Gigantour
Encyclopedia
Gigantour is the name of a sporadically organised traveling heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...

 music festival
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...

 organized by Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...

's Dave Mustaine
Dave Mustaine
David Scott "Dave" Mustaine is the founder, main songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Prior to Megadeth, Mustaine was the first lead guitarist and a co-songwriter of the heavy metal band Metallica until he was fired from the band in 1983. In 2009, he...

. The tour was founded in 2005 with dates across North America, and the 2006 and 2007 line-ups also traveled to Australia. The bands appearing at the festival were chosen by Mustaine because he wanted to "put together a festival that consisted of positive bands that play heavy music in a high energy environment." The tour is set as an alternative to tours such as Ozzfest
Ozzfest
Ozzfest is an annual festival tour of the United States featuring performances by many heavy metal and hard rock musical groups. It was founded by Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon Osbourne, both of whom also organize each yearly tour with their son Jack Osbourne...

. The name "Gigantour" was inspired by the classic 1960s anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....

 Gigantor
Gigantor
Gigantor is an American adaptation of the anime version of Tetsujin 28-go, a manga by Mitsuteru Yokoyama released in 1956. It debuted on U.S. television in 1964. As with Speed Racer, the characters' original names were altered and the original series' violence was toned down for American viewers...

. The next Gigantour will take place in 2012.

The Festival

Megadeth has consistently toured with prolific metal bands since 1985, such as Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...

 and Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...

. The lineup of the inaugural Gigantour was composed of bands that Dave Mustaine particularly enjoyed touring with in the past. Mustaine himself invited progressive metal acts Dream Theater
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...

, as well as bands such as Nevermore
Nevermore
Nevermore is an American heavy metal band from Seattle, Washington. Formed in 1991, they are known to incorporate elements from styles such as thrash, power, progressive, and neo-classical metal into their songs, and also makes use of acoustic guitars and a wide range of vocal styles.-Early years...

 and Overkill
Overkill (band)
Overkill is an American thrash metal band, formed in 1980 in New Jersey. They have gone through many line-up changes, with singer Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and bassist D.D. Verni remaining from the original lineup. Along with Anthrax , the band is one of the most successful East Coast thrash metal...

. The subsequent editions of Gigantour also featured Mustaine's personal choices, such as Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...

, The Dillinger Escape Plan
The Dillinger Escape Plan
The Dillinger Escape Plan is an American mathcore band from Morris Plains, New Jersey. The group originated in 1997 after the disbanding of Arcane, a hardcore punk trio consisting of Ben Weinman, Dimitri Minakakis, and Chris Pennie. The band's current line-up consists of guitarist Ben Weinman,...

, and Fear Factory
Fear Factory
Fear Factory is an American industrial metal band. Formed in 1989, they have released seven full-length albums and a number of singles and remixes. Over the course of their career they have evolved from a succession of styles, as well as steadily pioneered a combination of the styles death metal,...

.

Main Stage

Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...

, Dream Theater
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...

 (July 21 - September 3), Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...

 (September 6 - September 11), Fear Factory
Fear Factory
Fear Factory is an American industrial metal band. Formed in 1989, they have released seven full-length albums and a number of singles and remixes. Over the course of their career they have evolved from a succession of styles, as well as steadily pioneered a combination of the styles death metal,...

, The Dillinger Escape Plan
The Dillinger Escape Plan
The Dillinger Escape Plan is an American mathcore band from Morris Plains, New Jersey. The group originated in 1997 after the disbanding of Arcane, a hardcore punk trio consisting of Ben Weinman, Dimitri Minakakis, and Chris Pennie. The band's current line-up consists of guitarist Ben Weinman,...

, Nevermore
Nevermore
Nevermore is an American heavy metal band from Seattle, Washington. Formed in 1991, they are known to incorporate elements from styles such as thrash, power, progressive, and neo-classical metal into their songs, and also makes use of acoustic guitars and a wide range of vocal styles.-Early years...


July

  • 21 Fresno, CA - Selland Arena
    Selland Arena
    The Selland Arena is a multi-purpose arena built in 1966 that makes up part of a five-venue complex of the Fresno Convention and Entertainment Center in Fresno, California. It is named after former Fresno mayor Arthur L. Selland and has had over ten million people walk through its doors in its over...

  • 22 Las Vegas, NV - Thomas and Mack Center
  • 23 Phoenix, AZ - Cricket Wireless Pavilion
  • 24 Irvine, CA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
    Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (Irvine)
    Not to be confused with amphitheatres in Georgia, Missouri, or Virginia.Verizon Wireless Amphitheater Irvine is a 16,085-capacity amphitheater, located in Irvine, California...

  • 26 Sacramento, CA - The Cove
    The Cove
    The Cove is a 2009 documentary film that analyzes and questions Japan's dolphin hunting culture. It was awarded the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. The film is a call to action to halt mass dolphin kills, change Japanese fishing practices, and to inform and educate the public about the...

  • 28 San Diego, CA - SDSU Open Air Theater
  • 29 Tucson, AZ - Casino Del Sol
  • 30 Albuquerque, NM - Journal Pavilion
    Journal Pavilion
    Hard Rock Albuquerque presents: The Pavilion is an outdoor amphitheater located within the Sandia Mountains in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It is a part of the Bernalillo County Recreational Complex.The amphitheater opened in February 2000 as the Mesa del Sol Amphitheater...



August

  • 01 San Antonio, TX - Lonestar Pavilion
  • 02 Dallas, TX - Nokia Live
  • 03 Corpus Christi, TX - Concrete Street Amphitheater
  • 05 Duluth, GA - Arena at Gwinnett Center
    Arena at Gwinnett Center
    The Arena at Gwinnett Center is an indoor arena in Duluth, Georgia, United States. The arena was an expansion to the Gwinnett Center, which also includes a performing arts center and a convention center...

  • 06 Orlando, FL - Hard Rock Live
  • 07 West Palm Beach, FL - Sound Advice Amphitheater
  • 08 Tampa, FL - St. Pete Times Forum
    St. Pete Times Forum
    The St. Pete Times Forum is an arena in Tampa, Florida, that has been used for ice hockey, basketball, and arena football games, as well as concerts....

  • 10 Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre
    DTE Energy Music Theatre
    Originally built by the Nederlander Organization in the early 1970s, the DTE Energy Music Theatre is a 15,274-seat amphitheater located in Clarkston, Michigan. It was originally known as the Pine Knob Music Theatre, due to its proximity to the nearby Pine Knob ski area and golf course...

  • 11 Ft. Wayne, IN - Coliseum Expo
  • 12 Tinley Park, IL - Tweeter Center
  • 13 Milwaukee, WI - Eagles Ballroom Complex
  • 14 Cleveland, OH - Tower City Amphitheater
  • 16 Cincinnati, OH - Annie's Outdoor Pavilion
  • 17 Pittsburgh, PA - Chevrolet Amphitheatre
    Chevrolet Amphitheatre
    The Trib Total Media Amphitheatre at Station Square is an outdoor music pavilion at Station Square in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The venue has a seating capacity of 5,000 people. In January 2007 it was announced that the amphitheatre would be changing its name to The Amphitheatre at Sandcastle and...

