Megadeth announces Rogers Place tour stop in February with Anthrax, Exodus

Dave Mustaine, of Megadeth, performs during the Louder Than Life Music Festival on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, in Louisville, Ky.

It’s sure to be a killer farewell.

In the heaviest of concert tour announcements yet over the last month, metal band giants Megadeth announced Tuesday morning they will play Edmonton on Feb. 21.

Opening the ticket for the Saturday date at Rogers Place are fellow significant 1980s American thrash metal acts Anthrax and Exodus.

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Pre-sales for the concert are Thursday and Friday before they go on sale to the general public later Friday.

The news comes in the wake of recent tour announcements made by other veteran major heavy rock acts coming to the Alberta capital next year, such as Rush, AC/DC and Guns ‘N’ Roses.

Megadeth, formed in 1983 by frontman and ex-Metallica lead guitarist Dave Mustaine, announced this summer that the tour for their upcoming album will be its last.

“There’s so many musicians that have come to the end of their career, whether accidental or intentional,” Mustaine, the sole consistent member of the group, said in an August statement. “Most of them don’t get to go out on their own terms on top, and that’s where I’m at in my life right now. I have travelled the world and have made millions upon millions of fans and the hardest part of all of this is saying goodbye to them.”

Megadeth’s self-titled final album, its 17th, is slated for release in late January.

Anthrax, formed in 1981, is considered to be one of the Big Four of the thrash metal genre along with Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer. Rhythm guitarist Scott Ian, drummer Charlie Benante and bassist Frank Bello have been its longest-serving members, with Ian standing as a band original, Benante joining in 1983 in time for its first album and Bello joining it in 1984.

Exodus, the oldest of the three bands on the slate having formed in 1979, has one original member currently in its lineup and once had current Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett on the roster.

Megadeth and Anthrax are also slated to join major metal act Iron Maiden on its world tour later in 2026. Megadeth will play with Iron Maiden in Toronto Aug. 29-30, while both acts will join the English band in Montreal on Sept. 3.