megadeth

Megadeth to Rock Beijing, Shanghai Next Month

As long as no photos of the Dalai Lama surface...

Chinese fans will be able to engage in large-scale headbanging as US heavy metal band Megadeth performs in Beijing and Shanghai next month.

Megadeth is set to perform in Beijing on October 6 at the Huiyuan M Zone Center in the Mastercard Center, and in Shanghai on October 8 at the Shanghai Gymnasium, according to the band’s website. However, China Daily reports the venue for the October 8 performance as being the Shanghai Grand Theater, so there’s still some confusion.

This will be the Megadeth’s first appearance in China after having cancelled a 2012 date in Beijing “due to issues with the show license for the venue.”

This fall has seen a number of shows by Western performers get cancelled in China, often at the last minute. The Shanghai tour date for Maroon 5 was mysteriously cancelled as was the Chinese leg of the Bon Jovi tour, both speculated to have to do with the band’s relation to topics regarded as taboo by the Chinese government.

This won’t be China’s first taste of metal music, with Metallica having rocked Shanghai with two shows back in 2012. However, as Megadeth may find out for themselves, there are some songs too metal for the sensitivities of China.

Chinese officials banned Metallica from playing certain songs in China, including Masters of Puppets whose lyrics include “Come crawling faster/Obey your master/Your life burns faster/Obey your master”. Metallica complied with the order, but it didn’t stop guitarist Kirk Hammet from playing the opening riff to Masters of Puppets during the show.

We hope that Chinese metalheads will be able to enjoy an unadulterated Megadeth show, but a cursory glance at the anthology of Megadeth songs reveals there may be some contentious choices. Songs that may be construed as being inharmonious include songs like Peace Sells (But Who’s Buying?), Addicted to Chaos, or even their cover of the Alice Cooper classic No More Mr Nice Guy.

megadeth

Charles Liu

The Nanfang's Senior Editor