Gigantour 2006 Schedule Gets Tweaked

Band Photo: Lamb of God (?)

With the start of the second annual Gigantour looming on the horizon, organizers have tinkered with the schedule a bit, to include adding several new stops to the run.

Originally due to launch Sept. 7 in San Diego, the outing will now get underway Sept. 6 in Boise, ID, and won't hit San Diego until Sept. 9; the move knocks off the schedule a previously announced Sept. 9 show in San Luis Obispo, CA. Meanwhile, new stops have been added in Oklahoma City, OK; Boston; and Atlantic City, NJ.

The main-stage roster for the majority of the tour features headliners Megadeth, as well as Lamb of God, Opeth, Arch Enemy, Overkill, Into Eternity, Sanctity, and The Smashup. The Phoenix, Oklahoma City and Boston stops, however, won't include Into Eternity, Sanctity and The Smashup, and those three bands, as well as Overkill, won't be on board for the tour's Las Vegas engagement, which is now confirmed to take place at the House of Blues.

Tickets for most shows are on sale now, while those for stops in Chicago and Atlantic City will hit the box office Saturday (8/26). Details are shown in the itinerary below.

Gigantour is the brainchild of Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine, who last year mounted an inaugural run that also included Dream Theater, Fear Factory, Dillinger Escape Plan and Nevermore. That trek is documented on the forthcoming "Gigantour 2005," a live set that comprises a two-disc audio version that hits stores tomorrow (8/22), and a two-DVD video version that surfaces Sept. 5.

Earlier this year, Megadeth signed a new record deal with Roadrunner Records.

"It is exciting to be some place you are respected, understood and appreciated," Mustaine said a statement. "The truth is there's a lot of people I've known there over the years. I'm stoked we're all coming back together again to work on this project."

Roadrunner plans to release "United Abominations," Megadeth's follow-up to 2004's "The System Has Failed," later this year, according to the label.

Here are the latest Gigantour 2006 tour dates:

September 2006
6 - Boise, ID - Idaho Center
8 - Oakland, CA - Oakland Coliseum
9 - San Diego, CA - Cox Arena
10 - Devore, CA - Hyundai Pavilion
12 - Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues
13 - Phoenix, AZ - Dodge Theater
15 - West Valley City, UT - USANA Amphitheater
16 - Englewood, CO - Coors Amphitheatre
17 - Albuquerque, NM - Journal Pavilion
19 - Oklahoma City, OK - Zoo Amphitheatre
21 - Milwaukee, WI - Eagles Ballroom
22 - Chicago, IL - Congress Theater
23 - Columbus, OH - Nationwide Arena
24 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre
25 - Toronto, Ontario - Molson Amphitheatre
27 - Montreal, Quebec - Bell Centre
28 - Uniondale, NY - Nassau Coliseum
29 - Boston, MA - Bank of America Pavilion
30 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center

October 2006
1 - Atlantic City, NJ - House of Blues
6 - Tampa, FL - St. Pete Times Forum
7 - Orlando, FL - Hard Rock Live
8 - Sunrise, FL - Bank Atlantic Center

Source: Live Daily