Megadeth recently confirmed that they would reunite onstage with former lead guitarist Marty Friedman for a one-off show in Tokyo, as the band kicks off its 2023 world tour on Feb. 27 at the legendary Nippon Budokan arena. It has been 23 years since Friedman left Megadeth in 2000, following their 1999 album, Risk.
Said frontman Dave Mustaine: “Marty and I have remained friends over 23 years, since we last played together. However, I hear his music every night, and he still is among the top guitar players I’ve ever heard. This is an amazing treat for the fans, as well as myself. To be honest, I may drift off while listening to [Megadeth’s] Kiko [Loureiro] and Marty play together!”
Friedman is an accomplished solo artist who has lived in Japan for many years. In 2016, he was named Japan Heritage ambassador, and he recently shared his own official Japan Heritage theme song. Friedman shared news of the reunion in Japanese media, writing: “Megadeth, the band I used to play in, will play live at Budokan. Believe it or not, I’m gonna jam with them! … It’s gonna be a miraculously special night.”
Megadeth’s Budokan show on Feb. 27 will also air as the global livestream, They Only Come Out at Night. The livestream will begin at 4:00 a.m. ET / 1:00 a.m PT on February 27th, with advance tickets available for $15 here. For tickets to all of Megadeth’s upcoming shows, head here.
Megadeth to Perform with Guitarist Marty Friedman for First Time in 23 Years
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