  • 19 Portland, ME - Civic Center
  • 20 Manchester, NH - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
  • 21 Poughkeepsie, NY - Mid-Hudson Civic Center
  • 23 Wantagh, NY - Jones Beach Amphitheater
  • 24 Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
    PNC Bank Arts Center
    The PNC Bank Arts Center is a modern amphitheatre located in Holmdel Township, New Jersey, USA. About 17,500 people can occupy the amphitheater; there are 7,000 seats and the grass area can hold about 10,500 people. Concerts are from May through September featuring 35–45 different events of...

  • 26 Boston, MA - Bank of America Pavilion
    Bank of America Pavilion
    Bank of America Pavilion is a Live Nation-owned outdoor amphitheater located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The seating capacity is approximately 5,000. It was originally known as Harbor Lights Pavilion until 1999 when Live Nation purchased the venue and sold the naming rights to FleetBoston...

  • 27 Reading, PA - Sovereign Center
    Sovereign Center
    Sovereign Center is a 7,083-seat multi-purpose arena, in Reading, Pennsylvania. It was built in 2001. The arena sits on the former site of the Astor Theatre. Closed in 1975, the theatre sat vacant, until it was torn down in 1998, to make room for the arena....

  • 28 Atlantic City, NJ - House of Blues
  • 30 Darien Lake, NY - Darien Lake Amphitheatre
  • 31 Huntington, WV - Big Sandy Superstore Arena
    Big Sandy Superstore Arena
    The Big Sandy Superstore Arena, originally known as the Huntington Civic Center and later as the Huntington Civic Arena, is a municipal complex located in the downtown area of Huntington, West Virginia one block west of Pullman Square. The Big Sandy Superstore Arena consists of a 9,000-seat...


September

  • 02 Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
    Bell Centre
    The Bell Centre , formerly known as the Molson Centre , is a sports and entertainment complex in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It opened on March 16, 1996 after nearly three years under construction...

  • 03 Toronto, ON - Molson Amphitheatre
  • 06 Edmonton, AB - Shaw Conference Centre
    Shaw Conference Centre
    The Shaw Conference Centre, colloquially called The SHAW, or SCC is a meeting, entertainment, and convention venue located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada...

  • 07 Calgary, AB - Stampede Corral
    Stampede Corral
    The Stampede Corral is an ice hockey, rodeo, and Davis Cup tennis arena venue in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The arena was completed in 1950 at a cost of C$1.25 million to replace Victoria Arena as the home of the Calgary Stampeders Hockey Club...

  • 09 Vancouver, BC - PNE Coliseum
  • 10 Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheater
  • 11 Ridgefield, WA - Clark County Amphitheater

July 28, 2005 - San Diego, CA

For the San Diego show there was no space for a second stage at the venue, and so many bands were left off the bill. As a result only four bands played that day, with Nevermore opening, followed by Fear Factory, Dream Theater, and Megadeth closing the show. To compensate for the glaring lack of advertised bands, however, each band performed extended sets, with Dream Theater and Megadeth playing approximately an hour and a half each.
August 7, 2005 - West Palm Beach, FL

The only second stage band that got to play this show was Bobaflex, with the rest of the bands being unable to play due to inclement weather. The first stage, being covered, was unaffected. All the bands still participated in their Meet 'n' Greet sessions.
August 2, 2005 - Dallas, TX

In honor of late Pantera
Pantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...

 guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott
Dimebag Darrell
Darrell Lance Abbott , also known as Diamond Darrell and Dimebag Darrell, was an American guitarist. He was best known as a founding member of the heavy metal bands Pantera and Damageplan. Abbott also contributed to the album Rebel Meets Rebel, a collaboration between Pantera and David Allan Coe...

, who was shot and killed on stage the previous December, Dream Theater
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...

, Dave Mustaine
Dave Mustaine
David Scott "Dave" Mustaine is the founder, main songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Prior to Megadeth, Mustaine was the first lead guitarist and a co-songwriter of the heavy metal band Metallica until he was fired from the band in 1983. In 2009, he...

 (of Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...

), Burton C. Bell
Burton C. Bell
Burton Christopher Bell is an American musician. Bell is best known as the frontman of the metal band Fear Factory where he is the only consistent member. His singing style mixes clean vocals with death growls.-Fear Factory:...

 (of Fear Factory
Fear Factory
Fear Factory is an American industrial metal band. Formed in 1989, they have released seven full-length albums and a number of singles and remixes. Over the course of their career they have evolved from a succession of styles, as well as steadily pioneered a combination of the styles death metal,...

) and Russell Allen
Russell Allen
Russell Allen is the singer of the American progressive metal band Symphony X.-Biography:Before working with a rock band, he was a jouster at a Medieval Times Dinner Theater. He was introduced to the band Symphony X by former singer Rod Tyler...

 (of Symphony X
Symphony X
Symphony X is an American progressive metal band from Middletown, New Jersey.Founded in 1994 by guitarist Michael Romeo, their albums The Divine Wings of Tragedy and V: The New Mythology Suite have given the band considerable attention within the progressive metal community...

) performed the Pantera classic "Cemetery Gates
Cemetery Gates
"Cemetery Gates" is a song by heavy metal band Pantera. The song is the fifth track from Cowboys from Hell, the band's fifth album and second with lead singer Phil Anselmo...

." The performance is included on the bonus disc of the DVD.
August 23 and 24 2005

During Dream Theater's set, Mike Portnoy
Mike Portnoy
Michael Stephen "Mike" Portnoy is an American drummer primarily known as the former drummer, backing vocalist, and a co-founder of the progressive metal band Dream Theater, as well as the temporary drummer for the hard rock band Avenged Sevenfold. Known for his drumming prowess and technical...

 brought Richard Christy
Richard Christy
Thomas Richard Christy is an American musician and radio personality who currently works on The Howard Stern Show. Christy began to work on the show after winning the "Get John's Job" contest on July 1, 2004. He is known for his prank calls, song parodies, personality, and stunts performed on the...

 of Death on stage for a long drum solo
Drum solo
A drum solo is an instrumental solo played on a drum kit. A drum solo may be set or improvised, and of any length, up to being the main performance....

. The two got on the largest drum kit and exchanged parts of famous heavy metal favorites such as Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...

's "Hot for Teacher
Hot for Teacher
"Hot for Teacher" is a song on Van Halen's album 1984.The sexually suggestive song was best known for its long opening drum solo, near motorcycle-like drum fills and its music video featuring the band as both adults and young students in a high school...

", Rush's
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...

 "YYZ
YYZ (song)
     For the airport YYZ, see Toronto Pearson International Airport."YYZ" is an instrumental rock piece by Canadian rock band Rush, from the 1981 album Moving Pictures....

", Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...

's "Run to the Hills
Run to the Hills
"Run to the Hills" was Iron Maiden's sixth single and the first single from their 1982 album The Number of the Beast. The lyrics clearly discuss the violence visited upon Native Americans in the Nineteenth Century. Several lines appear to address the Sioux Wars, a conflict between the Lakota...

" and "Where Eagles Dare
Where Eagles Dare
Where Eagles Dare is a 1968 World War II action-adventure spy film starring Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood and Mary Ure. It was directed by Brian G. Hutton and shot on location in Upper Austria and Bavaria....

", Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...

's "Raining Blood
Raining Blood
"Raining Blood" is a song by the American thrash metal band Slayer. Written by Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King for the 1986 studio album Reign in Blood, the concept deals with religion, specifically said to be about overthrowing Heaven...

" and many others — some of which featured accompaniment from John Petrucci
John Petrucci
John Peter Petrucci is an American guitarist and songwriter best known as a founding member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. Along with his former bandmate Mike Portnoy, he has produced all Dream Theater albums since their 1999 release, Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory...

 on guitar.
August 30, 2005

The Dillinger Escape Plan were forced to pull out of their remaining Gigantour live dates because of an injury to guitarist Ben Weinman
Ben Weinman
Ben Weinman is an American musician, who is most notable for being the lead guitarist for the band The Dillinger Escape Plan. He is the founder and only original member remaining in the band....

. Weinman severely re-injured his arm at the House of Blues in Atlantic City and was told by a specialist that he would be unable to perform until further notice.
September 3, 2005 - Toronto

Dream Theater played their last Gigantour date in Toronto. As a surprise, Mike Portnoy
Mike Portnoy
Michael Stephen "Mike" Portnoy is an American drummer primarily known as the former drummer, backing vocalist, and a co-founder of the progressive metal band Dream Theater, as well as the temporary drummer for the hard rock band Avenged Sevenfold. Known for his drumming prowess and technical...

 joined Dave Mustaine, James MacDonough
James MacDonough
James MacDonough born on April 3, 1970 in Jacksonville, Florida U.S.A. is a professional bass guitarist. He has played with Iced Earth, Nevermore, and most recently, Megadeth....

, Shawn Drover
Shawn Drover
Shawn Drover is a Canadian drummer, best-known for his work with the heavy metal band Megadeth....

, and Glen Drover
Glen Drover
Glen Drover is a heavy metal guitarist from Missisauga, Ontario, Canada. He currently resides in MississaugaOntario. Drover is best known as the former lead guitarist in Megadeth and King Diamond, as well as his own band Eidolon, along with his brother Shawn Drover.-History:Glen Drover began...

 performing "Peace Sells
Peace Sells
"Peace Sells" is a song by the American thrash metal band Megadeth from the 1986 album Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?, written by Dave Mustaine. It, along with Wake Up Dead from the same album, has been a staple at Megadeth concerts. Lyrically, it deals with negative stereotypes about...

". Portnoy played the drums while Shawn Drover picked up a guitar and was the third guitar player on the stage. Shawn did one of the solos and surprised everyone in the crowd. Unfortunately, his guitar was unplugged for a fair bit of the song. According to Megadeth bassist James Macdonough, Portnoy pulled a prank on Shawn by pouring baby powder on the snare drum when he was getting off the drum kit. As soon as Megadeth began playing "Holy Wars...The Punishment Due", Shawn's snare drum "turned into a 'smoke' machine". Portnoy admitted to the prank on the DVD. This is one example of many pranks done towards the end of Gigantour shows.
September 10, 2005 - Auburn, WA

Scott Ian
Scott Ian
Scott Ian Rosenfeld , better known by the stage name Scott Ian, is an American musician, best known as the rhythm & lead guitarist for the heavy metal band Anthrax. Ian is also the guitarist and a founding member of the crossover thrash band Stormtroopers of Death...

, Charlie Benante
Charlie Benante
Charlie Benante is the drummer for the heavy metal bands Anthrax and Stormtroopers of Death .- Career :...

, and Joey Belladonna
Joey Belladonna
Joey Belladonna is a heavy metal singer and drummer, best known as the lead singer for the heavy metal band Anthrax...

 of Anthrax, along with Burton C. Bell of Fear Factory, members from Bobaflex, tour managers from Fear Factory and Anthrax, and others, joined Megadeth on stage to sing "Peace Sells
Peace Sells
"Peace Sells" is a song by the American thrash metal band Megadeth from the 1986 album Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?, written by Dave Mustaine. It, along with Wake Up Dead from the same album, has been a staple at Megadeth concerts. Lyrically, it deals with negative stereotypes about...

".
September 11, 2005 - Ridgefield, WA

The Portland show (which was actually played in Ridgefield, Washington
Ridgefield, Washington
Ridgefield is a city in the pastoral, rolling-hills countryside of northern Clark County, Washington, United States. The population was 4,763 at the 2010 census....

) marked the end of Gigantour's inaugural year. As a special farewell, members from all the bands and crew of Gigantour sang together the Megadeth song "Back in the Day." The show was wrapped up with a surprise happy birthday song to Dave Mustaine, whose birthday is September 13.

Main Stage

Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...

, Lamb of God
Lamb of God (band)
Lamb of God is an American heavy metal band from Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 1994, the group consists of vocalist Randy Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell, and drummer Chris Adler...

, Opeth
Opeth
Opeth is a Swedish heavy metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990. Though the group has been through several personnel changes, singer, guitarist, and songwriter Mikael Åkerfeldt has remained Opeth's driving force throughout the years...

, Arch Enemy
Arch Enemy (band)
Arch Enemy is a Swedish melodic death metal band, originally a supergroup, from Halmstad, formed in 1996. Its members were in bands such as Carcass, Armageddon, Carnage, Mercyful Fate, Spiritual Beggars, and Eucharist to name a few. It was founded by Carcass guitarist Michael Amott along with Johan...

, Overkill
Overkill (band)
Overkill is an American thrash metal band, formed in 1980 in New Jersey. They have gone through many line-up changes, with singer Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and bassist D.D. Verni remaining from the original lineup. Along with Anthrax , the band is one of the most successful East Coast thrash metal...


Second Stage

Into Eternity, Sanctity
Sanctity (band)
Sanctity was a heavy metal band from Asheville, North Carolina, USA. They formed in 1998 and have released one album, Road to Bloodshed, on April 24, 2007. They are currently writing for a new album, with their new TBA vocalist...

, The SmashUp
The SmashUp
The Smashup are a post-hardcore / punk rock band from Brooklyn, New York. They formed in 2001. They are currently signed to Warcon Records.They released their self-titled debut EP in 2004 and their first studio album "Being and Becoming" in 2005, featuring songs such as "Never Going To Kill Us",...


September

  • 06 Boise, ID - Idaho Center
    Idaho Center
    The Idaho Center is a complex of sports and entertainment venues in Nampa, Idaho, approximately west of Boise.Venues include an indoor arena opened in 1997 with a seating capacity of 12,279 and of floor space and a 10,500-seat outdoor amphitheater opened in 1998 with a 60-by-40-foot stage...

  • 08 Oakland, CA - Oakland Coliseum
  • 09 San Diego, CA - Cox Arena
    Cox Arena
    Officially Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl, located on the San Diego State University campus in San Diego, California, is the home of the San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball and women's basketball teams. Viejas Arena opened its doors to the campus and community in July of 1997 and seats 12,414 for...

  • 10 Devore, CA - Hyundai Pavilion
  • 12 Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues
    House of Blues
    House of Blues is a chain of 13 live music concert halls and restaurants in major markets throughout the United States. House of Blues first location was in Cambridge's Harvard Square. It was opened in 1992 by Isaac Tigrett, co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe, and Dan Aykroyd, star of The Blues Brothers...

