As previously reported, ROADRUNNER RECORDS has closed their UK, Canadian and German offices. Regarding their U.S. team, some of their top staff members have been dismissed but the U.S. office will remain open. One of the RR workers who we was let go was Monte Conner, the companies Senior Vice President of A&R. A man who single handily shaped the sound of 90's Heavy Music.
After the announcement above surfaced, the big question was which bands would stay or leave the label?
This just in Blabbermouth.net: MEGADETH has decided that they will not be re-signing with Roadrunner Records for the follow-up to last year's 'TH1RT3EN'. This is what Dave Mustaine Tweeted:
"Today [Sunday, December 9] marks the end of an era with Roadrunner @RRUSA. Hopefully we can finish strong with a #Grammy."
MEGADETH has released three studio albums through Roadrunner: 2007's 'United Abominations', 2009's 'Engame' and the aforementioned 'TH1RT3EN'.
In 2009, Mustaine blasted Roadrunner in an online post, writing, "Kudos, Roadrunner, the is the first worldwide critically acclaimed record by the press, and the fans, and you just can't seem to get this right. This is the first time that everyone likes a record of mine, and you can't get us on the radio or into the stores.
"I can't tell you how many stores I go into while on tour and I see nothing. And all I hear from [Roadrunner] is, 'We are committed to the record.'
"My ass."
A year later, Mustaine wrote, "We're getting ready to start the next MEGADETH record in January and the funny thing is my manager is telling me now how Roadrunner is going out of their way now to try and give me this new huge deal, and I just don't want it. I don't want it. The treatment's been terrible over the years, and I just don't want it. I would rather retire than continue to play like that. Either we're gonna release digitally or [see] what happens next. We've got this last record [that we owe to] Roadrunner [as part of our current contract]; it's gonna be a great record 'cause the songs are really, really good. 'Cause I don't want my side of the bargain to be tainted — I wanna be a gentleman and be respectful and deliver my side of the deal, whether or not the other party has or not."
As we all know, or should know, MEGADETH is celebrating 20 years since the release of their 'Countdown To Extinction' album while on a worldwide tour. The celebration of the recording of their groundbreaking album continues!
Recently, Rachtman called out Mustaine for treating him differently depending on the situation. When Mustaine and Rachtman would hang out, Mustaine acted like a friend. But when Mustaine was alone, he would talk smack about Rachtman in public (read more HERE).
Since we all love to hear about Mustaine's controversial ways, we decided to get Rachtman on the phone and let him explain exactly what happened. During a very honest interview, all of a sudden we started discussing the untimely death of "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott (whose 8th death anniversary is today) and the connection of such a horrible incident with the current legal battle that LAMB OF GOD's Randy Blythe is currently facing.
Without further due, here is our exclusive interview with Riki Rachtman.
Related links:
Megadeth's Official Site
Megadeth on Facebook
Megadeth on Twitter
Roadrunner Records
