Dave Mustaine recently spoke with Guitar World about Metallica and their new album, “72 Seasons.” When listening to his previous band’s songs, he observed that the problems from the past didn’t bother him as much. He said that he would want to tour once again with Metallica under the ‘The Big Four’ banner.
When asked if he had heard the most recent record, the Megadeth leader responded:
“No, I have not heard Metallica’s latest record. But there was a time around 20 years ago when we were not being friendly toward each other when I couldn’t listen to their music when it came on the radio. But none of that bothers me anymore, and it’s not why I haven’t heard the record, especially after the Big 4 thing that we did. I really think we should do that again.”
After being fired from the band, Mustaine took the stage with Metallica for the first time in decades for the Big 4 concerts in 2010. He and James Hetfield even discussed collaborating on a project back then, but this idea never materialized.
The frontman for Megadeth has expressed a desire to reunite with the other bands several times after the concerts. When speaking with Songfacts in 2021, he said:
“I really think it’s time for the guys in Metallica to step up, and us do one last round, see if we can get Slayer to come out of retirement and do a ‘Big 4 passing of the torch’ to the new Big 4. It would remain to be seen who they are, but I have a feeling it would include some of the players we already mentioned.
I think it would be really cool symbolically if we did something at like the LA Coliseum, even if it’s one show, and that’s it. Slayer is from Los Angeles, so it would probably make it more convenient for them to go home at night. I personally have been hoping for this for a while, and I keep asking and asking and asking. They’re just not into it. But that’s up to them.”
But Scott Ian of Anthrax says it’s unlikely that another Big 4 concert will take place soon. In a 2023 interview with Metal Edge, he stated:
“If the Big 4 was to ever happen again – in any capacity – it’s certainly not going to be before ’25 now because they’ve [Metallica] already announced their plans. So, there you go. Anyone who has a question about the Big 4, hold that thought until 2025.”
Both bands currently have their own ideas. August will see the continuation of Metallica’s M72 World Tour, while June 24 marks the start of Megadeth’s summer tour.
