THE BIG FOUR TOUR ISN’T BULLSHIT AFTER ALL
Wednesday, September 16th, 2009 at 10:31am by Axl Rosenberg
It was a mere two weeks ago that I was feeling pretty cynical about the prospects of a rumored Big Four tour becoming a reality. It just seems like there’s too much bad blood between too many of the bands for everyone to hit the road together.
But there’s also a lot of money to be made there, and in 2009 money wins every fight, even in the world of metal.
So here comes Robert Trujillo to get the rumor pot a-stirrin’ again. In a recent interview, the man/crab hybrid had this to say:
“We’ve had a few different conversations on the subject. I’m friends with Kerry King and had dinner with him a few months back, and it came up there. I think Dave Mustaine is amazing. I’ve never had a problem with him personally. I think it’d be great if Metallica shared the stage with his band. Metallica’s still great friends with Scott Ian. There’s a lot of history there. I think it’d be great for metal. I don’t think all four bands have played together at the same time… but nothing’s concrete. It’s not a sealed deal. We’re working on it.”
Trujillo then admits, in what might the understatement of the 21st century, that “there’d be a lot of egos,” but he thinks the beef would be between Megadeth and Slayer, not Metallica and any given band.
So, who knows. Maybe this thing really will happen. I guess all four bands are big enough that everyone could just get on their bus/jet/slave-operated rickshaw or whatever after the show and never have to actually see or speak with one another. But if everyone could keep it together enough for a big end-of-show jam on some Diamond Head or whatever, that’d be pretty sweet.
Continue to fantasize while we all wait for more concrete news.
-AR
Dude, this is still really far from reality. I’ll start believing this when tickets go on sale.
It would be pretty cool, but holy shit ticket prices would be ridiculously exorbitant.
I wonder what the order of performances would be… I’d have to assume Metallica would be the closer…
Anthrax
Megadeth
Slayer
Metallica
No way Anthrax wouldn’t be the first to play – they’re pretty much an opening act now anyway. It’s those middle two where it gets interesting. Rotate, maybe?
This subject right here is the deal-breaker. everyone’s ego is way too big. even though im sure everyone would agree metallica will close (based SOLELY on record sales), but then it’s a 3-way clusterfuck to determine the rest of the order, which will probably result in at least one of the bands walking away from the table.
I can see Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax each playing for 50 minutes, then Metallica closing with a 90 minute set… or something.
I would say
Anthrax
Slayer
Megadeth
Metallica
The last Megadeth album sold more than the last Slayer album in the US.
4 stages, 4 bands, one giant pit. Each band plays one or two songs, then the next band plays. Problem solved.
I actually really like that idea.
Sweet! Let’s do this!!!
yea thatd be sick
My guess would be :
Anthrax
Slayer
Megadeth
Metallica
Metal fans are so cynical – they just don’t want to believe dreams can happen in a post-Lehman wasteland.
haaaaaaaa. that’s fucking great.
They should make a superband with Scott Ian and Kerry King on guitars, Dave Mustaine on vocals and Lars on drums… They could even get Dino Cazares to play bass… That would make awesome shows…
LOL. You’re supregroup sucks… Lars is an awful drummer. Lombardi on drums, Scott Ian and Kirk Hammett on guitar and Mustaine on vocals. Of course on bass would be trujillo, he’s the only one that actually finger plucks and has any real talent to speak of.
what????????? how you gonna kick james off vocals?????/ hes the only one that brings the ” yeeeaaayyyuuuuhhhh!!!!!!!”(country accent)
Ok you moron, have you ever heard words like “irony” or “sarcasm” ? You should check in the dictionary. I just thought it would be funny to have a band in which ALL members are douches and/or shit talkers… I guess you just didn’t understand it, but it’s not like I didn’t expect some morons to do so…
it’s a little hard to use sarcasm on the internet
My Friend of Misery is straight chillin right here on bowfa
they say using irony on the internet is like winking over the phone
Mustaine is the worst vocalist in the history of metal. Id rather see Fred Durst sing then him. Yea I said it.
