Vic Rattlehead Appears Onstage with Megadeth

Much like Iron Maiden and Eddie, Megadeth has long been associated with Vic Rattlehead. Both characters are mascots of sorts for their respective bands and not many bands have them. In the case of the former, Eddie has appeared on all of Maiden's album cover and has come to be a much celebrated part of their live set, as a man on stilts in an Eddie suit appears on stage with the band during their perpetual set closer "Iron Maiden." It is a moment that always brings cheers. However, we are not here to hear about Maiden.



The first handful of Megadeth releases featured Vic Rattlehead, a character with a skull for a head adorned with a metal visor and other chains and such. I have read that Megadeth frontman had originally designed the figure for a tattoo, but he decided against the ink and the character came to represent the band. Then he disappeared from the cover beginning with 1992's Countdown to Extinction. Sure, he was on the back, but it isn't the same. Vic would not appear again until 2001's The World Needs a Hero. He would then appear on a few subsequent releases.

Now Vic Rattlehead has made the jump off the cover and onto the sage, appearing live and in person much like Eddie at the Maiden shows. He was greeted with cheers and Dave Mustaine has promised he will appear again.

I am not sure what to think of this. Why do it at this point in their career? Are they trying to bite off of Iron Maiden? No, I don't think so. I sincerely think this is just a treat for the fans that Mustaine is trying out. I kind of like it and would like it more if they came to my town again. Anyway, this first appearance was caught on cell phone video from their show in Cleveland, OH, on August 18, 2010. His emergence came during the song "Dawn Patrol." See it below:





Article first published as Vic Rattlehead Appears Onstage with Megadeth on Blogcritics.