Posted on 05/14/2005 11:06:04 PM PDT by freedom44
Dave Mustaine was reportedly willing to cancel Megadeth's Greek dates (to be more specific: wherever Rotting Christ are set to appear as support) due to his known dislike for black/death metal bands that depict religious issues in a negative light. Here's what a member of Megadeth's official forums posted concerning this issue and what Dave Mustaine posted in response (as found on the band's forums):
# April3rd: Well, Megadeth will be playing Greece this summer. Both Athens and Thessaloniki. Although it is not yet on the Killing Road the company that organizes the concert announced that the support act for the gig in Athens will be the Greek black metal band Rotting Christ. We all know Dave's beliefs and his opinion about black metal. Rotting Christ, as you can easily understand, don't actually go to church every Sunday, instead they had taken part in the "F--k Christ Tour" along with Mayhem and other Satanic bands a few years ago. Hey, Dave, do you mind them opening for you?
# Dave Mustaine: Well, if they are on it, I certainly don't want to kick them off. We will just have to pass and play Greece another time or place. I have informed my management and they know what I feel.
Lately, Megadeth mainman Dave Mustaine posted the following message in the "Forums" section of the band's official web site: "It has come to my attention that there was a show in Greece where an allegedly 'full-on' Satanic band [Rotting Christ] was going to be playing, as well as one in Israel too [Dissection]. No one knows for sure what their intent or content is, so I am not going to say they are.
"Yes, I said that I was not really interested in playing with Satanic [bands], and that is because I changed my outlook on life and my spritual beliefs over three years ago. I became a Christian, yes, and I have made even more mistakes now that I have, because there are things I do that I know I should not do, and things I do not do that I know I should.
"Plus I have helpful people like the guy in this thread who is quick to point out my failings, and volunteering as my self-appointed judge to remind me of everything that I am doing wrong.
"Yes, I did say I would prefer not to play on concerts with Satanic bands. That doesn't mean I won't, it doesn't mean I would not talk with the bands either, (sometimes it is just for fun anyway with these bands). But to make a life-altering change and then not have some kind of affect would not have been a change at all, would it? It's not much different from staying away from booze if you have made a decision to be sober.
"The concerts that I headline or I put together is usually my choice who I want to play with; festivals are different. If I don't feel it is right for me to do something, then like I said in this post here I would just respectfully decline. I would not ask that anyone be taken off if they were already confirmed.
"I have to draw the line and stand for my beliefs or they aren't beliefs at all, are they? I don't expect anyone to fully understand this, but I know many of you do, and I thank you for your support.
"To the Droogie that is set on insulting me about my beliefs, I understand. It is easy for a person with no beliefs to mock someone who does. I don't know if you do (I hope so), but it appears not. Because if you did, you would say, 'Well, those are Dave's beliefs, they are not like mine, but if mine are to be respected, than so should his.'
"I doubt you will think things through like this before you come on here and attack me for my beliefs again, but here's to hoping. And ya might want to check the guidelines of this site too; we are pretty friendly here, but personal attacks don't sit well here.
"And if not, I imagine someone will prolly buy your ticket and I will dedicate a song to your abscence at the concert.
"The moral to the story is this ... I don't like certain bands and that will never change that in me."
And here's what frontman Sakis Tolis of the Rotting Christ has said in response (exclusively via Metal Temple magazine), concerning the issue that has arisen due to Mustaine's comments:
"Unfortunately, we find ourselves in the difficult position to have to announce to our fans that we feel like canceling our upcoming participation in two big festivals (something that we have done several times before, too), with the reason being our band's name. A name that expresses our opposition to any kind of religion, a name that opposes to any fake visions of an eternal calmness and peace, a name that is a punch at the conservative basis of the hypocritical and religious so-called democratic societies.
"Unfortunately the middle ages still find their way into the new millennium and metal must support the freedom of the mind, something that it has been doing since its foundation."
Dan
That Sweating Bullets song was really catchy for a metal song.
Good point, but he didn't say he didn't want to tour Greece, he just wouldn't do a show with these guys that attack Christ. I'm sure if he tours seperately, the shows will still reach a lot of unsaved people.
More power to him, whatever he chooses.
Pretty cool ... I remember someone asked Mustaine in a magazine article 'why Megadeth?" and he replied, "Well, we're a metal band, we couldn't call ourselves 'HerbalLIFE!" Maybe he and Alice Cooper should go touring together...
SSSSSSLLLLLAAAAAYYYYYYYEEEEEEEERRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, good news. He was a pretty hardcore democrat, wonder if he still is.
Death metal has pretty much destroyed “Rock” radio stations. Where I live, it’s either boring classic rock or mind-bending, brain-jamming death metal or soupy pop music.
Of course Rap has destroyed anything resembling “soul” music.
I just listen to talk radio now.
I only listen to the radio for weather(have to, since I live in FL) and sports now. I agree about death metal being worthless noise.
I’m in Orlando.
Melbourne here.
So a democrat can’t be a Christian? Only Republicans can be Christian? Is that what you are saying? That is so sterotyping.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.