Testament & Newsted Soundwave 2014 Sidewaves have been announced.
Following Newsted – the titular heavy rock group of ex-Metallica bassist Jason Newsted – being dropped from Megadeth’s Soundwave 2014 sideshows “at the request of Megadeth” last week, Newsted have now been added to a newly announced series of shows in Melbourne and Sydney from metal masters Testament.
Regularly described as the quintessential heavy metal band, the American outfit have undisputedly been the flag bearers of thrash metal and garnered huge influence over a whole new generation of aural aggressors.
Formed in Northern California in 1983, they grew up at the same time as Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax and Megadeth, being one of the five bands forming the core of what would become the world famous thrash metal scene. But from the beginning, Testament trod a unique path, making sure that their extraordinary musicianship, intuitive feel for harmonies amidst the savagery established itself as a stand-alone sound.
Joining Testament is Newsted, who arrive for Soundwave 2014 off the back of their full-length debut album, the no-nonsense titled Heavy Metal Music
The pursuit of heaviness has fuelled Jason Newsted for over 30 years. As an integral component of Metallica, Flotsam and Jetsam, Voivod, Ozzy Osbourne’s touring band, and countless other fan and critical favourites, he’s among the metal world’s most fearless adventurers.
When Newsted were dropped from Megadeth’s 2014 Sidewave shows last week, Dave Mustaine refuted rumours that his temperament was to blame for the band being kicked off the bill and today announced that Megadeth had pulled out of their Soundwave festival commitments.
Megadeth are the third major act to pull out of Soundwave 2014 – along with Sevendust and Stone Temple Pilots – ahead of its kick off this month.
The Testament & Newsted Soundwave 2014 shows are the latest in a series of sideshow announcements.
In festival tradition there’s a number of triple-billed shows, featuring Mastodon, Baroness, and Gojira, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Glassjaw, and Dir En Grey, plus Eagles Of Death Metal, Rocket From The Crypt, & Mutemath, Alice In Chains, Down, and Walking With Papers, Less Than Jake, Bowling For Soup, and Zebrahead, as well as Jimmy Eat World, Panic! At The Disco, with Alkaline Trio.
Other sideshows include Soundwave 2014 headliners Avenged Sevenfold, AFI with ††† (Crosses), Rob Zombie & Korn, Alter Bridge & Living Colour, Finnish rockers HIM,Richie Sambora, Black Veil Brides, Biffy Clyro, Placebo, and Clutch.
In related news, Maddah is also looking to switch the closing Perth leg of Soundwave from the Claremont Showgrounds to Arena Joondalup, mirroring Big Day Out’s last-minute venue change following ongoing battles with Claremont Council.
“We’re trying to move (Soundwave in Perth). Not sure if we can,” Maddah tweeted recently. A venue change to Joondalup would also require a change of date, as Future’s underage Good Life 2014 festival already has Arena Joondalup booked for the same date as Soundwave’s Perth leg.
Testament & Newsted Soundwave 2014 Sidewaves Announced
TICKETS ON SALE: TUESDAY FEBRUARY 11TH @9:00AM AEDT
TUESDAY 25 FEBRUARY
MELBOURNE, GERSHWIN ROOM ESPY www.oztix.com.au
WEDNESDAY 26 FEBRUARY
SYDNEY, OXFORD ARTS FACTORY – 18+ www.oztix.com.au
Also performing at:
Soundwave 2014 Dates, Tickets
Saturday 22nd February – Brisbane, RNA Showgrounds
Sunday 23rd February – Sydney, Olympic Park
Friday 28th February – Melbourne, Flemington Racecourse
Saturday 1st March – Adelaide, Bonython Park
Monday 3rd March – Perth, Claremont Showgrounds
Tickets on sale via: soundwavefestival.com, oztix.com.au & other outlets