  • 13 Phoenix, AZ - Dodge Theatre
  • 15 West Valley City, UT - E Center
    E Center
    The Maverik Center, originally known as the E Center, is a 10,100 seat multi-purpose arena located in West Valley City, Utah, United States. Construction on the arena started in 1996 and was completed in time to hold its first event on September 22, 1997...

  • 16 Greenwood Village, CO - Coors Amphitheatre
  • 17 Albuquerque, NM - Journal Pavilion
    Journal Pavilion
    Hard Rock Albuquerque presents: The Pavilion is an outdoor amphitheater located within the Sandia Mountains in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It is a part of the Bernalillo County Recreational Complex.The amphitheater opened in February 2000 as the Mesa del Sol Amphitheater...

  • 19 Oklahoma City, OK - Zoo Amphitheatre
  • 21 Milwaukee, WI - Eagles Ballroom
  • 22 Chicago, IL - Congress Theatre
    Congress Theater
    The Congress Theater in Chicago, built by Fridstein and Company in 1926 for the movie theater chain of Lubliner and Trinz, is a surviving example of a movie palace. It features ornate exterior and interior design work, in a combination of the Classical Revival and Italian Renaissance styles.The...

  • 23 Columbus, OH - Nationwide Arena
    Nationwide Arena
    Nationwide Arena is a multi-purpose arena, in Columbus, Ohio, USA. It opened in 2000 and is the home of the Columbus Blue Jackets, of the NHL....

  • 24 Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre
    DTE Energy Music Theatre
    Originally built by the Nederlander Organization in the early 1970s, the DTE Energy Music Theatre is a 15,274-seat amphitheater located in Clarkston, Michigan. It was originally known as the Pine Knob Music Theatre, due to its proximity to the nearby Pine Knob ski area and golf course...

  • 25 Toronto, ON - Molson Amphitheatre
  • 27 Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
    Bell Centre
    The Bell Centre , formerly known as the Molson Centre , is a sports and entertainment complex in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It opened on March 16, 1996 after nearly three years under construction...

  • 28 Uniondale, NY - Nassau Coliseum
  • 29 Boston, MA - Bank of America Pavilion
    Bank of America Pavilion
    Bank of America Pavilion is a Live Nation-owned outdoor amphitheater located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The seating capacity is approximately 5,000. It was originally known as Harbor Lights Pavilion until 1999 when Live Nation purchased the venue and sold the naming rights to FleetBoston...

  • 30 Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
    PNC Bank Arts Center
    The PNC Bank Arts Center is a modern amphitheatre located in Holmdel Township, New Jersey, USA. About 17,500 people can occupy the amphitheater; there are 7,000 seats and the grass area can hold about 10,500 people. Concerts are from May through September featuring 35–45 different events of...


October

  • 01 Atlantic City, NJ - House of Blues
    House of Blues
    House of Blues is a chain of 13 live music concert halls and restaurants in major markets throughout the United States. House of Blues first location was in Cambridge's Harvard Square. It was opened in 1992 by Isaac Tigrett, co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe, and Dan Aykroyd, star of The Blues Brothers...

  • 03 Portsmouth, VA - NTelos Wireless Pavilion
    NTelos Wireless Pavilion
    The nTelos Wireless Pavilion is a concert stadium in Portsmouth, Virginia, United States, with a capacity of7,500. Several artists performed there. Including Janet Jackson, Earth, Wind, and Fire, Third Day, Megadeath, Prince, The Corrs, Rob Thomas, and Bob Dylan....

  • 04 Charleston, SC - The Plex
    The Plex
    - Synopsis :AJ lives an unsatisfactory life as an usher at the local Multiplex cinema working alongside his best friend Zeke and his sexy, but power hungry girlfriend Katie...

  • 06 Tampa, FL - St. Pete Times Forum
    St. Pete Times Forum
    The St. Pete Times Forum is an arena in Tampa, Florida, that has been used for ice hockey, basketball, and arena football games, as well as concerts....

  • 07 Sunrise, FL - Bank Atlantic Center
  • 08 Orlando, FL - Hard Rock Live

Guest singers

At the September 23 show in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...

, Angela Gossow
Angela Gossow
Angela Nathalie Gossow is the lead vocalist for the Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy. Her previous bands include Asmodina and Mistress. She is considered to be one of the few successful female metal singers to use growling as her primary singing style...

 joined Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...

 onstage during the second half of "Peace Sells
Peace Sells
"Peace Sells" is a song by the American thrash metal band Megadeth from the 1986 album Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?, written by Dave Mustaine. It, along with Wake Up Dead from the same album, has been a staple at Megadeth concerts. Lyrically, it deals with negative stereotypes about...

". Earlier in the show, during Overkill
Overkill (band)
Overkill is an American thrash metal band, formed in 1980 in New Jersey. They have gone through many line-up changes, with singer Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and bassist D.D. Verni remaining from the original lineup. Along with Anthrax , the band is one of the most successful East Coast thrash metal...

's final song, two members of Lamb of God
Lamb of God (band)
Lamb of God is an American heavy metal band from Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 1994, the group consists of vocalist Randy Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell, and drummer Chris Adler...

 joined them onstage..

At the September 25 show in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...

, Angela Gossow
Angela Gossow
Angela Nathalie Gossow is the lead vocalist for the Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy. Her previous bands include Asmodina and Mistress. She is considered to be one of the few successful female metal singers to use growling as her primary singing style...

, Randy Blythe
Randy Blythe
David Randall "Randy" Blythe is the vocalist of American groove metal band Lamb Of God and side-project band Halo of Locusts. He is known as D. Randall Blythe on Lamb of God's albums....

, and Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth joined Megadeth on stage and sang the final part of "Peace Sells" with him.

Lack of a second stage on some tour stops

At the September 9 show in San Diego, September 24 in Clarkston Michigan, and September 29 show in Boston, there was no second stage. The bands that performed were, in order of appearance, Overkill
Overkill (band)
Overkill is an American thrash metal band, formed in 1980 in New Jersey. They have gone through many line-up changes, with singer Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and bassist D.D. Verni remaining from the original lineup. Along with Anthrax , the band is one of the most successful East Coast thrash metal...

, Arch Enemy
Arch Enemy (band)
Arch Enemy is a Swedish melodic death metal band, originally a supergroup, from Halmstad, formed in 1996. Its members were in bands such as Carcass, Armageddon, Carnage, Mercyful Fate, Spiritual Beggars, and Eucharist to name a few. It was founded by Carcass guitarist Michael Amott along with Johan...

, Opeth
Opeth
Opeth is a Swedish heavy metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990. Though the group has been through several personnel changes, singer, guitarist, and songwriter Mikael Åkerfeldt has remained Opeth's driving force throughout the years...

, Lamb of God
Lamb of God (band)
Lamb of God is an American heavy metal band from Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 1994, the group consists of vocalist Randy Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell, and drummer Chris Adler...

, and Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...

