The rock and metal world was recently stirred by a public exchange between two iconic musicians—Peter Frampton, known for his classic rock hits, and Dave Mustaine, the frontman of the thrash-metal band Megadeth.
The controversy arose after both artists cancelled scheduled shows at the same venue, leading to a misunderstanding that played out in the media, resulting in a heated response from Mustaine.
Megadeth and Peter Frampton were slated to perform at Virginia Credit Union Live! at Richmond Raceway in mid-September 2024.
However, both concerts were cancelled due to “unforeseen circumstances.”
Megadeth’s show, initially scheduled for September 15th, was cancelled first, with the band citing “unexpected and unpredictable circumstances” as the reason for the abrupt change in plans.
Two days later, on September 17th, Frampton cancelled his performance at the same venue.
While cancellations due to unforeseen issues are not uncommon in the music industry, it was the explanation that Frampton offered during a concert in Philadelphia that escalated the situation.
Addressing the audience, he attributed the cancellation of his Richmond show partly to Megadeth.
“So, we had a show cancelled the other day because of weather,” Frampton began.
“And also Megadeth did a soundcheck, I think a couple of days before our show, and after they finished their soundcheck, there was structural damage to the stage. I’m not blaming them — could have been another band — but it looks pretty like it. So, sorry, Megadeth. I had to rat on you.”
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Though Frampton’s comment appeared to be made in a lighthearted tone, it didn’t sit well with Mustaine, who responded publicly a few days later on September 23rd, to clarify the situation.
According to a statement from Megadeth’s camp, the band didn’t even conduct a soundcheck in Richmond.
In fact, the band’s crew had discovered a structural issue at the venue before their equipment was even set up.
In response to Frampton’s comments, Megadeth released a press statement explaining what had transpired.
According to the band, the structural damage to the stage was identified by their rigger, who was working on the venue’s steel grid system above the stage.
He noticed a significant problem with the venue’s infrastructure, which would have posed a severe safety risk had Megadeth gone ahead with their show.
As a result, the band’s management and the venue made the decision to cancel the performance in order to avoid any potential injuries or fatalities.
The statement emphasized that Megadeth had yet to reach the soundcheck stage before discovering the issue, directly countering Frampton’s account of events.
Mustaine himself weighed in with a pointed response, saying, “It seems Frampton was misinformed about our show being cancelled. The decision was purely based on safety. It’s disappointing when someone you admire talks out their ass about you.”
Mustaine’s frustration was evident, given that the band had no control over the circumstances leading to the cancellation, and safety was their top priority.
While Frampton’s comments may not have been intended as an attack, the miscommunication added fuel to the fire of an already tense situation.
Megadeth is currently in the midst of their headlining tour, which has featured performances from Mudvayne and All That Remains as supporting acts.
The thrash-metal legends are promoting their 2022 album The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead! and have been consistently drawing large crowds across the United States.
Their tour, dubbed “Crush the World,” has been praised not only for the quality of the performances but also for the chemistry within the band.
Mustaine commented in a press release that the current lineup, including new guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari, has performed better than ever.
Mäntysaari, who replaced former guitarist Kiko Loureiro, has brought new energy to the band and fans have responded positively to his contributions on stage.
“Touring has been a tremendous experience for the four of us,” Mustaine said in an earlier press release.
“We are all playing tight, and that has made it possible for me to really focus on solos and singing. We are playing more songs than ever before, and we are closer to each other, onstage AND off.”
As for the remainder of the tour, Megadeth is set to wrap up their current trek on September 28th in Nashville, Tennessee.
After a successful summer, the band has also announced their 2024 “Destroy All Enemies” U.S. tour, which will begin in August.
Cities such as Denver, Los Angeles, Boston, and Las Vegas will host Megadeth and their accompanying acts next summer, ensuring that fans have plenty more opportunities to catch the band live in action.
Meanwhile, Peter Frampton has been on his farewell tour, marking the end of an illustrious career.
Known for hits such as “Do You Feel Like We Do” and “Show Me the Way,” Frampton has been a fixture in the rock world for decades.
His use of the talk box, an effect that allows him to “speak” through his guitar, became one of his signature sounds and has inspired countless musicians over the years.
Frampton’s final concert took place on September 23rd in Northfield, Ohio, bringing his career to a close.
Despite the hiccup in Richmond and the misunderstanding with Megadeth, Frampton’s tour has been a celebration of his legendary contributions to music.
His fans remain dedicated, and the veteran rocker has received widespread praise for his performances throughout the tour.
