(HarperCollins/It Books; $25.99; August 3, 2010)

Dave Mustaine is the first to admit that he’s bottomed out a few times in his dark and twisted speed metal version of a Dickensian life.

Impoverished, transient childhood? Check.

Abusive, alcoholic parent? Check.

Mind-fucking religious weirdness (in his case the extremes of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Satanism)? Check.

Alcoholism, drug addiction, homelessness? Check, check, check.

Soul-crushing professional and artistic setbacks? Check.

Rehab? Check (seventeen times, give or take).

Near-death experience? Check that one, too.

James Hetfield, with whom many years ago Mustaine founded a band known as Metallica, once observed, with some incredulity, that Mustaine must have been born with a horseshoe up his ass. That’s how lucky he’s been, how fortunate he is to be pulling breath after so many close calls. And Hetfield is right. Mustaine has been lucky. He has been blessed. But here’s the thing about having a horseshoe lodged in your rectum: It also hurts like hell. And you never forget it’s there.

Mustaine has battled through it all to achieve dizzying heights. From the early, heady days of Metallica, being unceremoniously let go only to become a world-famous rock star—founder, front man, singer, songwriter, and guitarist (and de facto CEO) for Megadeth, one of the most popular bands in heavy metal—Mustaine’s is a story that will inspire, stun, and terrify.

About the Author

Dave Mustaine, widely regarded as the “founding father” of Thrash Metal, almost singlehandedly created the enduring multiplatinum style that launched both Megadeth and Metallica into the public’s consciousness. From 1985’s Killing Is My Business . . . and Business Is Good to the most recent Endgame, with more than twelve album releases with Megadeth, Mustaine has left a legacy of music that has been described as everything from “poignant” to “insightful” to “angry” to “ironic.” Megadeth earned eight Grammy nominations and six platinum certifications. Mustaine lives in San Diego County, California.

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When the thrash godfathers Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax all joined together on the Sonisphere stage in Sofia, Bulgaria last month, who wasn’t thinking we might be just a little bit closer to a full fledged Big Four tour in the States. With news of Anthrax joining the second leg of the American Carnage Tour alongside of Slayer and Megadeth, that day hopefully is around the corner.

The second leg kicks off on Sept. 24 in Dallas, Texas and runs for 20 dates, where Megadeath will continue playing their ‘Rust in Peace’ set list and Slayer will play the groundbreaking ‘Seasons in the Abyss’ album straight through. Anthrax recently was reunited with frontman Joey Belladonna.

As for a full Big Four tour, almost everyone seems to say the same thing: It’s up to Metallica.

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MEGADETH kicked off its “Rust In Peace 20th Anniversary Tour” last night (Monday, March 1) at the Knitting Factory in Spokane, Washington.

According to a fan posting on the band’s official forum, MEGADETH’s setlist was as follows (not confirmed):

01. Set The World Afire
02. Wake Up Dead
03. In My Darkest Hour
04. Holy Wars…The Punishment Due
05. Hangar 18
06. Take No Prisoners
07. Five Magics
08. Poison Was The Cure
09. Lucretia
10. Tornado Of Souls
11. Dawn Patrol
12. Rust In Peace…Polaris
13. Head Crusher
14. Trust
15. Symphony Of Destruction
16. Peace Sells

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MEGADETH performed the song “Head Crusher” on last night’s (Thursday, September 17) edition of NBC-TV’s “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”. Watch video footage of the appearance below.

According to Hits Daily Double, the companion web site of music industry tip sheet HITS, MEGADETH’s new album, “Endgame”, is on track to sell between 40,000 and 45,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release.

MEGADETH’s previous album, “United Abominations”, opened with around 54,000 copies to land at position No. 8 on The Billboard 200 chart. This was more than the 46,000 first-week tally registered by its predecessor, “The System Has Failed” (which debuted at No. 18 on The Billboard 200 chart), and was a bit less than the 61,000 opening number of 2001’s “The World Needs A Hero” (No. 16).

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