.
September 30, 2006 - Holmdel, NJ

Mike Portnoy
Mike Portnoy
Michael Stephen "Mike" Portnoy is an American drummer primarily known as the former drummer, backing vocalist, and a co-founder of the progressive metal band Dream Theater, as well as the temporary drummer for the hard rock band Avenged Sevenfold. Known for his drumming prowess and technical...

 from Dream Theater
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...

 joined Overkill on stage for their song "Elimination".

Molson Amphitheater

While playing in the September 25 show in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...

, towards the beginning of Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...

's set, Dave Mustaine
Dave Mustaine
David Scott "Dave" Mustaine is the founder, main songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Prior to Megadeth, Mustaine was the first lead guitarist and a co-songwriter of the heavy metal band Metallica until he was fired from the band in 1983. In 2009, he...

 underwent technical problems relating to his guitar, resulting in him throwing his guitar across the stage and walking off. The then band finished the song without Mustaine, and then followed him offstage. After fifteen minutes of chanting from the crowd, Megadeth finally returned to the stage, and with a brief apology from Dave, continued playing through their set.
Salt Lake City/Ecenter

While Lamb of God was on stage performing, someone spilled beer all over the soundboard, which did not interfere with Lamb of God's set. However, Megadeth received some technical problems during their second set. Dave Mustaine got angry and threatened to "beat the hell out of whoever did it" and asked the crowd to bring the culprit to him. Dave then walked off stage for roughly 20 minutes until the problem was fixed. This can be seen in the special features of the Gigantour 2 DVD.

Line-Up

Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...

, Soulfly
Soulfly
Soulfly is a heavy metal band formed in 1997 based in Phoenix, Arizona. The original lyrical content revolved around spirituality and religious themes, with later albums encompassing other themes including war, violence, aggression, hatred and anger. Soulfly is led by former Sepultura frontman Max...

, Arch Enemy
Arch Enemy (band)
Arch Enemy is a Swedish melodic death metal band, originally a supergroup, from Halmstad, formed in 1996. Its members were in bands such as Carcass, Armageddon, Carnage, Mercyful Fate, Spiritual Beggars, and Eucharist to name a few. It was founded by Carcass guitarist Michael Amott along with Johan...

, Caliban
Caliban (band)
Caliban are a five-piece metalcore band from Germany. They have released seven studio albums to-date, and two split albums with the band Heaven Shall Burn.-History:...


October

  • 21 Brisbane - Riverstage
  • 22 Sydney - Hordern Pavilion
  • 24 Melbourne - Festival Hall

November

  • 10 Perth - Metro City
  • 12 Adelaide - Thebarton Theatre
  • 13 Melbourne - Festival Hall
  • 15 Sydney - Luna Park Big Top
  • 16 Sydney - Luna Park Big Top
  • 18 Brisbane - Riverstage

February

  • 17 Norwich - UEA
    University of East Anglia
    The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...

  • 18 Nottingham - Nottingham Rock City
  • 19 Glasgow - Carling Academy Glasgow
    Carling Academy Glasgow
    The O2 Academy Glasgow is a music venue on Eglinton Street in the Gorbals area of Glasgow. It holds 2,500 people....

  • 20 Newcastle - Carling Academy Newcastle
    Carling Academy Newcastle
    The O2 Academy Newcastle is a music venue in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It was opened on October 14, 2005 to an evening headlined by Sunderland band The Futureheads....

  • 22 Birmingham - Carling Academy Birmingham
    Carling Academy Birmingham
    -History & Former Venue:The former venue of the O2 Academy was known in the 1980s and 1990s as the Hummingbird and previously the site of the Rank Ballroom. The venue underwent refurbishment in the late 1990s and opened as the Birmingham Academy in 2000, being rebranded as the "Carling Academy"...

  • 23 Manchester - Manchester Academy
    Manchester Academy
    Manchester Academy is a brand name used by the University of Manchester Students' Union for its four concert venues in Manchester, England, which reside on Oxford Road both within and adjacent to the main Students' Union building....

  • 24 London - Brixton Academy

Line-Up

Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...

, In Flames
In Flames
In Flames is a Swedish heavy metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1990. Since the band's inception in 1993, they have released ten studio albums and one live DVD...

, Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom is a Finnish heavy metal band from Espoo. Formed in 1993, the group currently consists of Alexi Laiho , Roope Latvala , Janne Wirman , Henkka Seppälä , and Jaska Raatikainen...

, Job for a Cowboy
Job for a Cowboy
Job for a Cowboy is a American death metal band from Glendale, Arizona. Formed in 2003, the band's debut album Genesis was released in 2007, peaking at #54 on the US Billboard 200 and selling 13,000 copies in its first week of release. The second album, 2009's Ruination, sold 10,600 copies in...

, High on Fire
High on Fire
High on Fire is a stoner metal band from Oakland, California, that was formed in 1998. Matt Pike, the band's frontman and founder, previously played guitar for the influential stoner doom band Sleep.-History:...

.

Dave Mustaine wanted a shorter lineup so each band had a good chance to put on a show.

April

  • 12 - Denver, CO - The Fillmore
    The Fillmore
    The Fillmore Auditorium is a historic music venue in San Francisco, California, made famous by Bill Graham. Named for its original location at the intersection of Fillmore Street and Geary Boulevard, it lies on the boundary of the Western Addition and the Pacific Heights neighborhoods.In 1968,...

  • 13 - Albuquerque, NM - Journal Pavilion
    Journal Pavilion
    Hard Rock Albuquerque presents: The Pavilion is an outdoor amphitheater located within the Sandia Mountains in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It is a part of the Bernalillo County Recreational Complex.The amphitheater opened in February 2000 as the Mesa del Sol Amphitheater...

  • 15 - Dallas, TX - Nokia Theatre at Grand Prairie
    Nokia Theatre at Grand Prairie
    The Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie is a concert hall located in Grand Prairie, Texas, 16 miles west of Dallas, 24 miles east of Fort Worth. The hall is near the Lone Star Park. The theatre is currently operated by AEG and owned by the City of Grand Prairie....

  • 16 - Corpus Christi, TX - Concrete Street Pavilion
  • 17 - Houston, TX - Verizon Wireless Theater
    Verizon Wireless Theater
    The Verizon Wireless Theater is an indoor theater owned by Live Nation and located in Houston, Texas, United States...

  • 19 - Louisville, KY - Louisville Gardens
    Louisville Gardens
    Louisville Gardens is a multi-purpose, 6,000 seat arena, in Louisville, Kentucky, that opened in 1905, as the Jefferson County Armory. It recently celebrated its 100th anniversary as city mayor Jerry Abramson's official "Family-Friendly New Years Eve" celebration location...

  • 20 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade Music Park
  • 22 - New York, NY - Hammerstein Ballroom
    Hammerstein Ballroom
    The Hammerstein Ballroom is a two-tiered, 12,000 square feet ballroom located within the Manhattan Center Studios on 311 West 34th Street in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States of America. It is known for its elegant appearance and excellent acoustical design...

  • 23 - New York, NY - Hammerstein Ballroom
  • 25 - Worcester, MA - Palladium
    Palladium
    Palladium is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pd and an atomic number of 46. It is a rare and lustrous silvery-white metal discovered in 1803 by William Hyde Wollaston. He named it after the asteroid Pallas, which was itself named after the epithet of the Greek goddess Athena, acquired...

