On the most recent episode of The David Ellefson Present, TESTAMENT singer Chuck Billy as soon as once more mirrored on his band’s first-ever U.S. enviornment tour, which came about in 1990, with JUDAS PRIEST because the headliner and MEGADETH as extra help. Billy stated, addressing co-host David Ellefson, who was the bassist for MEGADETH through the aforementioned trek (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “Properly, I keep in mind we simply flew in from doing massive tour over in Europe. And I assume the largest reminiscence is the band you performed in. [Laughs] No offense, Dave, however the different Dave [Mustaine, MEGADETH leader]… I do not know should you do not forget that tour… As a result of issues have been rising for us, we had ordered a model new Voelker drum riser constructed on a riser. All these cupboards confirmed up, backdrops. And I do not know should you keep in mind, Dave [Mustaine] pulled them from us all on the beginning of that tour. He’d seen it and he stated we could not use all of that, so we could not use our riser, backdrops and stuff. And my band nudged me on, as a result of day by day Okay.Okay. [Downing, then-PRIEST guitarist] or [Glenn] Tipton [PRIEST guitarist] would are available and say, ‘Hey, you guys good? You guys want something?’ And [my bandmates would] be elbowing me, ‘Dude, say one thing, say one thing.’ I am, like, ‘No, no, no.’ After which sooner or later [they went], like, ‘Dude, simply go discuss to Rob [Halford, PRIEST singer], please.’ So I went in there and I informed Rob what was happening, and that day he was, like, ‘What? That’s ending right this moment.’ And he went in to manufacturing and stated, ‘TESTAMENT will get all the things up there. Get their drums up there, get their backdrops, get all the things up there.’ And once we went on that night time, I do know Dave [Mustaine] was facet stage by the displays — not you, Dave; the opposite Dave — and his arms have been crossed. And he was simply having a match that we have been having all the things once more. And it was loopy, however that was the largest begin of that tour for us. ‘Trigger issues have been beginning to occur, and we have been, like, ‘Oh, man, we simply purchased this massive present to play for JUDAS PRIEST and MEGADETH, man.’ And ultimately we received to make use of it, and it ended up being nice and it was wonderful.”
Billy added: “That was most likely the spotlight, opening up for… Myself, I performed JUDAS PRIEST songs on guitar all by highschool. They have been my greatest heroes ever. And that tour was similar to a dream come true for me.”
Chuck beforehand talked about TESTAMENT‘s 1990 tour with JUDAS PRIEST and MEGADETH throughout a September 2020 look on MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn‘s “No Fuckin’ Regrets With Robb Flynn” podcast. Billy stated on the time: “For the PRIEST tour, we determined we have been gonna spend a while on manufacturing. We purchased a giant, fancy Voelker Rack drum set. We purchased two new scrims, full-on backline — the entire deal. Good-looking present. And we get to the primary present, and Dave Mustaine sees us have it up, and he says we won’t use it. [So] we had a bit downside the primary week of the tour.”
He continued: “I used to be pissed, as a result of we simply spent all this cash, and people have been the times once they have been hand-painted backdrops — these backdrops have been 15, 20 grand; they weren’t low cost then. So we have been, like, ‘We’re popping out to characterize. PRIEST tour in arenas, man. We’re popping out.’ However Dave threw his weight round and stated we won’t use all of our new stuff. So for the primary week, we have been, like, tails between our legs, enjoying. And all the fellows in our band stated, ‘Chuck, you appear to be buddies with Rob [Halford]. Go in there and inform him. He retains telling you guys, ‘For those who guys want something, simply ask.’ Go in there.’ And I might had it. And I stated, ‘ what? I am gonna.’ So, I went in there. It was, like, three or 4 days into the tour. I am going within the [PRIEST] dressing room. I stated, ‘Hey, Rob. You bought a minute? I want to speak to you.’ I am going, ‘I do not know who to speak to, however I am gonna come to you. And if it is your guys’ resolution, hey, I am down with it, however I assumed I might simply carry it up. We purchased all these items for this tour to placed on a pleasant present, and the MEGADETH man says we won’t play, ‘trigger they stated you guys would not allow us to use it.’ And he was, like, ‘What? Who stated that?’ Proper there, he went and received his tour supervisor and stated, ‘Get in right here.’ [Rob] stated, ‘Are you aware something about this? Them not letting TESTAMENT not use their gear?’ [The tour manager] says, ‘No.’ And [Rob] goes, ‘You make sure that tonight they get the rattling gear up there.’ So we had a full-blown present. And who comes sidestage to observe the present? There goes Mr. Mustaine. Mr. Mustaine is standing there, simply pissed off — he simply had that look. And we have been wanting over simply, like, ‘Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, Dave.’ We have been placing it on, throwing it down. And that is how that tour began.”
Billy added: “This was, like, our first step into an enviornment: ‘Oh, man. Perhaps we’re making it. We’re doing it.’ And to get shut down the primary time, we weren’t having it.”
Based on Chuck, it was a “nice” expertise touring with PRIEST for the primary time. “They all the time got here within the dressing room, day by day, and stated, ‘How are you guys doing? Are you guys good? Do you guys want something?'” he stated. “And we have been simply too shy to ask. We did discover out that they actually have been who they have been. They stepped up and made it occur, and we had the complete present the remainder of the tour, man — and [full] sound at that time too.”
On the time of TESTAMENT‘s first tour with JUDAS PRIEST, Billy and his bandmates have been on the street in help of their fourth album, “Souls Of Black”, which was written and recorded over the course of a number of weeks in early 1990.
Final week, TESTAMENT launched “Shadow Folks”, the second single from the band’s upcoming album, “Para Bellum”, which is due on October 10 through Nuclear Blast.
When “Para Bellum” was first introduced in August, it was accompanied by the official music video for the LP’s lead single, “Infanticide A.I.”, directed by Joey Durango.