Slayer, Megadeth tour plots ‘American Carnage’ concerts for 2010

A back injury forced Slayer to postpone its fall tour with Megadeth, but both heavy metal troupes will regroup in 2010 for a new co-headlining venture. The American Carnage Tour will launch on January 18 at the WaMu Theater in Seattle, WA, and continues through a February 23 show at the Metro Centre in Halifax, NS.

The bands will visit a total of 26 cities on their upcoming itinerary, though only 25 dates have been announced so far. The trek includes engagements on January 23 at Dodge Theatre in Phoenix, AZ; February 2 at Broadbent Arena in Nashville, TN; and February 14 at Tsognas Arena in Lowell, MA.

The newly announced trek will also feature make-up dates for six Canadian concerts postponed from early November. The Canadian Carnage Tour was sidelined when Slayer bassist and vocalist Tom Araya had to undergo surgery for a performance-related back injury.

A late year tour of the UK and Europe has also been postponed until spring 2010 to allow Araya extra recovery time. “Right now, our main concern must be the full and permanent recovery of Tom,” band manager Rick Sales said in a statement on Slayer’s official Web site, “we we have decided to clear the calendar and give him the extra time he needs to concentrate solely on good health.”

The 2010 outing will be the first U.S. tour for Slayer and Megadeth since their 1991 Clash of the Titans venture. To celebrate the milestone, the upcoming tour will feature support from special guest testament, which also toured with the bands in 1991.

A limited number of tickets for each 2010 concert will also be priced at the special “1991” rate of $10. The first public onsales start November 20, preceded by a Ticketmaster presale that starts at 10 a.m. on November 18.

While Slayer stays off the road pending Araya’s recovery, Megadeth is currently headlining its own U.S. tour, which wraps on December 13 at the House of Blues in Las Vegas, NV. Both bands already completed one leg of their Canadian Carnage Tour at the beginning of 2009, when they visited several western provinces for a handful of shows.

Slayer and Megadeth itinerary:
(Dates are subject to change.)