  • 26 - Columbia, MD - Merriweather Post Pavilion
    Merriweather Post Pavilion
    Merriweather Post Pavilion is an outdoor concert venue located within Symphony Woods, a 40-acre lot of preserved land in the heart of the planned community of Columbia, Maryland. It was named for the American Post Foods heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post...

  • 28 - Quebec City, QC - Pavilion De La Jeunesse
  • 29 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
    Bell Centre
    The Bell Centre , formerly known as the Molson Centre , is a sports and entertainment complex in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It opened on March 16, 1996 after nearly three years under construction...

  • 30 - Toronto, ON - Arrow Hall

May

  • 1 - London, ON - John Labatt Centre
    John Labatt Centre
    The John Labatt Centre is a sports-entertainment centre, in London, Ontario, Canada -- the largest such centre in southwestern Ontario.The John Labatt Centre, usually referred to as the "JLC", opened on October 11, 2002. It is named after John Labatt, founder of the Labatt brewery in London...

  • 3 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre
    DTE Energy Music Theatre
    Originally built by the Nederlander Organization in the early 1970s, the DTE Energy Music Theatre is a 15,274-seat amphitheater located in Clarkston, Michigan. It was originally known as the Pine Knob Music Theatre, due to its proximity to the nearby Pine Knob ski area and golf course...

  • 4 - Cleveland, OH - Time Warner Cable Amphitheater
    Time Warner Cable Amphitheater
    Time Warner Cable Amphitheater at Tower City is a former outdoor concert venue and part of the mixed-use Tower City Center development in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. The approximately 5,000-seat venue, opened in 2001, closed in March 2011 as part of a casino construction project. The structure's...

  • 6 - Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom (Chicago)
    Aragon Ballroom (Chicago)
    The Aragon Ballroom is the name of a ballroom in Chicago, Illinois.Located on West Lawrence Avenue approximately five miles north of downtown in the Uptown neighborhood, it was built in 1926 and designed in the Moorish architectural style with the interior resembling a Spanish village and named...

  • 7 - Milwaukee, WI - Eagles Ballroom
  • 9 - Minneapolis, MN - Myth
  • 10 - Winnipeg, MB - Winnipeg Convention Centre
    Winnipeg Convention Centre
    The Winnipeg Convention Centre is a major meeting and convention facility located in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.The publicly-owned facility was built in 1975, and was among the first such facilities built in Canada...

  • 11 - Saskatoon, SK - Prairieland Exhibition Hall
  • 12 - Edmonton, AB - Shaw Conference Centre
    Shaw Conference Centre
    The Shaw Conference Centre, colloquially called The SHAW, or SCC is a meeting, entertainment, and convention venue located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada...

  • 14 - Calgary, AB - The Corral
  • 16 - Vancouver, BC - Pacific Coliseum
    Pacific Coliseum
    Pacific Coliseum is an indoor arena, at Hastings Park, in Vancouver, British Columbia.Completed in 1968, at the former site of the Pacific National Exhibition, the arena currently holds 16,281, for ice hockey, though capacity at its opening was 15,713....

  • 17 - Salem, OR - Salem Armory
  • 19 - San Jose, CA - Event Center @ San Jose State
  • 20 - San Diego, CA - Cox Arena
    Cox Arena
    Officially Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl, located on the San Diego State University campus in San Diego, California, is the home of the San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball and women's basketball teams. Viejas Arena opened its doors to the campus and community in July of 1997 and seats 12,414 for...

  • 21 - Long Beach, CA - Long Beach Arena
  • 22 - Mesa, AZ - Mesa Amphitheatre
    Mesa amphitheatre
    The Mesa Amphitheatre is an outdoor concert venue in Mesa, Arizona, originally built in 1979. The amphitheatre's maximum capacity is 4,950 people....


Louisville, KY
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...

During the Children of Bodom performance, the barricades broke and the show was stopped for 30 minutes to repair them. Megadeth allowed Children of Bodom to finish their set and allowed In Flames to perform fully.

Minneapolis, MN

During the Megadeth song "In My Darkest Hour", Dave Mustaine had two shirts thrown at him by a member in the audience. Dave threatened to "beat the guy's fucking brains in"; Mustaine challenged the audience member to come up on stage and throw something at him. The member of the audience was removed by security shortly after. The crowd then continued with a "Dave" chant.

Edmonton, AB

A drink was thrown onto the sound board before Megadeth took the stage, and as a result Megadeth's performance was delayed significantly and the show was nearly cancelled. Later, during Megadeth's performance of "À Tout le Monde
À Tout le Monde
"À Tout le Monde" is the fourth song on Megadeth's sixth studio album Youthanasia, released as a single in 1995. In 2007, a re-arrangement titled "À Tout le Monde " featuring Cristina Scabbia of Italian band Lacuna Coil was released as the second single from the band's album United...

", two people from the crowd got up on the stage and ran over to Mustaine. After the song was finished, Megadeth left the stage, and the show appeared to be over because of this incident. After approximately ten minutes, a very displeased Mustaine came back on stage and addressed the crowd. Megadeth then finished the set.

Salem, OR

During Megadeth's performance of "Peace Sells
Peace Sells
"Peace Sells" is a song by the American thrash metal band Megadeth from the 1986 album Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?, written by Dave Mustaine. It, along with Wake Up Dead from the same album, has been a staple at Megadeth concerts. Lyrically, it deals with negative stereotypes about...

", High on Fire
High on Fire
High on Fire is a stoner metal band from Oakland, California, that was formed in 1998. Matt Pike, the band's frontman and founder, previously played guitar for the influential stoner doom band Sleep.-History:...

 came out and helped sing the end.
During Megadeth's performance a drunk man also got past security guards and tried to rush over to Dave Mustaine and was tackled by two security guards.

San Jose, CA

Anders Fridén
Anders Fridén
Anders Fridén is the vocalist/lyricist of the Swedish band In Flames-Early career:Fridén was originally the vocalist for Dark Tranquillity. He performed on their debut album, Skydancer, but left the band soon after. Two years later he joined In Flames...

, vocalist for In Flames, forgot the second verse to the song "Come Clarity."

San Diego, CA

During the Children of Bodom set, there was a mix up with the light show and instead of the intended show, the show for Van Halen, who had performed in the same venue months before, began to play. During an intermission to fix the problem, Janne Wirman started up playing Van Halen's song 'Jump' on the keyboard, soon joined by Jaska Raatikainen on drums, while back stage Alexi Laiho was quote 'Puking his guts out.'
The show was filmed for the Gigantour 3 DVD and this will be first Gigantour DVD to be released as full concert of Megadeth, The other acts on the bill were apparently offered a chance to be part of the DVD but declined.

Long Beach, CA

During the Children of Bodom set, Alexi informed the audience of the incident last night, stating that he almost had to cancel their set that night for the sake of his health. He continued to state that he decided against it after seeing the raw energy of the Long Beach crowd. Janne and Jaska played the intro to Van Halen's Jump but stopped before the chorus.
  • The members of every band repeated the Salem incident, coming out and singing the end of "Peace Sells
    Peace Sells
    "Peace Sells" is a song by the American thrash metal band Megadeth from the 1986 album Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?, written by Dave Mustaine. It, along with Wake Up Dead from the same album, has been a staple at Megadeth concerts. Lyrically, it deals with negative stereotypes about...

