MEGADETH’s Dave Mustaine Looks Back On The Departure Of Chris Broderick And Shawn Drover – “I Wish We Had Gotten The Chance To Say Goodbye”

USA Today caught up with Megadeth mainman Dave Mustaine to discuss their new album Dystopia, the additions of Kiko Loureiro and Chris Adler to the lineup, and the departure of Chris Broderick and Shawn Drover.

Discussing the exits of Drover and Broderick, Mustaine said “I was surprised but not surprised”, and that the ongoing buzz of a potential Rust In Peace lineup reunion didn’t help. “Everybody was talking about it and they quit. I would have too”, says Mustaine.

Whether there are hard feelings, Mustaine says, “”I got to this point in my life where I realized that you don’t have to put somebody down to make somebody else look great. I’ve got nothing bad to say about Shawn and Chris. I miss the friendship. I wish we had gotten the chance to say goodbye.”

Megadeth’s fifteenth studio album, Dystopia, is due out on January 22nd via Univeral Music Enterprises. Leader Dave Mustaine discusses the new album with LAWeekly.com.

Q: Which of the riffs on Dystopia are you fondest of?

A: “There’s a couple cool ones on “Bullet To The Brain” and there’s a couple cool ones that are on “Dystopia” that are to me very reminiscent of old Mercyful Fate, kind of King Diamond, dark, demonic-sounding stuff.”

Q: Speaking of demonic-sounding stuff, when you reconnected with your faith, how did that affect your music? Were there records you used to listen to that you just couldn’t get into anymore?

A: “Well, it’s like I explained when that first happened for me: It was private, it was nobody’s business but my own and there was certain things that I just didn’t know about and rather than continue to do them and not know what the fuck I’m doing I wanted to just kind of put it on the shelf for a minute and see if I had a new truth with something. And if not I could always pick it back up, right?”

Read more at LAWeekly.com.

Dystopia’s title track is now streaming below:

Megadeth has announced that they will give their fans the ultimate cutting edge experience in Virtual Reality. The band will head into a special Virtual Reality set-up with director Blair Underwood where they will perform and film five songs from Dystopia – “Fatal Illusion,” “Dystopia,” The Threat Is Real,” “Poisonous Shadows,” and “Post American World.”

As a director, DGA member Underwood directed the 2009 independent feature The Bridge To Nowhere, as well as several music videos, short films and commercials. He is currently recurring on ABC’s hit series, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. The band’s performance will appear within the fallen city of a dystopian world modelled after the world created in Megadeth’s new music video for “The Threat Is Real”.

Next Galaxy Corp., a leading developer of innovative content solutions and immersive consumer virtual reality technology will create a dystopian universe surrounding the band, and allow fans to virtually enter, engage and explore this parallel world. Released on January 22nd, fans will be able to purchase the new album, a CEEK Virtual Reality cardbox headset with instructions, and a download code to access and unlock exclusive content, which will also be simultaneously launched with the release of Dystopia to begin their VR Experience. This special CD package will be available at all physical and online retailers.

Exclusive hand-signed bundles for the upcoming Dystopia album are now available for pre-order in the official Megadeth store.

Place your order at this location.

Dystopia was produced by Mustaine and Toby Wright (Alice In Chains, Korn). Megadeth’s new lineup features founding members Dave Mustaine (guitar, vocals) and David Ellefson (bass) along with Lamb Of God drummer Chris Adler and Brazilian-born Angra guitarist Kiko Loureiro.

Dystopia tracklisting:

“Death From Within”
​“Fatal Illusion”
“Conquer… Or Die!”
“Lying In State”
“Me Hate You”
“The Emperor’s New Clothes”
“Dystopia”
“Bullet To The Brain”
“Last Dying Wish”
“Post American World”
“Look Who’s Talking”
“The Threat Is Real”
“Poisonous Shadows”
“Melt The Ice Away” (Budgie cover)
“Foreign Policy” (Fear cover)

“The Threat Is Real” video:

“Fatal Illusion”:

Megadeth have announced that the North American leg of the Dystopia World Tour kicks off February 20th. Supporting Megadeth on the trek are Suicidal Tendencies, Children Of Bodom and Havok.

Tickets on sale at megadeth.com/dystopiatour. Tickets / VIP Packages at cyberarmy.megadeth.com.

Tour dates:

February
20 – Dallas, TX – South Side Ballroom
21 – Houston, TX – Bayou Music Center
23 – Denver, CO – The Fillmore Auditorium
24 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex
26 – Las Vegas, NV – The Pearl
27 – Phoenix, AZ – Comerica Theatre
28 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium
29 – San Francisco, CA – The Warfield

March
2 – Honolulu, HI – The Republik (Megadeth only)
3 – Honolulu, HI – The Republik (Megadeth only)
5 – Penticton, BC – South Okanagan Events Centre
6 – Calgary, AB – Grey Eagle Resort
8 – Dawson Creek, BC – Encana Events Centre
9 – Edmonton, AB – Rexall Place
10 – Moose Jaw, SK – Mosaic Place
13 – Chicago, IL – Aragon Ballroom
15 – Niagara Falls, NY – The Rapids Theatre
16 – New York, NY – Terminal 5
17 – New York, NY – Terminal 5
19 – Bethlehem, PA – Sands Bethlehem Event Center
20 – Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory
21 – Boston, MA – House Of Blues
23 – Bangor, ME – Cross Insurance Center
24 – Quebec, QC – Centre Videotron
26 – Sioux Falls, SD – Badlands Pawn