Metal Band Megadeth Returns to Beijing, Finally Allowed to Play a Full Concert

American thrash metal band Megadeth returned to Beijing last night, 17 months after their concert at Wukesong Arena was cut short after only eight songs.

Playing the much more intimate Star Live Club, original members Dave Mustaine and bassist Dave Ellefson along with recent hires Dick Verbeuren and Brazillian guitarist Kiko Loureiro, shredded their way through a tight 90-minute set to a small but enthusiastic crowd of Chinese and expatriate headbangers.

The band’s first appearance in Beijing in October 2015 ended abruptly after an hour-long set featuring mainly instrumental numbers padded out with extended guitar wankery. Founder and long-time frontman Mustaine only added to the mystery when he told the crowd at Wukesong, “Thank you for leaving so that we can come back and play again.”

Many performers from Harry Connick, Jr. to Metallica have faced restrictions on set lists, lyrics, and the performance of certain songs when playing in China. Mustaine’s comments seemed to insinuate that the not-so-hidden hand of officialdom may have been the reason behind Megadeth’s abbreviated Beijing debut.

Last night, the band played a full set including well-known numbers such as “Peace Sells … But Who’s Buying?” and “Symphony of Destruction” against projected images of demonstrators being attacked by police, futuristic techno-dystopias, and an American flag painted with skulls.

Some in the crowd were surprised that officials allowed the concert go forward during this period of Belt and Road Forum (#BARF) nuttiness.

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At the end of the show, Mustaine took to the microphone to address the controversy surrounding the band’s Wukesong concert, thanking the government for finally allowing them to play a full set this time. He also seemed to suggest that intra-band problems contributed to the bizarre show two years ago, telling the crowd that “some people in the band [at the time] kept them from playing as well as they could.”

Megadeth begins the Japan leg of their tour on Wednesday.

Photo: Jeremiah Jenne