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DAVE MUSTAINE -- FOUNDER, VOCALIST, LEAD GUITARIST OF METAL PIONEERS MEGADETH -- SUFFERS SERIOUS INJURY, ANNOUNCES DEPARTURE FROM MEGADETH; GROUP DISBANDING AFTER NEARLY 20 YEARS TOGETHER

During the first week of January, 2002, while Megadeth was on hiatus, in Texas, I suffered an injury which caused severe nerve damage to my left arm and hand. It was diagnosed as Radial Neuropathy - specifically, a "compressed radial nerve." My doctors tell me it will take about a year to make as complete a recovery as I can, and even then, we don't know how complete that is going to be. I am working hard with a great team of doctors and physical therapists daily, and God willing, someday I hope to play guitar again. In the meantime, while I work on rebuilding my arm, I will take this opportunity to reappraise my career and my future. For the time being I have decided to exit Megadeth, and explore other areas of the music business where I might make a contribution without being able to play my instrument. I have had a terrific time singing and playing for you while I was in Megadeth. I am truly grateful for all of the numerous Gold, Platinum, and Multi-Platinum Records I have been awarded, as well as the many International Record Awards. And I can never thank you, our fans past and present, enough for your loyalty and affection over the years. My immediate goals now are to do what I can to make something good come out of this terrible situation. First and foremost, I want to use this opportunity to devote more time, energy and attention to my wife Pam and my two children, Justis and Electra. Pam has done a wonderful job carrying the load while I was a long-distance husband and father in the studio or criss-crossing the world on tour, but in terms of being a Gold or Platinum parent, I have a long way to go, and I'm eager to get started. In closing I would like to depart with the beautiful French words I wrote on the record 'Youthanasia': "A tout le monde, a tous mes amis, Je vous aime, Je dois partir." (To all the world, to all my friends. I love you, I have to leave)
Dave Mustaine April, 3rd, 2002

1/17/02
MEGADETH TO RELEASE FIRST-EVER LIVE ALBUM ON MARCH 19, 2002; TWO-CD SET 'RUDE AWAKENING' CONTAINS 24 SONGS; 'RUDE AWAKENING' LIVE DVD AND VHS HOME VIDEO ALSO PLANNED


Megadeth roared back on the heavy metal scene in 2001 with its Sanctuary Records debut 'The World Needs a Hero,' which debuted in the Billboard Top 15. The successful world tour for 'The World Needs a Hero' has yielded 'Rude Awakening,' Megadeth's first-ever live album and 10th full-length release overall. 'Rude Awakening,' a two-CD set, will be released by Sanctuary on March 19, 2002. Vocalist/lead guitarist Dave Mustaine, lead guitarist Al Pitrelli, bass guitarist David Ellefson and drummer Jimmy DeGrasso recorded 24 skull-slamming songs for 'Rude Awakening' including hit singles, fan favorites and rare tracks. In fact, the set lists were chosen by the fans via voting through the band's official web site, www.megadeth.com.

The artwork for 'Rude Awakening' has been created by Storm Thorgerson, best known for his Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin album covers.

The songs featured on 'Rude Awakening' are:

Dread & The Fugitive Mind
Kill the King
Wake Up Dead
In My Darkest Hour
Angry Again
She Wolf
Reckoning Day
Devil's Island
Train of Consequences
A Tout Le Monde
Burning Bridges
Hangar 18
Return to Hangar
Hook in Mouth
Almost Honest
1000 Times Goodbye
Mechanix
Tornado of Souls
Ashes in Your Mouth
Sweating Bullets
Trust
Symphony of Destruction
Peace Sells
Holy Wars ... The Punishment Due

Megadeth has sold more than 15 million albums worldwide since forming in 1985. The band is in the enviably rare position of earning mainstream critical acclaim, such as seven Grammy Award nominations. Reaction to last year's Megadeth tour was overwhelmingly positive:

"The two-hour set, like the band's catalog, was a relentless but technically pure jackhammer of solid, old-school metal!" - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

"Fire and brimstone performance, the best impression Mustaine ever made!" - Indianapolis Star

"Megadeth fed off the energy of the rabid crowd as Mustaine and his bandmates slashed through a 2-hour, 21-song set." - East Valley Tribune

'Rude Awakening' is also set for release as a live DVD and VHS home video on April 9, 2002. Extras include interviews, b-roll footage, studio footage of the recording of 'The World Needs a Hero' and bonus concert footage. The video was directed by Christoffer Saltzgaber and produced by Dean Karr's company The Mine (Dave Matthews, Cypress Hill, Ozzy Osbourne, Marilyn Manson, Iron Maiden).




Rust In Peace....Mega Fans,
Mechanix711