It was a little bit of a shock when Five Finger Death Punch announced their European tour, with openers Megadeth and Bad Wolves. It seems like it would be the other way around with Megadeth headlining, but bassist David Ellefson tells Danny Stoakes in a new interview that there's a reason they took the tour. Ellefson says Megadeth usually hits Europe on the festival circuit and are looking to expand their audience more.
The logic makes perfect sense. It's just crazy that Megadeth, one of the creators of thrash and absolute metal legends, are still working on expanding their audience. Though Five Finger Death Punch probably has a much younger audience that would do Megadeth well to have in the future.
"The Five Finger guys have been good friends of ours. We've seen 'em come up the ranks behind us. But they're doing great. They're very successful. They worked very hard. Their success is every bit deserved for them. And I think it's kind of cool.
"Normally, we come over and we do the festivals. We've been looking at ways to headline or do some kind of a package tour that gets us much more penetrated across Europe instead of only doing the festival circuit. And I think it's a good way to do it. Obviously, it's big halls and arenas, and a lot of people will be there, and I think it'll be a good celebration."
Megadeth will soon embark on their Megacruise cruise tour. The cruise may or may not include Dave Mustaine, who is currently battle throat cancer (and doing very well!).
Meanwhile, Five Finger Death Punch are touring all fall with Three Days Grace and Bad Wolves. Here is the routing.
Nov. 01 – Las Vegas NV @ The Joint @ Hard Rock [Tickets]
Nov. 02 – Las Vegas NV @ The Joint @ Hard Rock [Tickets]
Nov. 05 – Tucson AZ @ Tucson Arena [Tickets]
Nov. 07 – El Paso TX @ Don Haskins Arena [Tickets]
Nov. 09 – Corpus Christi TX @ American Bank Center [Tickets]
Nov. 10 – Beaumont TX @ Ford Park Center [Tickets]
Nov. 12 – Baton Rouge LA @ Raising Cane’s River Center Arena [Tickets]
Nov. 13 – Huntsville AL @ Von Braun Center Arena [Tickets]
Nov. 15 – Pensacola FL @ Pensacola Bay Center [Tickets]
Nov. 16 – Ft. Meyer FL @ Hertz Arena [Tickets]
Nov. 18 – Jacksonville FL @ Vystar Veterans Arena [Tickets]
Nov. 20 – Columbia SC @ Colonial Life Arena [Tickets]
Nov. 22 – Greensboro NC @ Greensboro Coliseum Arena [Tickets]
Nov. 23 – Chattanooga TN @ McKenzie Arena [Tickets]
Nov. 26 – Columbus OH @ Nationwide Arena [Tickets]
Nov. 27 – Youngstown OH @ Covelli Centre [Tickets]
Nov. 29 – Knoxville TN @ Thompson-Boling Arena [Tickets]
Nov. 30 – Charleston SC @ North Charleston Coliseum [Tickets]
Dec. 02 – Norfolk VA @ Norfolk Scope Arena [Tickets]
Dec. 03 – Allentown PA @ PPL Center [Tickets]
Dec. 05 – Toledo OH @ The Huntington Arena [Tickets]
Dec. 06 – Lexington KY @ Rupp Arena [Tickets]
Dec. 08 – Peoria IL @ Peoria Civic Center [Tickets]
Dec. 09 – Fort Wayne IN @ Allen County War Memorial Coliseum [Tickets]
Dec. 11 – Madison WI @ Alliant Energy Center [Tickets]
Dec. 12 – Duluth MN @ Amsoil Arena [Tickets]
Dec. 14 – Omaha NE @ CHI Health Center [Tickets]
Dec. 15 – Des Moines IA @ Wells Fargo Arena [Tickets]
