MEGADETH frontman Dave Mustaine has checked in with the following update:

"Droogies!

Rust In Peace rehearsal are going pretty good. We are sorting out some new gear, organizing the stuff we've got, hot-rodding everything, and deciding on several aspects of the show. Of course we realize that RIP was approximately 45 minutes long, and our show is longer than that, that we are going to need to keep several other classics in the show as well as our favorite new songs too.

So far we went over 'Holy Wars', 'Hangar 18', 'Tornado of Souls', 'Take No Prisoners', 'Five Magics', and 'Poison Was The Cure'. I am letting a DAT run in the background for serendipity in case I have a moment where I come up with something new and it doesn't slip away if I don't record it.

It may sound strange to hear that we are going over the songs that we already know, but this is a pivotal record in heavy metal and it didn't become that way by playing what we think is right. We have all been under the microscope and we have found several things that we have improved on, as well as learning the new RIP songs, and I can't stop smiling while we are playing.

It's kinda cool too to be brainwashing myself with RIP before we get ready to go into the studio for our ultimate Roadrunner record. I am not going to go on record and say anything yet until I can sing over these songs, but for now, watching Chris play these solos is mind-blowing. It's just like Marty was here again.

When you guys 'see' Shawn you are going to be blown away, as well as how ferociously he is playing right now. Speaking of Shawn, we are getting ready to go with James up to the Grammys today, and do some pre-lim stuff. Shawn and I wrote 'Head Crusher', and the funny thing is that this is my eight nomination and I have never won. I think what's the use going, but then I see Shawn's enthusiasm for his first time ever being nominated, and I am actually excited for our chances and for him. Of course we are nominated in a category with formidable competition, and they are all of our friends. I actually joked with Kerry King and said, 'Can ya let us win it this year?'

Honestly, I don't think I was ready to fully appreciate what this all means the previous times. I know that we may win, and that we may not. I know what it feels like to lose, and I would like to know what it feels like to win. I mean I would really be excited if Shawn and I won, but either way we have been recognized by our peers to be one of the best and I am proud to be back in the finals for the Grammys."

Tour dates are as follows:

March

1 - Spokane, WA - Knitting Factory
2 - Boise, ID - Knitting Factory
3 - Medford, OR - Medford Armory
6 - Calgary, AB - Big Four (Testament with Special Guests)
7 - Edmonton, AB - Shaw Conference Centre (Testament with Special Guests)
8 - Saskatoon, SK - Prairieland Exhibition Hall
11 - Indianapolis, IN - Murat Theater
12 - Pittsburgh, PA - Palace Theater
13 - Buffalo, NY - Town Ballroom
15 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
16 - Baltimore, MD - Rams Head Live
18 - Scranton, PA - Scranton Cultural Center
19 - Norfolk, VA - The NorVa
21 - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle
22 - Asheville, NC - Orange Peel
23 - Memphis, TN - Minglewood Hall
25 - Houston, TX - Verizon Wireless Theater
26 - Austin, TX - Stubb’s Amphitheater
27 - Lubbock, TX - The Pavilion
28 - El Paso, TX - Club 101
30 - Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theater
31 - Hollywood, CA - Hollywood Palladium (Testament with Special Guests)

Stay tuned for more information next week on the rescheduling of the American Carnage tour dates, as well.