Seminal thrash metal act Megadeth will headline heavy music festival No Sleep Til, arriving in Auckland in December.
No Sleep Til Auckland will also feature punk rock legends NOFX and Dropkick Murphys.
Other American bands coming to the festival include comedy metal act Gwar, punk rockers Alkaline Trio, deathcore band Suicide Silence, metalcore band August Burns Red and post-hardcore group We Came As Romans.
Also on the line-up are Swedish doom metal band Katatonia and Canadian classic metal band 3 Inches of Blood.
Representing Australia at No Sleep Til Auckland are metalcore act Parkway Drive and punk rockers Frenzal Rhomb.
Local acts playing the festival include Antagonist AD, The Outsiders, Shitrippers and Leeches – a new band formed from past members of Bleeders, Goodnight Nurse, Antagonist AD and Brick Vs Face.
Headline act Megadeth was formed by frontman Dave Mustaine after he was kicked out of Metallica in 1983.
Mustaine is widely regarded as one of the most gifted metal guitarists of all time, both as a rhythm and a lead player. In 2009 he was ranked No. 1 in Joel McIver’s book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists.
Megadeth have recently performed a tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of their 1990 Rust in Peace album, performing the album in its entirety. Kiwi fans will experience this for themselves at No Sleep Til Auckland.
Rust in Peace includes the classic thrash hits ‘Holy Wars… The Punishment Due’ and ‘Hangar 18’ and the 20th anniversary marked the first time other tracks from the album had ever been performed live such as ‘Five Magics’, ‘Poison Was the Cure’ and ‘Rust in Peace… Polaris’.
Megadeth last played in Auckland in 2009 alongside Slayer. At the time, David Farrier caught up with Mustaine – watch the full interview.
“It’s such an exciting opportunity to be working with such an amazing line-up of not only some of the biggest names in alternative music, but a team of people dedicated and passionate about bringing this music to Kiwi fans,” says Katie Macrae of Chicks that Scream, NZ representatives for No Sleep Til Auckland.
“Bands love coming to New Zealand and we love having them here – best December ever!”
The festival will take place at Auckland’s ASB Showgrounds on December 10.
Tickets go on sale midday September 9.
For more information visit the No Sleep Till website.
c/o http://www.3news.co.nz/Megadeth-to-headline-No-Sleep-Til-in-Auckland/tabid/418/articleID/172475/Default.aspx?ArticleID=172475
Until next time keep rockin’
The 0800 Jukebox crew.