    ".

Phoenix, AZ

  • It was consistently raining and cold during the show, an unusual occurrence in Phoenix. This notable fact was addressed on stage by the frontmen of all the bands. Alexi Laiho
    Alexi Laiho
    Alexi "Wildchild" Laiho is a Finnish singer, composer, and guitarist. He is best known for being the lead guitarist as well as lead vocalist for melodic death metal band Children of Bodom, and he is also the guitarist for Sinergy and Kylähullut...

     of Children of Bodom
    Children of Bodom
    Children of Bodom is a Finnish heavy metal band from Espoo. Formed in 1993, the group currently consists of Alexi Laiho , Roope Latvala , Janne Wirman , Henkka Seppälä , and Jaska Raatikainen...

     can be quoted as saying, "I didn't know you guys had rain in Arizona
    Arizona
    Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...

    ."
  • The members of every band repeated the Salem incident, coming out and singing the end of "Peace Sells
    Peace Sells
    "Peace Sells" is a song by the American thrash metal band Megadeth from the 1986 album Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?, written by Dave Mustaine. It, along with Wake Up Dead from the same album, has been a staple at Megadeth concerts. Lyrically, it deals with negative stereotypes about...

    ".

Montreal, Qc

  • The show was played at the Bell Centre
    Bell Centre
    The Bell Centre , formerly known as the Molson Centre , is a sports and entertainment complex in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It opened on March 16, 1996 after nearly three years under construction...

     during the series of Montreal Canadians vs The Philadelphia Flyers
    Philadelphia Flyers
    The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

     hockey matches. A Man wearing a Flyers jersey was booed massively by the crowd. Later Dave came out playing Oh Canada stating that the man was insane and had the 2nd biggest pair of balls in the building.

Line-Up

Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...

 have confirmed, on September 27, 2011, that Motörhead, Volbeat, and Lacuna Coil
Lacuna Coil
Lacuna Coil is an Italian gothic metal band from Milan. Formed in 1994, the group has had two name changes since being previously known as Sleep of Right and Ethereal and was inspired by the combination of gothic imagery and music...

 are included in the next Gigantour that is set for early 2012.

January

  • 26 - Camden, NJ - Susquehanna Bank Center
  • 27 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
    Mohegan Sun Arena
    The Mohegan Sun Arena is a 10,000 seat multi-purpose arena in Uncasville, Connecticut located inside Mohegan Sun. The arena facility features of configurable exhibition space and a clear span...

  • 28 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
    Madison Square Garden
    Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...

  • 29 - Lowell, MA - Tsongas Arena
    Tsongas Arena
    Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell is a multi-purpose facility, on the campus of the University of Massachusetts Lowell, in Lowell, Massachusetts. The Arena was opened and dedicated to the memory of prominent local and national politician Paul Tsongas on January 27, 1998...


February

  • 1 - Glens Falls, NY - Glens Falls Civic Center
    Glens Falls Civic Center
    Glens Falls Civic Center is a 4,806-seat multi-purpose arena, located in downtown Glens Falls, New York, that currently serves as the home of the Adirondack Phantoms, of the AHL. Built in 1979, it was originally the home of the Adirondack Red Wings, AHL affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings.On June...

  • 2 - Quebec City, QC - Colisee Pepsi Arena
  • 3 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
    Bell Centre
    The Bell Centre , formerly known as the Molson Centre , is a sports and entertainment complex in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It opened on March 16, 1996 after nearly three years under construction...

  • 5 - Kingston, ON - K-Rock Centre
  • 7 - Oshawa, ON - General Motors Centre
  • 8 - Hamilton, ON - Copps Coliseum
    Copps Coliseum
    Copps Coliseum is a sports and entertainment arena, on the corner of Bay Street North and York Boulevard, in Hamilton, Ontario. Depending on event, the Copps Coliseum has a capacity of up to 19,000.It is named after the former Hamilton mayor, Victor K...

  • 9 - Auburn Hills, MI - The Palace of Auburn Hills
    The Palace of Auburn Hills
    The Palace of Auburn Hills, often referred to simply as The Palace, is a sports and entertainment venue in Auburn Hills, Michigan, a suburb on the northern outskirts of Detroit, Michigan, United States. Opened in 1988, it is the home of the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association...

  • 10 - Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom
    Aragon Ballroom
    Aragon Ballroom may refer to:* Aragon Ballroom , Illinois* Aragon Ballroom , now defunct, was on Lick Pier in this district...

  • 12 - Milwaukee, WI - Eagles Ballroom
  • 14 - St. Paul, MN - Myth
  • 16 - Saskatoon, SK - Prairieland
  • 17 - Edmonton, AB - Shaw Conference Centre
    Shaw Conference Centre
    The Shaw Conference Centre, colloquially called The SHAW, or SCC is a meeting, entertainment, and convention venue located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada...

  • 18 - Calgary, AB - Big 4 Building
  • 20 - Abbotsford, BC - Abbotsford Ent & Sports Centre
  • 21 - Kent, WA - Showare Center
  • 23 - San Jose, CA - Events Center
  • 24 - Universal City, CA - Gibson Amphitheatre
    Gibson Amphitheatre
    The Gibson Amphitheatre is a theatre located in Universal City, California, USA. It seats up to 6,189 for concerts, including 6,089 chairback seats...

  • 25 - Phoenix, AZ - Comerica Theatre
  • 26 - Albuquerque, NM - Tingley Coliseum
    Tingley Coliseum
    The Tingley Coliseum is an 11,571-seat multi-purpose arena in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Originally built as a rodeo and horse show auditorium, it is located at 300 San Pedro Drive N.E....

  • 28 - Denver, CO - The Fillmore Auditorium

Gigantour history summary

Year Months Dates Region toured Bands
2005 July–September 39 USA/Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

Main stage: Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...

, Dream Theater
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...

 (34 dates), Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...

 (5 dates), Fear Factory
Fear Factory
Fear Factory is an American industrial metal band. Formed in 1989, they have released seven full-length albums and a number of singles and remixes. Over the course of their career they have evolved from a succession of styles, as well as steadily pioneered a combination of the styles death metal,...

, The Dillinger Escape Plan
The Dillinger Escape Plan
The Dillinger Escape Plan is an American mathcore band from Morris Plains, New Jersey. The group originated in 1997 after the disbanding of Arcane, a hardcore punk trio consisting of Ben Weinman, Dimitri Minakakis, and Chris Pennie. The band's current line-up consists of guitarist Ben Weinman,...

 (31 dates), Nevermore
Nevermore
Nevermore is an American heavy metal band from Seattle, Washington. Formed in 1991, they are known to incorporate elements from styles such as thrash, power, progressive, and neo-classical metal into their songs, and also makes use of acoustic guitars and a wide range of vocal styles.-Early years...


Second stage: Life of Agony
Life of Agony
-Formation and River Runs Red :The band was formed in the summer of 1989 by singer Keith Caputo, bassist Alan Robert and guitarist Joey Z. After playing with several drummers, they enlisted Type O Negative drummer Sal Abruscato before recording the debut album River Runs Red after they signed to...

