Latest news with #VicRattlehead
Sky News AU
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Thrash metal band Megadeth uses artificial intelligence to say goodbye as it announces it's 17th album and farewell tour
An American thrash metal band has announced that their 17th studio album will be their last. In a video posted to Instagram, an AI generated video shows various cities on fire, volcanoes erupting and AI generated news anchors proclaiming the end times, before their mascot, Vic Rattlehead confirmed that the band was splitting up. The band, which was founded in 1983 by guitarist Dave Mustine, has toured Australia in 2025 and 2023. In the video, Vic Rattlehead said 'For over four decades, I've been chained in silence, but the end demands my voice. 'It's been confirmed; the next Megadeth studio album will be the last.' A statement that was published on the band's website from founding member Dave Mustaine said, 'It's our last studio album. We've made a lot of friends over the years, and I hope to see all of you on our global farewell tour.' Many of the comments that appeared on the Instagram video were supportive of the band, with many saying that they were sad to see the thrash metal band split up. 'Megadeth, you will always live on in our hearts. Thank you for everything Dave Mustaine,' one said. Another wrote, 'Make it a blast! One of the only bands I own all the albums to.' A third commented, 'It hurts my heart to see THE metal band that has got me into metal leave.' But some commented that they were critical of the band's decision to use artificial intelligence to create the apocalyptic hell scape that was used in the video to promote the new album. 'MEGADETH YOUR SUPPOSED TO DESTROY AI NOT JOIN THEM' one said in all capitals. Another said, 'Megadeth using ai,' whilst another said 'Hope AI won't be used for the actual music videos and album art. So disappointed' In a lengthy statement that was posted to the band's website, Mustaine expressed that he was grateful to the band's fans over the years for their loyalty. 'Don't be mad, don't be sad, be happy for us all, come celebrate with me these next few years, he said.' He went on to talk about Megadeath's legacy and the influence it has had on music. 'We started a musical style, we started a revolution, we changed the guitar world and how it's played, and we changed the world,' Mustaine said. 'The bands I played in have influenced the world. I love you all for it. Thank you for everything.'
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Megadeth announces final album, farewell tour: 'Forged in steel, ending in fire'
The end is near for Megadeth. Band founder, singer and guitarist Dave Mustaine announced – via his skeletal alter ego Vic Rattlehead – the rockers' forthcoming album will be Megadeth's last. 'Forty years of metal, forged in steel, ending in fire,' Rattlehead says in an apocalyptic-themed video. 'You've heard the warning. Now, prepare yourselves and meet me on the frontlines.' Megadeth will also embark on a global farewell tour in 2026 and Mustaine is prepping a new memoir. Details and dates on all will be announced in the coming months. 'There's so many musicians that have come to the end of their career, whether accidental or intentional,' Mustaine says in an announcement about Megadeth's finale. 'Most of them don't get to go out on their own terms on top, and that's where I'm at in my life right now. I have traveled the world and have made millions upon millions of fans and the hardest part of all of this is saying goodbye to them.' Mustaine, 63, has been the only consistent member of the band since forming it in 1983 in California. Throughout its tenure, Megadeth – along with Metallica (in which he previously served as lead guitarist), Slayer, Iron Maiden and Anthrax – brought metal to the masses. The band has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide and in 2017 scored a Grammy Award for best metal performance ('Dystopia'). Megadeth's most recent album, 'The Sick, the Dying … and the Dead!' arrived in 2022, three years after Mustaine was diagnosed with throat cancer. The combination of his illness and the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the delay. The album hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts for hard rock, rock and alternative albums. Along with Mustaine, Megadeth currently includes drummer Dirk Verbeuren, guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari and bassist James LoMenzo. Mustaine took a philosophical view of ending his musical career, saying in the announcement, 'Don't be mad, don't be sad, be happy for us all, come celebrate with me these next few years. We have done something together that's truly wonderful and will probably never happen again. We started a musical style, we started a revolution, we changed the guitar world and how it's played, and we changed the world.' This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Megadeth announces final album, farewell tour
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dave Mustaine Preps Final Megadeth Album, Tour, and Memoir: ‘We Started a Revolution'
After 40-plus years, Dave Mustaine is ready to put Megadeth to rest. The thrasher announced plans for a final album and tour, and revealed a memoir is on the way. Mustaine posted the announcement via his alter ego, Vic Rattlehead. The new album, titled The End Is Near, will arrive next year. The LP follows 2022's The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead! More from Rolling Stone Megadeth, Dave Mustaine to Pay More Than $1 Million to Former Manager in Legal Settlement Megadeth Push Back on 'Misinformed' Peter Frampton Blaming Them for Show Cancellation Megadeth's Kiko Loureiro Pulls Out of Tour, Temporary Replacement Announced 'There's so many musicians that have come to the end of their career, whether accidental or intentional,' Mustaine said in a statement. 'Most of them don't get to go out on their own terms on top, and that's where I'm at in my life right now. I have traveled the world and have made millions upon millions of fans and the hardest part of all of this is saying goodbye to them.' 'We can't wait for you to hear this album and see us on tour,' he continued. 'If there was ever a perfect time for us to put out a new album, it's now. If there was ever a perfect time to tour the world, it's now. This is also a perfect time for us to tell you that it's our last studio album.' Mustaine's memoir will also arrive next year. The book will follow the 2020 oral history Rust in Peace: The Inside Story of the Megadeth Masterpiece and former lead guitarist Marty Friedman's memoir Dreaming Japanese, released last year. Megadeth's global farewell tour will kick off in 2026; dates have yet to be announced. 'We've made a lot of friends over the years and I hope to see all of you on our global farewell tour,' Mustaine said. 'Don't be mad, don't be sad, be happy for us all, come celebrate with me these next few years. We have done something together that's truly wonderful and will probably never happen again. We started a musical style, we started a revolution, we changed the guitar world and how it's played, and we changed the world. The bands I played in have influenced the world. I love you all for it. Thank you for everything.' Best of Rolling Stone Sly and the Family Stone: 20 Essential Songs The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked Solve the daily Crossword