Yeah you said it, but it’s not like anyone gives a fuck about what you think…
dude..you are a freaking douche..what an ass-hole
Dream on everyone.
That would be an awesome show. Now if they could only add Testament and Overkill to the bill it would be complete. Oh and Exodus too…Make it a traveling festival ala Gigantour or Unholy Alliance tour
K but thats just pushing it wayyy to much (even though Testament and Exodus are better than Anthrax in every way and should have been in the big four… or 5 even). In our dreams my friend…
In reference to bucketochicken’s post, I will add that it’s when anyone gets into the supposed compromise option of “co-headlining” that things get really ridiculous. When acts pull that song and dance, you know they’re coping to political b.s.
All the same, I still have a really hard time seriously entertaining the possibility that this tour might actually happen because I would hate to get my hopes up over something that seems so terribly unlikely. For that reason, I almost resent it every time the subject is broached here. Almost. It IS nice to dream, even if it’s entirely likely I would have to knock over a bank in order to afford the tickets. Hell, I already can’t afford to see Metallica – WTF would Big Four tickets cost???
My prediction: It won’t happen. Then again, I invite all parties involved to shock the fire out of me by putting together an amazing tour that would be an awesome gift to the fans, as well as a testimony to the band’s respective leagacies AND, hopefully, their continued creative output. There’s a senitmental and romantic part of me that thinks this tour would be an awesome way for fans of the genre to celebrate our community as a whole, seeing as these four bands currently comprise the core elements of metal. They weren’t the first, but they’re certainly the progenitors of our genre as it stands today. (And I would venture to say “unarguably,” except for the fact that there are many among us who post to this blog who LIVE to be contrary simply for the sake of being contrary.)
Wow, what a useless post. I keep vacillating back and forth between, “No, I refuse to think about it,” and “But gosh, that would be really nice…” Frankly, it’s remarkable I manage to resolve enough conflict to get out of bed most days.
Dude i totally agree with you about this thing being a “celebration of Metal” in general, but it will get fucked up somehow. Think about it. King, Ulrich, Mustaine!?? 3 of the BIGGEST egos on the planet together. They couldnt co-exist in the 80’s/ 90’s i damn sure dont think they could do it now.
The only thing that pisses me off is i wish Kerry King would flat out say “fuck off” to Dave Mustaine, this ” Oh i dont like the guy, ill talk shit about him but we’ll tour together ” is getting old. now its getting to the point where its fodder for rumors and the cave dwellers on Blabbermouth. If he pisses you off that bad Kerry Just ignore him and damn sure dont tour with him.
I think the whole “Cold War” between Slayer and Megadeth is in an effort to get more press for each other. Dave and Kerry are laughing it up behind the scenes at the expense of the metal press, who are buying it hook, line, and sinker.
this would actually be THE biggest concert EVER. seriously. even if Michael Jackson came back from the afterlife with the lost half of the beatles and did a world tour, it wouldn’t be anywhere near what this would amount to… oh my god…
Overkill.
Will never happen. Ever.
while i totally accept that this could happen, because, as axl points out, money beats douchbag egos, at least temporarily, im not getting my hopes up, because, as Shinaain mentioned, tickets would be in the hundreds of dollars, and I just dont have that kinda cash, even for the big four.
Tune in next time for an even longer run-on sentence…
I have a hard time believing this will ever happen. Like Axl said, it all comes down to money. The problem is Metallica sellouts out arenas without having to bring 3 other big acts with them. They will want the majority of the money from the tour. I doubt the Megadeth and Slayer camps will be happy with the cut unless the tickets are $200. However, I am sure Anthrax will be happy to go along for the ride regardless.
Either way it won’t pencil out. The ego’s and pocketbooks are too big for this to work.
