

The first song off the latest record. “Sudden Death,” was released in 2010’s “Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock” game, and was nominated for a Best Metal Performance Grammy. Now the single “Public Enemy No. 1” (which features a pretty hilarious video starring an outlaw monkey) has been nominated in the category as well.

Tickets for the San Jose Event Center date are on sale now. The band is coming off its historic “Big 4” shows that saw the once bitter enemies Megadeth and Metallica joining up with Slayer and Anthrax, uniting the four biggest bands in thrash metal. Megadeth also toured with Slayer on the recent “Carnage” tours.

Click here to view the embedded video.