Megadeth’s Mustaine mulls possibility of Big 10 shows

(Image credit: Chiaki Nozu - Getty)

Megadeth vocalist and guitarist Dave Mustaine says that it might be time to take a look at the possibility of a run of Big 10 shows.

He said earlier this year that he’d like to play one final Big Four show with Metallica, Anthrax and Slayer before Kerry King and co take their final bow.

But that possibility looks increasingly unlikely to happen, with Mustaine claiming last week that Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich was “afraid to play with Megadeth.”

Speaking exclusively with Metal Hammer, Mustaine says: “I would love to do more Big Four stuff, but it doesn’t look like it’s on the cards with Slayer hanging it up. 

“Maybe time for us to create the new Big 10 or something and let a bunch of people who never got that heralded spot get up there. 

“There were certainly a lot great bands from that time too, we just all had that little something extra. I don’t know how we got it, but we did. I don’t know why anybody liked it but they sure did.”

In January this year, Mustaine reported that if Metallica didn’t want to take part in further Big Four shows, then Exodus could take their place.

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent 35 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott keeps Louder’s buyer’s guides up to date, writes about the best deals for music fans, keeps on top of the latest tech releases and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 10 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald newspapers, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.