Now they have announced their intentions to open up for Motley Crue for the second annual Maximum Rock Tour. Motley Crue  started out heavy but rapidly changed musical directions with their third release "Theater of Pain" by mellowing out their sound and going for the "glam" image that was popular at the time. The glam experiment only latest for the one record, but the Crue has not since released a real metal album.  They acquired a hard rock  sound and image for their fourth album, "Girls, Girls, Girls" and it's largely successful follow up "Dr. Feelgood". Never again would they record new music as heavy as "Shout at the Devil", "Live Wire", "Looks that Kill", or "Bastard". They went as far as to adopt an industrial feel for their self titled release with John Corabi on lead vocals. Needless to say that album was D.O.A. at record stores.

Megadeth on the other hand has not suffered such identity problems. Lead by the ex-metallica axeman Dave Mustaine, Megadeth has continued to put out powerful metal albums. It is true their sound has evolved over the years. But the question remains do they fit in the same mold as Motley Crue in any of the Crue's incarnations? The Crue at their heaviest can't compare to Megadeth at their mellowest moments. Does this tour make sense? Do these two group complement each other's style or sound? Do they even have the same audience?  Does Motley Crue / Megadeth sharing the same stage contain the same logic as a Sex Pistol / Blink-182 bill? We all know what would happen at the later concert. The punkers in attendance would rip the trendy Blink-182 fans to shreds.  Motley Crue's brand of metal compares to Blink-182 brand of punk, it is a pop derivative of the original.  Both bands sell millions of albums to mainstream music fans, but does that appeal naturally cross over to the hard core followers of The Sex Pistols or Megadeth? 

While you ponder this deep and meaningless debate here are the dates of the Motley Crue / Megadeth Maximum Rock Tour.
  6-24, George, Wash., the Gorge
6-26, Sacramento, Calif., Sacramento Valley Amphitheatre
6-27, Concord, Calif., Concord Pavilion
6-29, Phoenix, Desert Sky Pavilion
6-30, Devore, Calif., Blockbuster Pavilion
7-1, Chula Vista, Calif., Coors Amphitheatre
7-3, Universal City, Calif., Universal Amphitheatre
7-5, Salt Lake City, E-Center
7-6, Denver, Red Rocks Amphitheatre
7-8, Albuquerque, N.M., Mesa de Sol
7-9, El Paso, Texas, Don Haskins Center
7-11, Dallas, Starplex Amphitheatre
7-12, San Antonio, Freeman Coliseum
7-14, Monterey, Mexico, Auditorio Coca-Cola
7-15, Mexico City, Mexico, Sports Palace
7-18, Houston, Woodland Pavilion
7-19, New Orleans, Lakefront Arena
7-21, Birmingham, Ala., Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
7-22, Memphis, Tenn., Mud Island Amphitheatre
7-23, Little Rock, Ark., Riverfest Amphitheatre
7-25, Charlotte, N.C., Blockbuster Amphitheatre
7-26, Raleigh, N.C., Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
7-28, West Palm Beach, Fla., Mars Music Amphitheatre
7-29, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Luis Munoz
8-1, Virginia Beach, Va., GTE Amphitheatre
8-2, Washington, D.C., TBA 
8-4, Scranton, Pa., Montage Mountain
8-5, Hartford, Conn., Meadows
8-6, Rochester, N.Y., Finger Lakes PAC
8-7, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., SPAC 
8-9, Boston, Tweeter Center
8-11, Wantagh, N.Y., Jones Beach Amphitheatre
8-12, Holmdel, N.J., PNC Bank Arts Center
8-13, Camden, N.J., E-Center
8-15, Toronto, Molson Amphitheatre
8-16, Detroit, Pine Knob Amphitheatre
8-18, Milwaukee, Alpine Valley 
8-19, Minneapolis, River�s Edge Park
8-20, Chicago, the World
8-22, Kansas City, Mo., Sandstone Amphitheatre
8-23, St. Louis, Mo., Riverport Amphitheatre
8-25, Atlanta, Lakewood Amphitheatre
8-26, Nashville, Tenn., AmSouth Amphitheatre
8-27, Cincinnati, Riverbend Music Center
8-29, Indianapolis, Deer Creek Amphitheatre
8-30, Cleveland, Blossom Music Center
9-1, Columbus, Ohio, Polaris Amphitheatre
9-2, Pittsburgh, Pa., Post-Gazette Star Lake Amphitheatre
The Freak is a new staff writter for antiMUSIC.