So we’re about to turn into the next decade of the millennium and all the kids are into what their parents were into a quarter-century ago! Dressing exactly like they did and in many cases newer bands are sounding exactly like certain older bands, I just can’t dig on that. I read the announcement that Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax and Megadeth will tour together early next year in Europe. Collectively, they were known as the Big Four of Thrash Metal. But, 25 years after the fact, it’s interesting to see where each of those bands’ careers have taken them. Obviously, Metallica became the biggest metal band in the world, but not without some bumps along the way. Namely, alienating fans with the Napster thing and PUTTING OUT WACK RECORDS! Slayer have stuck to their story and have been the most consistent of the Big Four. I’ve never seen a bad Slayer show. I saw them hand Marilyn Manson their ass last summer and the summer before that when they toured together. 1st time I saw Metallica, Lars was dropping beats left and right and did it again the 2nd time. Weak. Anthrax was always good (in fact, it was because of them, I wanted to be in a band) even when they played at the Whisky and I saw Metallica suck just 2 weeks earlier. Which brings me to Megadeth, or as I know it, the Dave Mustaine Band. They were the 1st band to drop off my radar and it wasn’t until recently that I started to revisit their earlier stuff. Peace Sells is really good, but it also came out the same year as Master Of Puppets and Reign In Blood. So, it got pushed aside in my tape collection. Now, the Big Four Tour looms in the near future and I’m a bit torn. On one hand, the fanboy in me got an instant musical boner with the possibility of seeing the best of the best on one stage . But the reality is, 1. I’d have to spend a grip of money to see this happen. 2. I’m about to see Slayer and Megadeth (with Testament) next month. 3. With all the guys in the bands pushing 50, this may be the only time this will ever happen. It is here that I’m reminded that there is going to be a point in the near future when there will be no more of these bands. It’s one thing for Charlie Watts to get through a Rolling Stones set, but for Dave Lombardo to get through a Slayer set is something completely different. Shit, it’s rough to get through a Slayer set in the audience! Whether I can make the trek to Europe or not, the fact that the Big Four tour is going to happen is pretty fucking special. Mosh it up!
