MEGADETH, MOTÖRHEAD, VOLBEAT, LACUNA COIL: 'Gigantour' 2012 Dates Announced

Gigantour — the critically acclaimed package festival founded in 2005 by esteemed hard rockers MEGADETH — will make its highly anticipated return for the first time since 2008. The multi-artist bill — with metal heavyweights MOTÖRHEAD, VOLBEAT and LACUNA COIL all personally picked by MEGADETH frontman Dave Mustaine — will kick off January 26 in Camden, NJ. Before wrapping February 28 in Denver, Colorado, the tour will make stops all across the U.S. and Canada including a January 28 show in New York and February 24 in Los Angeles. Tickets are on sale beginning November 4. MEGADETH has also teamed up with VIPNation.com to provide fans with Ultimate VIP packages including premium tickets, meet-and-greets, exclusive gifts and more.

Jan. 26 - Camden, NJ - Susquehanna Bank Center
Jan. 27 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
Jan. 28 - New York, NY - Theater at Madison Square Garden
Jan. 29 - Lowell, MA - Tsongas Arena
Feb. 01 - Glens Falls, NY - Glens Falls Civic Center
Feb. 02 - Quebec City, QC - Colisee Pepsi Arena
Feb. 03 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
Feb. 05 - Kingston, ON - K-Rock Centre
Feb. 07 - Oshawa, ON - General Motors Centre
Feb. 08 - Hamilton, ON - Copps Coliseum
Feb. 09 - Auburn Hills, MI - Palace of Auburn Hills
Feb. 10 - Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom
Feb. 12 - Milwaukee, WI - Eagles Ballroom
Feb. 14 - St. Paul, MN - Myth
Feb. 16 - Saskatoon, SK - Prairieland
Feb. 17 - Edmonton, AB - Shaw Conference Centre
Feb. 18 - Calgary, AB - Big 4 Building
Feb. 20 - Abbotsford, BC - Abbotsford Ent & Sports Centre
Feb. 21 - Kent, WA - Showare Center
Feb. 23 - San Jose, CA - Events Center
Feb. 24 - Universal City, CA - Gibson Amphitheatre
Feb. 25 - Phoenix, AZ - Comerica Theatre
Feb. 26 - Albuquerque, NM - Tingley Coliseum
Feb. 28 - Denver, CO - The Fillmore Auditorium

MEGADETH, SLAYER, ANTHRAX to tour U.S. together for second leg of American Carnage Tour

Looks like Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax had so much fun on the European Big Four shows that they've decided to keep the party going in the States. Slayer and Megadeth have already committed to a string of dates with Testament and Exodus, and now Blabbermouth reports that NEW dates have surfaced for the second leg of the tour which will feature Anthrax in the opening slots, presumably replacing Testament and Exodus.

Where is Metallica in all of this? Why can't they just agree to make this happen so we can all go home happy. It seems at this point though, if the other three bands are willing to go at it alone and ruin whatever charm there would be in a Big 4 US tour, it's most likely because they know Metallica isn't interested. Boo!

Back to the good news, the bands have promised discounts if you order during one of the pre-sales this Wednesday on any of the bands' official sites. There will also be a limited about of $10 tickets available for most of the shows. Here is the full itinerary:

Sep. 24 – Verizon Wireless Theatre, Dallas, TX
Sep. 25 – AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
Sep. 26 – Verizon Wireless Theatre, Houston, TX
Sep. 28 – Lakefront Arena, New Orleans, LA
Sep. 30 – Civic Coliseum, Knoxville, TN
Oct. 01 – The Arena at Gwinnett Center, Atlanta, GA
Oct. 02 – Hard Rock Live, Orlando, FL
Oct. 03 – Bayfront Park Amphitheatre, Miami, FL
Oct. 05 – Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA
Oct. 06 – Eagles Auditorium, Baltimore, MD
Oct. 08 – Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, Long Island, NY
Oct. 09 – Toyota Pavilion @ Montage Mountain, Scranton, PA
Oct. 10 – LC Pavilion, Columbus, OH
Oct. 12 – Freedom Hall, Louisville, KY
Oct. 14 – War Memorial Coliseum, Ft.Wayne, IN
Oct. 15 – DeltaPlex, Grand Rapids, MI
Oct. 16 – Eagles Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI
Oct. 19 – E Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Oct. 20 – The Pearl, Las Vegas, NV
Oct. 21 – Gibson Amphitheatre, Hollywood, CA