It's Official: MEGADETH Taps NEVERMORE/JAG PANZER Guitarist CHRIS BRODERICK - Jan. 14, 2008 

As BLABBERMOUTH.NET first reported on January 7, MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine has finally officially confirmed that the band has parted ways with guitarist Glen Drover and replaced him with Chris Broderick (NEVERMORE, JAG PANZER).

"I've noticed [on the Internet] that people are pissed with me over the way things were handled with Glen quitting the group," says Mustaine, "but they're gonna be pissed even more when they hear how fierce we are with Chris! MEGADETH is playing at a new level."

In a November 2007 posting on the forum of MEGADETH's official fan club, MegaFanClub (accessible to members only), Mustaine stated about Drover, "sadly, Glen is having a really difficult time handling the demands of touring and we are finding that we are having to cut our European run down already, but that it is going to be one of the last long ones for some time."

Chris will make his live debut with MEGADETH on February 4 in Finland, where the group '” Mustaine, Broderick, drummer Shawn Drover and James Lomenzo on bass '” is kicking off a long string of international dates which wrap March 14 in Bangalore, India.

Chris Broderick has been playing guitar since he was eleven years old and has been teaching for the last 15 years. Styles range from classical, rock, blues, and jazz. He started taking lessons at 14 years of age studying guitar as well as voice, violin, and piano. Chris has a degree in classical guitar music performance at the University of Denver and the Lamont School of Music. He has performed in many master classes including ones given by David Russell, Benjamin Verdery, and his primary instructor, Ricardo Iznaola. In addition, Chris has taken classes such as jazz improvisation, chord voicing, advanced music theory, and sight-reading.

The third installment of Gigantour '” the acclaimed traveling heavy music festival launched in 2005 by Mustaine '” will kick off April 12 in Denver, CO with headliner MEGADETH, Swedish metal band IN FLAMES, Finland's CHILDREN OF BODOM, Arizona's modern extreme JOB FOR A COWBOY and Oakland, CA heavy power trio HIGH ON FIRE all confirmed. The 29-date trek will criss-cross North America and wraps May 22 in Phoenix, AZ.

Mustaine sums up the philosophy behind Gigantour, hailed by Revolver magazine as "the mother of all shred-fests": "If the bands and the fans are treated well, then the entertained and the entertainers go home happy '” it's a win-win situation." Since its inception in 2005, Gigantour has galvanized bands that emphasize true musicianship and virtuosity, offering them a new opportunity to showcase their talents. "I think that in a small way, we are cleaning up the environment of crappy bands," he says, laughing. "All of the people that really love this kind of music know that they can count on these bands to deliver the goods this year."

Gigantour features bands hand-picked by Mustaine with a sharp eye on true musicianship and a heavy focus on top-notch guitarists. The first incarnation in 2005 included DREAM THEATER, FEAR FACTORY, NEVERMORE, LIFE OF AGONY, SYMPHONY X, DRY KILL LOGIC and BOBAFLEX, while the 2006 trek included LAMB OF GOD, OPETH, ARCH ENEMY, OVERKILL, INTO ETERNITY, SANCTITY and THE SMASHUP. The trek always offers a strong connection between fans and musicians.

Gigantour 2008 tour dates featuring MEGADETH, IN FLAMES, CHILDREN OF BODOM, JOB FOR A COWBOY and HIGH ON FIRE:

Apr. 12 - Denver, CO The Fillmore
Apr. 13 - Albuquerque, NM Journal Pavilion
Apr. 15 - Dallas, TX Nokia Theatre
Apr. 16 - Corpus Christi, TX Concrete Street Pavilion
Apr. 17 - Houston, TX Verizon Wireless Theatre
Apr. 19 - Louisville, KY Louisville Gardens Sun
Apr. 20 - Atlanta, GA Tabernacle
Apr. 22 - New York, NY Hammerstein Ballroom
Apr. 24 - Worcester, MA Palladium
Apr. 26 - Baltimore, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion
Apr. 28 - Quebec City, QC Pavilion De La Jeunesse
Apr. 29 - Montreal, QC Bell Centre
Apr. 30 - Toronto, ON Arrow Hall
May 01 - London, ON John Labatt Centre
May 03 - Detroit, MI DTE Music Center
May 04 - Cleveland, OH Time Warner Cable Amphitheater
May 06 - Chicago, IL Aragon
May 07 - Milwaukee, WI Eagles Ballroom
May 09 - Minneapolis, MN Myth
May 10 - Winnipeg, MB Convention Center
May 11 - Saskatoon, SK Prairieland Exhibition Hall
May 12 - Edmonton, AB Shaw Conference Center
May 14 - Calgary, AB The Corral
May 16 - Vancouver, BC Pacific Coliseum
May 17 - Salem, OR Salem Armory
May 19 - San Jose, CA Event Center @ San Jose State
May 20 - San Diego, CA Cox Arena
May 21 - Los Angeles, CA Long Beach Arena
May 22 - Phoenix, AZ Mesa Amphitheatre

A short video clip of the new MEGADETH guitarist Chris Broderick (also of NEVERMORE and JAG PANZER) performing the band's song "Sleepwalker" can be viewed at this location (Quicktime required).

