The Rock Tribune

MEGADETH–who wrap a tour of South America tonight (12/1) in Costa Rica–have received their tenth Grammy nomination for their latest effort. The group–singer/guitarist DAVE MUSTAINE, drummer SHAWN DROVER, guitarist CHRIS BRODERICK and bassist DAVID ELLEFSON–got a “Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Performance” nomination for their new single “Public Enemy #1” off their latest album TH1RT3EN (Roadrunner Records).  The “Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Performance” category is, eerily, category #13.

Of the nomination, MEGADETH founder DAVE MUSTAINE says, “In such uncertain times, it’s just an honor to be recognized by our peers, and anything above that is remarkable.”  Check out the song’s video here: http://youtu.be/qHMUyHZi440 or their performance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” here: http://youtu.be/JgXEnIhCMsI.  “Public Enemy #1” actually marks the second Grammy nomination for music from TH1RT3EN, as the song “Sudden Death” was first unveiled in the 2010 video game “Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock” and received a “Best Metal Performance” nod.

The band’s 13^th album, the appropriately titled Th1rt3en, was released November 1 and debuted at #11 on the Billboard Top 200 chart and #1 on the Billboard Hard Rock chart. The album also landed on international charts including Top 10 placements in Argentina, Finland, Korea and Japan.

While promoting the critically praised TH1RT3EN, MUSTAINE stopped by the VH1 Classic’s studios to chat with That Metal Show. A sneak peek of the episode–which will air this Saturday, 12/3 at 11/10pm CT–can be seen here: http://www.vh1.com/video/misc/715864/that-metal-show-season-9-episode-3-dave-mustaine.jhtml#id=1675201.

In other MEGADETH news, the group will again launch their acclaimed GIGANTOUR in 2012. The tour also features MOTÖRHEAD, VOLBEAT and LACUNA COIL, all personally picked by MUSTAINE.  It will kick off January 26 in Camden, NJ.  Before wrapping February 28 in Denver, CO, the tour will make stops all across the U.S. and Canada including a January 28 show in New York and February 24 in Los Angeles (full itinerary below).  The new www.gigantour.com website is now up and running featuring the latest news and video for all performing artists as well as a look back to previous tours. Tickets are available via the website as are MEGADETH Ultimate VIP Packages. Packages include meet ‘n greet photo op with MEGADETH band members, priority access general admission ticket, pre-show refreshments, specially designed MEGADETH t-shirt, exclusive lithograph, laminate and more. Packages are limited.

In a three-out-of-four star CD review, USA Today’s Brian Mansfield wrote, “The material stretches from tunes that sound like snarly, early Alice Cooper to politically minded thrash, a wide-ranging approach that should give all the group’s fans something they like…(11/1/11)” while Billboard’s Gary Graff called the record “a ripping, muscular exercise in hard-hitting rage ‘n roll…Th1rt3en shows they’re not ready to rust in peace quite yet (11/5/11).” Dan Epstein of Revolver raved “…from the opening blast of ‘Sudden Death,’ there’s no mistaking the innate Megadeth-ness of it all…the two Daves are now once again churning up acres of scorched earth together the way they used to do in the band’s prime.  But the album also marks drummer Shawn Drover’s third recorded outing with the group, and guitarist Chris Broderick’s second, which may be why Th1rt3en swings and swaggers like no Megadeth album in recent memory…Megadeth’s best and most vital album of the 21^st century…(Nov/Dec 2011).”

GIGANTOUR 2012 Tour Dates: