FRIDAY, MAY 16TH, 2008
PACIFIC COLISEUM - VANCOUVER, BC
Doors 5:00pm         Show 5:30pm

TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY, JANUARY 18TH @ 10:00AM
Tickets available at all Ticketmaster outlets or Charge By Phone 604-280-4444
or Order online at  www.ticketmaster.ca
Tickets (incl. GST) $45.50 & $35.50 (plus FMF and service charges)

Buy Tickets Online

**RESERVED SEATING/GENERAL ADMISSION FLOOR **

MEGADETH frontman DAVE MUSTAINE has big news for metal fans: GIGANTOUR is back, and MEGADETH has a new guitarist.  The third installment of GIGANTOUR--the acclaimed traveling heavy music festival launched in 2005 by MUSTAINE--will kick off April 12 in Denver, CO with headliner MEGADETH, Scandinavian death metal band IN FLAMES, Finland’s CHILDREN OF BODOM, Arizona’s modern extreme JOB FOR A COWBOY and Oakland, CA heavy power trio HIGH ON FIRE all confirmed.  The 29-date trek will criss-cross North America and wraps May 22 in Phoenix, AZ.

MUSTAINE sums up the philosophy behind GIGANTOUR, hailed by Revolver magazine as “the mother of all shred-fests”: “If the bands and the fans are treated well, then the entertained and the entertainers go home happy--it’s a win-win situation.”  Since its inception in 2005, GIGANTOUR has galvanized bands that emphasize true musicianship and virtuosity, offering them a new opportunity to showcase their talents.  “I think that in a small way, we are cleaning up the environment of crappy bands,” he says, laughing.   “All of the people that really love this kind of music know that they can count on these bands to deliver the goods this year.”

In other MEGADETH news, the group has officially welcomed new guitarist CHRIS BRODERICK (Nevermore, Jag Panzer) to the band after parting ways with Glen Drover--which was hinted at back in November.  “I’ve noticed [on the Internet] that people are pissed with me over the way things were handled with Glen quitting the group,” says MUSTAINE, “but they’re gonna be pissed even more when they hear how fierce we are with Chris!  Megadeth is playing at a new level.”  BRODERICK will make his live debut with MEGADETH February 4 in Finland, where the group--guitarist/singer MUSTAINE, guitarist BRODERICK, drummer SHAWN DROVER and JAMES LOMENZO on bass--is kicking off a long string of international dates which wrap March 14 in Bangalore, India. 

GIGANTOUR features bands hand-picked by MUSTAINE with a sharp eye on true musicianship and a heavy focus on top-notch guitarists.  The first incarnation in 2005 included Dream Theater, Fear Factory, Nevermore, Life of Agony, Symphony X, Dry Kill Logic and Bobaflex, while the 2006 trek included Lamb of God, Opeth, Arch Enemy, Overkill, Into Eternity, Sanctity and The Smashup.  The trek always offers a strong connection between fans and musicians. 

About Live Nation
Live Nation is the world’s leading live music company, annually connecting more than 60 million fans with their favorite performers at over 30,000 events.  We are the largest producer of live concerts in the world, the second-largest venue management company and have a rapidly growing online presence.  Live Nation creates superior experiences for artists and fans, regularly producing tours for the biggest superstars in the business, including The Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, Madonna, U2 and Coldplay.  Globally, we own, operate and/or have booking rights for more than 170 venues, including House of Blues-branded music venues and prestigious locations such as San Francisco’s Fillmore Auditorium, Nikon at Jones Beach in New York and London’s Hammersmith Apollo and Wembley Arena.  Live Nation’s websites collectively are the second most popular entertainment event websites in the United States, according to Nielsen//NetRatings.  Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Live Nation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol “LYV.”  For more information regarding concerts near you, Live Nation and its businesses, please visit our website at www.LiveNation.com.

Live Nation - Canada
For more show information, please contact:                                 
Ryan Balaski – Live Nation Canada
604-683-4233
RyanBalaski@livenation.com                             

For Press/Media accreditation, please contact:
Jessica Dunn – Live Nation Canada
604-683-4233
JessicaDunn@livenation.com

For Megadeth Interview requests, please contact:
Dean Pogue – Roadrunner Records
pogue@roadrunnerrecords.com