Broderick joined MEGADETH as the replacement for Glen Drover, who apparently left the group in order to focus on family life.

In a November 2007 posting on the forum of MEGADETH's official fan club, MegaFanClub (accessible to members only), the band's mainman Dave Mustaine stated about Drover, "sadly, Glen is having a really difficult time handling the demands of touring and we are finding that we are having to cut our European run down already, but that it is going to be one of the last long ones for some time."

New MEGADETH guitarist Chris Broderick has commented on his status in his previous bands NEVERMORE and JAG PANZER as well as his latest gig, which was officially announced earlier today (after first being reported on BLABBERMOUTH.NET on January 7).

Said Chris: "I'm glad I have [the fans'] support in this. Unfortunately I will not be able to do any more shows with JAG PANZER or NEVERMORE because the extensive touring that MEGADETH will be doing. I wish them all the best and remain friends with both bands. I look forward to touring with Dave [Mustaine], James [Lomenzo] and Shawn [Drover] and will keep my eye out for [longtime Broderick fans]."

GLEN DROVER: 'I Have A Lot Of Great Memories' From My Time With MEGADETH - Jan. 14, 2008 

Guitarist Glen Drover has released the following statement regarding his departure from MEGADETH:

"I am aware of the rumors that I left MEGADETH to focus on family life. My family life has always been my priority. In the end, I was unhappy with the situation, which magnified me wanting to spend more time with my family and realizing that it's time for me to move on to the next chapter in my musical career.

"First, I want to spend some good quality time here at home with my family for a little bit before getting into anything serious. Obviously, I have not spent the last several years of my life working hard to stop now. That would be insane, to put it mildly. This is what I do, and I am excited about what the future in music has in store for me.

"I would like to thank Dave [Mustaine, MEGADETH mainman] for giving me a great opportunity to be a part of MEGADETH for the past three-plus years. To be a part of this band with my brother Shawn [drums] and tour the world was awesome, to say the least.

"I have a lot of great memories and met a ton of great people along the way, both fans and people in the industry. I am also very proud to have been a part of bringing MEGADETH back to the forefront and firmly putting the band back on the map.

"Last but not least, I would like to thank all of the fans, the MEGADETH road crew and all of my endorsements, as well as everyone who has supported me in making my time with MEGADETH a very memorable experience."

Planet Terror is pretty fucking disturbing. 

Not scary wise but some of the imagery is really nasty.  The unrated one anyways.

Troubled Britney Spears has allegedly threatened to commit suicide if she is forced into psychiatric care by her parents.

(BANG) -

Britney Spears has allegedly threatened to commit suicide if she is forced into psychiatric care.

The troubled singer - who lost all visitation rights to her two young sons last week after she was hospitalised following a stand-off with police when she refused to hand them back to ex-husband Kevin Federline -insists she would rather than die than be put into hospital by her parents, Jamie and Lynne.

During a car ride round Los Angeles, where she was pursued by the paparazzi, she reportedly shrieked down the phone to a friend: "They're not sending me to the nut house! No one can make me go - and I'm not going.

"I'll kill myself before I let them lock me up again. So tell Mama and Daddy I said so. Oh my God, it's over for me."

A friend of Britney also spoke of her fears the singer may kill herself if she is barred from seeing her boys, Sean Preston, two, and 16-month-old Jayden James.

The pal told Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "The kids are her life. She told me she has no reason to live if she can't see them. So yes, I'm afraid, very afraid."

After being discharged from Los Angeles Cedars-Sinai hospital last weekend, where she refused psychiatric treatment, Britney flew to Mexico with alleged lover Adnan Ghalib.

Staff at the Rosarito Beach Hotel said Britney appeared to be "high" and was singing her hit song 'Toxic' to herself in an empty bar.

Reception manager Gustavo Lopez said: "One of our waitresses spotted Britney singing to herself.

"She heard her mumbling the words to 'Toxic' in a very low voice. It was a strange thing to do and my waitress said she looked out of it."