Simon McCormack at Alibi.com recently spoke to MEGADETH bassist James Lomenzo. The following is an excerpt from the interview:

Q: Let’s talk about the tour. Do you try to take some of the younger bands you’re traveling with under your wing?

Lomenzo: Dave (Mustaine) and I do quite a lot of that. We’re like, grab some hot cocoa and let’s sit around the fire and talk about the good ol’ days. It’s interesting how much the young bands are into coming up and asking you questions. We’ve been through what they’re experiencing now, so it’s good to be able to help them along and pass on the tribal knowledge, so to speak."

Q: Do you feel like you learn something from them as well?

Lomenzo: "Absolutely. My feeling is once you stop learning, you might as well stay home. It’s great to see those kids go on stage with that unflurried energy. It’s amazing to watch. It reminds you of how you should be conducting yourself out there. It’s a kick in the pants, which is always good for us."

Q: Are there any new bands you’ve taken a liking to?

Lomenzo: "I put on a lot of Internet radio stuff and let it fly and I don’t really catalog it. Bands like AVENGED SEVENFOLD and STATIC-X are very good. Then there are bands like a group we’re touring with, CHILDREN OF BODOM, who maybe aren’t really the same style as I’m into, but I still recognize quality when I hear it. Those guys are great."

Go to this location for the complete interview.

Remaining dates on the Gigantour, featuring MEGADETH, IN FLAMES, CHILDREN OF BODOM, JOB FOR A COWBOY and HIGH ON FIRE are as follows:

April

16 - Corpus Christi, TX - Concrete Street Pavilion
17 - Houston, TX - Verizon Wireless Theatre
19 - Louisville, KY - Louisville Gardens
20 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade Music Park
22 - New York, NY - Hammerstein Ballroom
24 - Worcester, MA - Palladium
26 - Baltimore, MD - Merriweather Post Pavilion
28 - Quebec City, QC - Pavilion De La Jeunesse
29 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
30 - Toronto, ON - Arrow Hall

May

1 - London, ON - John Labatt Centre
3 - Detroit, MI - DTE Music Center
4 - Cleveland, OH - Time Warner Cable Amphitheater
6 - Chicago, IL - Aragon
7 - Milwaukee, WI - Eagles Ballroom
9 - Minneapolis, MN - Myth
10 - Winnipeg, MB - Convention Center
11 - Saskatoon, SK - Prairieland Exhibition Hall
12 - Edmonton, AB - Shaw Conference Center
14 - Calgary, AB - The Corral
16 - Vancouver, BC - Pacific Coliseum
17 - Salem, OR - Salem Armory
19 - San Jose, CA - Event Center @ San Jose State
20 - San Diego, CA - Cox Arena
21 - Los Angeles, CA - Long Beach Arena
22 - Phoenix, AZ - Mesa Amphitheatre