, Symphony X
Symphony X
Symphony X is an American progressive metal band from Middletown, New Jersey.Founded in 1994 by guitarist Michael Romeo, their albums The Divine Wings of Tragedy and V: The New Mythology Suite have given the band considerable attention within the progressive metal community...

, Dry Kill Logic
Dry Kill Logic
Dry Kill Logic is a four-piece metal band from Westchester County, New York, USA. They formed in 1993 and are still active...

, Bobaflex
Bobaflex
Bobaflex is an American rock band from Point Pleasant, West Virginia. They were part of Gigantour in 2005 and Rock on the Range in 2008.-History:...

2006 September–October 25 USA/Canada Main stage: Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...

, Lamb of God
Lamb of God (band)
Lamb of God is an American heavy metal band from Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 1994, the group consists of vocalist Randy Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell, and drummer Chris Adler...

, Opeth
Opeth
Opeth is a Swedish heavy metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990. Though the group has been through several personnel changes, singer, guitarist, and songwriter Mikael Åkerfeldt has remained Opeth's driving force throughout the years...

, Arch Enemy
Arch Enemy (band)
Arch Enemy is a Swedish melodic death metal band, originally a supergroup, from Halmstad, formed in 1996. Its members were in bands such as Carcass, Armageddon, Carnage, Mercyful Fate, Spiritual Beggars, and Eucharist to name a few. It was founded by Carcass guitarist Michael Amott along with Johan...


Second stage: Overkill
Overkill (band)
Overkill is an American thrash metal band, formed in 1980 in New Jersey. They have gone through many line-up changes, with singer Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and bassist D.D. Verni remaining from the original lineup. Along with Anthrax , the band is one of the most successful East Coast thrash metal...

, Into Eternity, Sanctity
Sanctity (band)
Sanctity was a heavy metal band from Asheville, North Carolina, USA. They formed in 1998 and have released one album, Road to Bloodshed, on April 24, 2007. They are currently writing for a new album, with their new TBA vocalist...

, The SmashUp
The SmashUp
The Smashup are a post-hardcore / punk rock band from Brooklyn, New York. They formed in 2001. They are currently signed to Warcon Records.They released their self-titled debut EP in 2004 and their first studio album "Being and Becoming" in 2005, featuring songs such as "Never Going To Kill Us",...

2006 October 3 Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...

, Soulfly
Soulfly
Soulfly is a heavy metal band formed in 1997 based in Phoenix, Arizona. The original lyrical content revolved around spirituality and religious themes, with later albums encompassing other themes including war, violence, aggression, hatred and anger. Soulfly is led by former Sepultura frontman Max...

, Arch Enemy
Arch Enemy (band)
Arch Enemy is a Swedish melodic death metal band, originally a supergroup, from Halmstad, formed in 1996. Its members were in bands such as Carcass, Armageddon, Carnage, Mercyful Fate, Spiritual Beggars, and Eucharist to name a few. It was founded by Carcass guitarist Michael Amott along with Johan...

, Caliban
Caliban (band)
Caliban are a five-piece metalcore band from Germany. They have released seven studio albums to-date, and two split albums with the band Heaven Shall Burn.-History:...

2007 November 6 Australia Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...

, Static-X
Static-X
Static-X is an American industrial metal band from Los Angeles, California. They were formed in 1994. They are signed to Warner Bros. Records and have released six albums, their most recent being Cult of Static, which was released on March 17, 2009....

, Lacuna Coil
Lacuna Coil
Lacuna Coil is an Italian gothic metal band from Milan. Formed in 1994, the group has had two name changes since being previously known as Sleep of Right and Ethereal and was inspired by the combination of gothic imagery and music...

, DevilDriver
DevilDriver
DevilDriver is an American heavy metal band from Santa Barbara, California, formed in 2002. The band was originally named Deathride, however, due to copyright issues and the name being taken by several bands, Deathride changed its name to DevilDriver, which refers to bells Italian witches used to...

, Bring Me the Horizon
Bring Me the Horizon
Bring Me the Horizon are a British metalcore band from Sheffield, Yorkshire, who formed in 2004. Bring Me the Horizon constits of Oliver Sykes as the lead vocalist, lead guitarist Lee Malia, rhythm guitarist Jona Weinhofen, bassist Matt Kean and drummer Matt Nicholls...

 (3 dates)
2008 February 7 UK Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...

, Job For A Cowboy
Job for a Cowboy
Job for a Cowboy is a American death metal band from Glendale, Arizona. Formed in 2003, the band's debut album Genesis was released in 2007, peaking at #54 on the US Billboard 200 and selling 13,000 copies in its first week of release. The second album, 2009's Ruination, sold 10,600 copies in...

, Evile
Evile
Evile is a thrash metal band from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire in the United Kingdom. Their debut album, Enter the Grave, was produced by Flemming Rasmussen at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark and was released worldwide in 2007 by Earache Records to critical acclaim by fans and critics...

2008 April–May 30 USA/Canada Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...

, In Flames
In Flames
In Flames is a Swedish heavy metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1990. Since the band's inception in 1993, they have released ten studio albums and one live DVD...

, Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom is a Finnish heavy metal band from Espoo. Formed in 1993, the group currently consists of Alexi Laiho , Roope Latvala , Janne Wirman , Henkka Seppälä , and Jaska Raatikainen...

, Job for a Cowboy
Job for a Cowboy
Job for a Cowboy is a American death metal band from Glendale, Arizona. Formed in 2003, the band's debut album Genesis was released in 2007, peaking at #54 on the US Billboard 200 and selling 13,000 copies in its first week of release. The second album, 2009's Ruination, sold 10,600 copies in...

, High on Fire
High on Fire
High on Fire is a stoner metal band from Oakland, California, that was formed in 1998. Matt Pike, the band's frontman and founder, previously played guitar for the influential stoner doom band Sleep.-History:...

2012 January–February 24 USA/Canada Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...

, Motörhead, Volbeat, Lacuna Coil
Lacuna Coil
Lacuna Coil is an Italian gothic metal band from Milan. Formed in 1994, the group has had two name changes since being previously known as Sleep of Right and Ethereal and was inspired by the combination of gothic imagery and music...


DVD releases

It was mentioned on a few sites, including Arch Enemy singer Angela Gossow
Angela Gossow
Angela Nathalie Gossow is the lead vocalist for the Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy. Her previous bands include Asmodina and Mistress. She is considered to be one of the few successful female metal singers to use growling as her primary singing style...

's MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....

 blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...

, and the Music Video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...

 blog Video Static, that the October 7, 2006 show in Sunrise
Sunrise
Sunrise is the instant at which the upper edge of the Sun appears above the horizon in the east. Sunrise should not be confused with dawn, which is the point at which the sky begins to lighten, some time before the sun itself appears, ending twilight...

, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...

 was filmed by director
Music video director
A music video director is driven by a given music track. These are called music videos and are then used as promotional tools for popular music singles...

 Michael Serna (also the director of the 2005 Gigantour DVD) for a possible DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....

 release, though with no mention of a CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...

 (but probably due to the formats of last year's release).

External links

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