Exactly. Metallica can fill those seats by themselves. I doubt they will take a substantially smaller cut to go on the road with the always pleasant Dave Mustaine and Kerry King.
This tour could happen. Why not? These guys aren’t kids or angry young men anymore. They’re middle-aged guys who’ve experienced enough (i.e. divorces, taxes, legal fees, alimony, lawsuits, etc.) to know good business when they see it. Nobody has to like each other or even talk to one another while on tour. They just have to show up and play. The question is where would it take place? Although Metallica has headlined a few stadium tours in the U.S., on closer inspection they were usually part of a packaged bill (with bands like Korn and Linkin Park) created to sell every last seat. In other words, Metallica, as popular as they are, can’t sell out a domestic stadium tour on their own. A ‘Big 4′ tour of the U.S. would have too much fan overlap between the bands, and probably wouldn’t make a stadium tour economically worthwhile. Nor would an arena tour because Metallica can sell those out by themselves. The most likely scenario is a stadium tour in Europe.
I’m calling it right now: Never gonna happen. The rumors will continue, but nothing will ever come of it. When it’s officially announced that the big 4 tour is off, I’ll remind you all of this prediction
i disagree and bet you a big four ticket
I’m having a hard time getting excited about the IDEA of this tour happening, I’m not a huge fan of Megadeth or Metallica anyways.
I would check out this tour Just for Slayer and ‘thrax, but I’m starting to detest Arena shows.
I prefer smaller venues, so I tend to stay away from this type of thing, not to mention you’re most likely looking at a couple hundred dollars a pop for tickets.
No thanks.
Club shows are where its at man, i agree.
On the off chance that this did actually happen, I can only imagine that it would be limited to a handful of shows in the major markets…possibly even just multiple dates in NY and LA, London , etc. It’s a nice thought, but I just don’t think the egos at hand would be able to sublimate themselves long enough for a full US or European tour. Sorry to piss on your parade, Topeka….
I’ve seen all 4 of these bands in their prime, all were great.
Together in 2009? No thanks, it’s all about $$$, so S my D!
Shit your Diarrhea?
singe your dong?
blood on the dance floor reference?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLS7P7RGt_Q
IF it ever happens, which it won’t, tickets would be way too much for the average metal fan. Summer Sanitarium was over $100 and it had Limp Bizkit!
I’m just glad I got to see Slayer with Pantera and Morbid Angel for like $35 back in the day.
I’d really like to see the Big Four but I am not holding my breath.
Trujillo looks like such a badass. He has the kind of stance that crabcore bands can only dream about.
+1 for crabcore
Call me picky but Hetfields Vocals killed it for Death Magnetic. I know he trys like hell but this half spoken word thing he does now. Cant get on board with it.
And you can bet your moms sweet ass the tickets for this will be astronomical.
Like Trujillo even has a voice in Metallica. He’s a fat Kirk Hammett!
They could call the tour, Thrash of the Titans….oh wait, that’s been done.
Thrash and Burn? oh no that too
The Big Four Anti-Core Tour
no tour will ever be better than this one tour. thats a good name
How exciting!
might as well try to reunite guns n’ roses while they are at it.
I would love to see Velvet Revolver open for G & R
I HOPE THIS TOUR DOESN’T HAPPEN.
Don’t get me wrong I grew up listening to these 4 and the likes of Testament, Death Angel, Exodus, etc. But why would I want to pay over a hundred dollars to see each band play short sets.
When Megadeth / Slayer hits the states I’m gonna see it.
Megadeth and Machine Head are already coming to Chicago in November.
As far as the other two?
Not really all that interested in Anthrax with John Bush- only liked some of the stuff from first two records with him.
And Metallica? The ONLY song I like on the new record is “All Nightmare Long”. I haven’t remotely liked an album they’ve put out in almost twenty years so it’s not that I don’t want to see them….I just don’t want to see them at their price.
