Which heavy metal artist would you send into space?

When it comes to laying the groundwork for his dream farewell performance with the thrash metal icons, Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine has set a very high standard. The band’s charismatic vocalist tells Metal Hammer that he wants his farewell performance to take place in space. He has stated that their upcoming seventeenth studio album and accompanying global tour will be their last chapter.

I hope we’ll be playing up in space. I think that will be a really fitting climax. And I’m not talking about on the side of a vomit comet. A gig on the Moon, a full moon landing, that would be cool. I saw they sent up a bunch of celebrities into space and I thought ‘Well, if them, why not me?’, you know? I’m just watching how that all progresses. I know Elon Musk and Richard Branson were working on interstellar travel. I think people are going to be travelling to space a lot sooner than you think.

Naturally, he was alluding to the recent space travels of pop sensation Kay Perry, Star Trek icon William Shatner, and Virgin tycoon Richard Branson. When Hammer asks Dave if he’s kidding when he talks about playing a gig in space, Dave reiterates his belief that it might happen eventually.

People already travel over 40,000 feet altitude, and when you get to that kind of atmosphere you’re basically already in space. So I do think it’s going to happen. The question is, are people going to be able to inhabit the moon? Personally I’d never want to live on a planet away from the world we live in. People were talking about a trip to Mars, but all I can imagine is somebody suddenly going ‘Oh! I forgot my toothbrush!’ That would be the longest flight ever!’

One thing’s for certain. It’s going to be crazy when it comes to tickete prices!

Upcoming shows:

04/23 Lima, PER – Costa 21
04/25 Bogota, COL – Movistar Arena
04/27 Bogota, COL – Movistar Arena
04/30 Buenos Aires, ARG – TBA
05/02 Sao Paulo, BRA – Espaco Unimed
05/05 Santiago, CHL – Movistar Arena
05/06 Santiago, CHL – Movistar Arena
05/08 Monterrey, MEX – Arena Monterrey
05/10 Mexico City, MEX – Arena Ciudad de Mexico
05/13 Guadalajara, MEX – Arena Guadalajara

06/10 Hradec Kralove, CZE – Rock For People
06/14 Ferrara, ITA – Ferrara Summer Festival
06/26 Helsinki, FIN – Tuska Open Air Metal Festival

With Iron Maiden:

08/29 Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
08/30 Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
09/03 Montréal, QC – Parc Jean-Drapeau (with Anthrax)
09/05 Harrison, NJ – Sports Illustrated Stadium (with Anthrax)
09/09 Boston, MA – TD Garden
09/11 Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
09/12 Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
09/15 Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium
09/19 Shakopee, MN – Mystic Lake Amphitheater
09/22 Chicago, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
09/25 Los Angeles, CA – BMO Stadium (with Anthrax)
09/26 Los Angeles, CA – BMO Stadium (with Anthrax)
09/29 San Antonio, TX – Alamodome (with Anthrax)