OH BOY! This was not going to be a normal festival experience for me! I happened to have joined the Megadeth Cyber Army Fan Club this year. I won a meet and great through the fan club. I was going to meet Megadeth! A band that I had been listening to pretty religiously for 20 plus years! With me on this adventure was Tim. He unfortunately did not have a meet and greet. Also, my daughter was there. just not with me. She was with her then boyfriend.
Here is the lineup of bands.
Main Stage
Disturbed
Godsmack
Megadeth
Machine Head
Trivium
Revolver Stage
Suicide Silence
All Shall Perish
Straight Line Stitch
Jägermeister Mobile Stage
The Athiarchists
Unearth
Kingdom of Sorrow
Red Fang
The Metal Mulisha Motorcycle Stunt Show was also going on, but we missed it again! I was also excited to see Red Fang. There new single "Prehistoric Dog" was really good. We strolled up to their stage just in time to see them play that song. And that was it. We walked around alot for the first part of the day. None of the other bands playing were really on my radar. Plus I had to be at a certain gate at a specific time to get back stage. At some time during this, it rained. It rained hard! but then it was over. Indiana weather. As I sat there waiting to meet Megadeth. Tim wandered around and ended up at a merchandise booth with a sign saying "Free Meet and Greet with Sully Erna with purchase." So Tim bought a T Shirt that said "I Love Vagina" so he could meet Sully. I wasn't there for it but, Tim said Sully came in complaining that there was no vagina's at the I Love Vagina booth! He did sign Tims shirt though. I in the meantime am getting taken backstage. The guy in charge went over the rules with us. "No autographs. No individual photos. A group photo will be taken. And stay cool. Don't spaz out!" I really wanted to do all three, but I followed the rules. They lined us up. And out came Megadeth! Shawn Drover and Chris Broderick kind of stayed together like a team. They talked to people together. I wish I had more to say to them, but they were still kind of the "new guys". I'm not quite sure what David Ellefson was doing, I couldn't see him. Dave Mustaine started at the other end and slowly made his way down to me. As he got closer, I heard what he was asking to the other people and I tried to formulate a good answer. And then he got to me. "So what's your favorite song?" I forgot my name at that point. I was starstruck! Dammit! I felt like little Ralphie climbing up on Santa's lap to tell him I wanted a Red Ryder! But my brain had shut off! I casually told him "Not even you can make me decide that. There's just to many!" He was kind of taken back by that but then told me "That's the right answer" I remember telling him that I was really high on "My Last Words" right now. But there was so much more I wanted to say! And my mouth didn't want to work. All the questions! But most importantly I wanted to say "Thank You". For so many years of enjoyment listening to his music. Just "Thank You" And I couldn't even muster up that! He noticed that I was starting to feel uncomfortable and he shook my hand and Thanked me for coming. That was it. If I had only talked more (or at all), that meeting would have lasted longer for everyone. But since I was last in line, that was the end. They started to set up for the group photo and David Ellefson came running up to my side And he said "Hey cool. Colts" Because I was wearing my Indianapolis Colts hat (as I always do). And that was it. It was over. Despite my lack of communication skills, It was still a great experience. One that I will treasure always. I got out and found Tim. He told me his Sully story and I told him my Megadeth story. We made it to our seats in time for Machine Head to finish up there set.
And Then Megadeth! I was still on a pretty good high, but at the same time, if I could have kicked myself in my own ass I would have for the missed opportunity. Oh well, hopefully one day I will be able to see him again. Here's the setlist. A little short because it's a festival show. And I'll still never understand how they weren't the headliner.
Trust
Hanger 18
Wake Up Dead
Sweating Bullets
Head Crusher
Public Enemy No. 1 (Not yet released at this time)
Symphony Of Destruction
Peace Sells
Holy Wars
My daughter's then boyfriend actually got a guitar pic when they threw them out to the crowd. They had slightly better seats than we did. I found out later the little bastard sold it. I never did like him.
Godsmack was up next. They always seem to put on a good show. I don't know if Tim was a fan of there's prior to this, but I've heard him listen to them quite a bit after. Here's their setlist.
Cryin' Like a Bitch!!
The Enemy
Forever Shamed
Straight Out of Line
Awake
Speak
Love-Hate-Sex-Pain
Voodoo
Batalla de los tambores
Whatever
I Stand Alone
And then there was Disturbed. I don't know, I just can't get into them. Nothing really bad to say, just not my cup of tea. So here are the pics.
Rain
Machine Head
MEGADETH
Godsmack
Here's my special ticket and the armband for the meet and greet
Meet And Greet photo. That's Me behind David Ellefson.
