MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine has issued the following update:

"As I sit in my office, somewhere just before 7:15AM, I am preparing to leave San Diego County for Albuquerque, New Mexico. I have been really enjoying playing Arizona and California so far on this tour, but I am excited to see NM Droogies after the last two Gigantour visits there.

What a metal city! I noticed some of you are happy with the current set list, and are enjoying yourselves with my/our new found energy. Well, we feed off of you, so thanks!

And we were given 5 extra minutes to play, and the show sometimes starts five minutes early, so when that happens (and it usually does), I get a chance to take a break, have a sip, and do an encore.

We may change the set-list, but you know the saying, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” unless you're a tweeker, and in that case you already fixed it ten times and it’s still broken.

I am not even going to try to explain about the single switch from 'A Tout Le Monde' to 'Washington Is Next'! I am just glad you like it; although the truth would “(Set Me Free)”.

Its good seeing the MACHINE HEAD guys every day, and I am starting to see details of our Europe trip, which really excites me. I can’t wait to play some new songs to our international Droogs!

Well, my car is approaching and I should leave now, but I wanted to say thank you to my dear friend Andy Sneap. Andy I hope you kept the dart-board, great news on the EMI stuff, and I’ll see you soon.

I need to tell Elliot and Dean that nothing has ever made me this excited about a guitar! I can’t wait to get my new models and watch Glen (drover - guitar) and Shawn (Drover - drums) slobber! Yee-haw!!! And to drums! I have never seen a cooler drum kit in my life! Thanks you guys!

Lastly, its 17 days to release (16 overseas) and I want to thank you all for your patience while I had to search inside me for this record. It may not completely fill you, because some of you still have holes like I once had (and . . . some you are just fat bastards!), but it certainly fills me . . . for now!"

As previously reported, Megadeth's official United Abominations e-card has been updated to include the studio version of 'Washington is Next!', in the media player at the end of the card. View the e-card at this location. United Abominations hits store shelves on May 15th.