MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine has posted the following message in the "Forums" section of the band's official web site:

"I am heading northbound tonight [Wednesday, September 9] to go to an event to watch Scott Weiland's [STONE TEMPLE PILOTS/ex-VELVET REVOLVER singer] new clothing line be released. Scott is pretty stylish in his dress, and I am curious as to what he did. I am also meeting with the people from ILoveAllAccess.com and discussing our touring plans coming up and the various ways to work out ticket and pass packages, some of which will include as much as two seats up on stage on my side in some concerts. We are also discussing everything that would go along with the experience; besides meeting MEGADETH (or at least me), a ticket, pass, some memorabilia, getting in the venue early, going backstage and just being a rock star!

"We won't have the two seats up on stage every night, and sometimes it will be on Chris' [Broderick, guitar] side, due to stage restrictions.

"I am feeling a little better today, although I am surprised why someone at the [MEGADETH's record label] Roadrunner site would say that they don't need [the fans'] help [in promoting the new MEGADETH album, 'Endgame']. I say we need your help. Don't stop for a second doing what you do, because if Roadrunner U.S. knows my feelings and that I was willing to give them a fresh chance in the U.S. and they want to do this, that is OK, too. [Addressing the fans] Please don't believe that. I welcome your support here in the U.S. and abroad.

"Someone said that the label prolly [sic] doesn't want to spend any money on a band that is going to leave them. I never said that I was going to leave them, I said that the U.S. label is not comparable to the international labels, and that I would stay with them if I continued on, and that I would re-evaluate the U.S. label based on what they do with 'Endgame'.

"Bottom line is that everyone in the entire world is watching what they are doing, and everyone has seen problems around the world with the job that is being done. The international labels are keen to fix things, and usually on it in mere moments. Whereas there has been tremendous difficulty with the U.S. label. They have changed out some people and I am hopeful that they will make good on the things that they did last time, and do good by this record. It would be a travesty to the metal community to have this record dropped by people who just don't want to help.
"If you don't want to help, just say so and step aside. There are millions of fans out there that have no idea we have a new record coming out. That is just not OK. If I had a label, and I don't intend on that now, I would certainly do things differently.

"Regarding rumors of the 'Big Four' [METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX] touring, I have heard nothing about this, other than gossip, and I don't think that anyone would turn it down, but there are a lot of things that would have to be worked out. A LOT!

"As far as journalists are concerned, there are good ones and bad ones, and the guys that ask the questions that piss you off, you can only imagine how I feel. And for the people that are trying to get me to say something about SLAYER, here goes:

"I am having fun with this, and I hope not to hurt the [upcoming Australia/New Zealand] tour [with SLAYER] or the fans' chance of seeing these two great bands because I have said something I shouldn't have. I am aware that there are comments we all made in the past, but I have tried very, very hard not to make any comments about SLAYER, other than their music and concerts, because it is none of my business, and I am much older now than I was when I said the regrettable things I said.

"I am aware that there is stuff out there that has been said about me; some of it is old, some of it is new. I am disappointed in the new comments, but I am going to remain professional and give Kerry [King] and Tom [Araya] and SLAYER the benefit of the doubt and hope that it is just old stuff, and be the best tourmate that I can be. Either way, I pray for the guys in SLAYER, although they may not want it, but I do. I pray that we'll be friends again someday, I pray that the tour will be as much fun for them as it is for us, and I pray that they will be as happy as we are and more.

"Remember, three of the members in [the current lineup of] MEGADETH were not even there for the 'Clash Of The Titans' [MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX were joined by opening act ALICE IN CHAINS for the U.S. Clash Of The Titans tour in 1991 — Ed.].

"So, here is to forgiveness, and hopefully being forgiven for past 'stuff.'"

As previously reported, Kerry King has told U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine that he has heard through the grapevine that METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich is plotting a tour that would include METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX. It should be noted, however, that this report has not been corroborated by an official source and should be treated as a rumor only.

In an August 31, 2009 press conference in Paris, France, Kerry King was asked about his long-running "feud" with Mustaine and SLAYER's recent Canadian tour with MEGADETH. "We only did four [shows with MEGADETH so far on the current touring cycle]," he replied. "I think it's cool for the fans [to have SLAYER and MEGADETH touring together], you know. Everybody's all worried about the beef with me and Dave; we don't really get along. But I don't really have anything against him. I think he's a great guitar player. When we had that Canada thing pop up, I just said, 'I'm gonna go, and if I see Dave, I'll be cordial. I'll say, 'Hey, Dave. What's up?!' But if he's a dick to me, I'm gonna be a bigger dick to him.' And that's how [the upcoming SLAYER/MEGADETH tour of] Australia is gonna be, and that's how the next Canadian tour [with MEGADETH] is gonna be. I think maybe he's grown up a bit because I think he's a little pompous and I think he's a big hypocrite — that's my problem with him, personally — but I could never take anything away from his guitar playing; I think he's great."

In a September 1, 2009 interview with The Quietus web site, Tom Araya was asked if there was there any evidence of a rift between SLAYER and Dave Mustaine on the recent SLAYER/MEGADETH tour of Canada. "You know, I ran into him on two occasions, but when you see someone, and if you're a human being, you respect them and treat them as human beings — they're another living person," Tom said. "Other than that, the only thing we shared was that we did those four shows together. You know what I mean?! Nothing's really changed for me about him; I'm just waiting for him to open his mouth. [Laughs]"

When asked what the burning issue was between MEGADETH and SLAYER, Araya replied, "There isn't really a burning issue. The thing is he talks a lot of shit — then he apologizes for it, then he continues [talking shit]. Did you see [METALLICA's documentary] "Some Kind of Monster" [which features Mustaine in a scene with METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich and "performance enhancement coach" Phil Towle]? That should give you some kind of idea how he is!"