News.com.au
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Megadeth announce retirement after 40 years with 17th studio album to be their last
After more than 40 years rocking out in studios and stadiums around the globe, one of the most iconic thrash metal bands of all time, Megadeth, have announced their forthcoming 17th studio album, which drops next year, will be their last. The legendary band shared the news in an Instagram video on Friday morning, via their mascot Vic Rattlehead, revealing that their aptly titled album The End Is Near will be a full stop to their illustrious careers – but not before they embark on a farewell global tour in 2026. The clip shows Rattlehead speaking for the first-time ever to their fanbase, called the Cyber Army, in a video-game style clip as emergency sirens blared in the background while TV anchors delivered news of a looming apocalypse. 'For over four decades, I've been chained in silence, but the end demands my voice,' Rattlehead, a skeletal figure whose mouth is covered by metal clamps, says from behind a newsdesk. 'It is confirmed, the next Megadeth studio album will be the last.' '40 years of metal forged in steel, emptying in fire. And when the new year arises, the global farewell tour,' Rattlehead added. 'You've heard the warning, now prepare yourselves, super army. Stay loud, stay tuned and meet me on the front lines.' The new album The End Is Near will arrive next year and follows their 2022 offering The Sick, the Dying … and the Dead! Following Rattlehead's announcement, frontman Dave Mustaine shared his own personal message, as per The Guardian, saying he considers himself at the peak of his career, but that's how he wants to bow out. 'There's so many musicians that have come to the end of their career, whether accidental or intentional,' the 63-yeat-old said in a statement. 'Most of them don't get to go out on their own terms on top, and that's where I'm at in my life right now. I have travelled the world and have made millions upon millions of fans and the hardest part of all of this is saying goodbye to them.' 'If there was ever a perfect time for us to put out a new album, it's now. If there was ever a perfect time to tour the world, it's now. This is also a perfect time for us to tell you that it's our last studio album. We've made a lot of friends over the years and I hope to see all of you on our global farewell tour.' Megadeth has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide and Mustaine pleaded with the fans, who made them one of the biggest bands of the genre, for their understanding. 'Don't be mad, don't be sad, be happy for us all, come celebrate with me these next few years,' he said. 'We have done something together that's truly wonderful and will probably never happen again. We started a musical style, we started a revolution, we changed the guitar world and how it's played, and we changed the world. The bands I played in have influenced the world. I love you all for it. Thank you for everything.'
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Megadeth confirms final album and farewell tour, Dave Mustaine opens up on the ‘hardest part'
Megadeth, the thrash metal band in business since 1983, officially announced that they are retiring after their forthcoming album and tour in 2026, per Variety. In addition to a sentimental note from Dave Mustaine, co-founder and frontman of the band, Megadeth broke the news on YouTube. Megadeth announces farewell tour and last album.(X/@Megadeth) While the name of the forthcoming studio album has not been revealed, the band has confirmed the 'end of their career' after over four decades in the business. 'It is confirmed that the next Megadeth studio album will be the last. 40 years of metal forged in steel, ending in fire,' Vic Rattlehead, the mascot of the band, said in a YouTube video titled The End is Near. Dave Mustaine on Megadeth's farewell Frontman Dave Mustaine says he wants to go out on his 'own terms' while the band is still on top. 'I have travelled the world and have made millions upon millions of fans, and the hardest part of all of this is saying goodbye to them,' Mustaine said in his statement, per Variety. Megadeth was highly inspired by UFO, Black Sabbath, and British heavy metal bands like Raven and Venom, among others. Their debut album in 1985 sold over 254,000 copies in the US. As the band was now saying goodbye, its mascot, Vic Rattlehead, asked the Cyber Army to gear up for a 'global farewell tour." Also read: Taylor Swift says 'Showgirl' album reflects joy of recent tour Among other accolades, Megadeth won a Grammy in 2017 for the title track of Dystopia. Looking back at the memories Megadeth has created, Dave Mustaine boasted of 'starting a revolution'. He said Megadeth 'changed the guitar world and how it's played." Other than Megadeth, Dave Mustaine has played for Metallica and MD. 45. Speaking of which, Mustaine added: 'The bands I played in have influenced the world. I love you all for it.' Megadeth's lineup has changed over the years, and the current lineup includes Mustaine, bassist James LoMenzo, guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari, and drummer Dirk Verbeuren. FAQs: What are Megadeth fans called? The Megadeth fans are called the Cyber Army. Did Megadeth win a Grammy? Yes, Megadeth won a Grammy in 2017. What is the Megadeth mascot called? The Megadeth mascot is called Vic Rattlehead. What is the name of Megadeth's forthcoming album? Megadeth has yet to officially confirm the name of its forthcoming album.