Would be better if we had one tour Megadeth/ Slayer/ Machine Head
& another tour Metallica/ Testament/ Exodus/ Death Angel
Robert Trujillo and Kerry King having dinner….
That strikes me as funny somehow. Where do you suppose they ate? Olive Garden maybe?
Megadeth fucking sucks. How on earth they sold more albums with their last cd than Slayer is beyond me.
I have to agree with Trujillo when he says there’d be less of a chance of a feud on the tour involving Metallica. Mustaine and King can really say what they want about Metallica, and it hasn’t seemed to bother the Metallica guys. Sure, maybe Lars will retort somehow, but for the most part Metallica has the best chance of being the most distant of the bands in terms of negative feelings and fallouts on the tour.
And about the playing order, Anthrax would definitly be first. Considering they were about to go on a tour supporting Slipknot before they pulled out, There’s no way Anthrax would play after any of the other 3. Then Slayer and Megadeth would probably rotate, and Metallica would headline.
Hopefully, this will start off a cycle of tours to end all tours. For instance,
Big 5 of Massachusetts metalcore:
Converge , Unearth, Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall, All that Remains
Norwegian Black Circle
Mayhem, Enslaved, Gorgoroth, Immortal, Dimmu Borgir, Satyricon (Dimmu and Gorgoroth weren’t part of the black circle but they’ve been around almost as long)
American death metal
Morbid Angel, Cannibal Corpse, Suffocation, Athiest, Deicide
British grindcore
Napalm Death, Bolt Thrower, Carcass
Swedish death metal
Arch Enemy, Entombed, In Flames, Amon Amarth, Dismember, Dark Tranquillity, Unleashed
NWOBHM
Motorhead, Iron Maiden, Girlschool, Judas Priest
Finnish power metal
Children of Bodom, Nightwish, Sonata Arctica, Stratovarius
Keep on hoping!
I cant see Slayer wanting to play second fiddle to Megadeth and vice versa, thats gonna be the biggest problem. if they can think of some rotation policy then fair enough. But It could get all sour and ppl might leave the tour etc.
I mean… no doubt Anthrax are the weakest in terms of pulling power and Metallica are the biggest, so thats sorted out whos opening and whos closing most nights. As for the ‘SuperGroup’ – Lombardi, Trujillo, Mustaine, King and on vocals John Bush… hes versatile and id love to here ‘The Only’ with this lineup.
cant see bodom touring with Nightwish, Sonota Arctica, or Strad. completely different type of metal. just saying. then again, coheed and cambria toured with trivium and slipknot earlier this year so maybe…lol
I can see it happening, provided one of the big festival promoters (Kilimanjaro or Live Nation) is behind it – they routinely have to deal with bands who don’t get on, but are on the same bill. Megadeth and Slayer would have to alternate the 2nd/3rd slots, probably depending on what city/country they are playing in. In Europe, Slayer would always warrant a higher place on the bill.
I already saw the “Big Four” when Lamb of God, As I Lay Dying, Children Of Bodom, and God Forbid toured together earlier this year on the No Fear Tour!!!!
What else do you want?!?
Was that the big four shittiest bands on earth tour?
None of those band are even moderately decent.
lamb of god is fucking boring man i almost fell asleep during that show… the sword though thats what u want…. the big 4 have never been outdone unfortunately.. theres never been another line of bands to take metal in a totally new direction
Who gives a fuck about Anthrax. Cut them off the bill completely and have Testament open.
That would be so awesome! Anthrax and Slayer could play about 90 minutes, Metallica and Megadeth about 150 minutes.
this would be so fuckin awesome man… it has to be the original big four though i think that these guys are the four most essential metal bands since the 1980s… its gotta have anthrax.. i think they should just shuffle the order every night… the only thing is if Metallica plays first and people start leaving after that then they have a problem.. so maybe shuffle the 3 other bands and have metallica headline.. but seriously if your not there for the entire show… you should have your head examined… for me though they could shuffle it anyway and i think id be up for it