‘If I Want Someone Up on Shoulders, It’ll Be Me Doing an Angus Young Impression’: Dave Mustaine on What He Doesn’t Want to See at Megadeth Shows

Dave Mustaine went over some of the security measures Megadeth strives to adhere to during live shows, noting how he wants everyone to enjoy themselves while staying safe at the same time.

Heavy metal gigs have a (sorta unjust) reputation of being unruly affairs. After all, they have birthed such traditions as the moshpit, while the music itself often tends to energize even the most timid of listeners. However, as metal became more widely accepted and metalheads old enough to have children (or grandchildren) started bringing them to live shows, the heavy metal gig lost some of its dangerous aspects for the sake of safety — moreover, few people want to risk getting injured while enjoying a night out listening to their favorite band.

To that end, many bands have the security measures at their live shows meticulously planned out, and Megadeth is no exception. In a new interview with Kyle Meredith, however, Dave Mustaine noted how the overall security atmosphere of a gig tends to vary depending on the venue his band is playing at (transcribed by Ultimate Guitar):

“Well, obviously, where you’re playing [makes] a difference. And then you get into the nitty gritty, where you get the bands that are going to be playing with you, and the way that the venue treats the fans that come in there.”