Villena town welcomed a notable moment when a legendary Californian heavy metal act, Megadeth, was honored with a place in the Villena Honor Book during a celebrated festival day. The event highlighted the band’s enduring legacy and its connection to the local audience, with the Villena City Council extending an invitation to the musicians to sign the publication for visiting personalities. The gesture was conveyed through the festival organizer and was warmly accepted by the band, reinforcing the strong ties between Megadeth and the city.
Moments before Megadeth’s appearance at the festival, lead guitarist Dave Mustaine and his longtime collaborators—drummer Dirk Verbeuren and bassist James LoMenzo—met with the mayor in the dressing room. Attending the meeting were Fulgencio Cerdán, a member of the Council for Activities and Events, and Javier Martínez, who accompanied Mark Rubio, to share a few minutes with the musicians.
In a memorable moment, Mustaine signed the book with a personal dedication: “to the mayor of the most beautiful city, Villena!” He added that Megadeth cherished the opportunity to perform for the city and its people, concluding with a blessing for all Villena residents. Verbeuren and LoMenzo also contributed their signatures of appreciation.
The band, invited on multiple occasions to the Leyendas del Rock festival, extended their gratitude by signing the city’s Honor Book in 2019 and expressing a desire to honour the local community.
Megadeth is widely regarded as one of the four premier groups in the history of heavy metal, alongside peers who defined the era with bold, uncompromising sounds. The band originated in Los Angeles in 1983, formed by Dave Mustaine after his departure from Metallica where he had served as lead guitarist.
Throughout its storied career, Megadeth has earned a string of gold and platinum records, with six consecutive platinum achievements in the United States and twelve Grammy Award nominations to date. The ensemble has secured a lasting presence on top-tier charts and has moved more than 38 million records worldwide.