48 Dec 26th, 2024-Jan 1st, 2025 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | 4. Megadeth legend Dave Mustaine talks life in Phoenix before concert Iconic frontman and guitarist Dave Mustaine had plenty to say to Phoenix New Times over the summer while promoting Megadeth’s concert at Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre in August. The metal legend candidly discussed his 12-year stint living in the Valley (“It was too hot for me”), dealing with haters (“You just have to learn to avoid them”) and his feelings about other musicians (“I get kind of bored with some people’s songwriting”). Mustaine also talked up his battles with throat cancer and substance abuse, the meaning behind the songs on Megadeth’s most recent record, “The Sick, The Dying … And The Dead!” 3. Tool’s Maynard James Keenan on life, music and turning 60 Maynard James Keenan didn’t hold back when speaking with New Times ahead of his Sessanta birthday tour stop at Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre in April. He took aim at concertgoers glued to their phones, saying, “You’re annoying the person behind you. They shouldn’t have to watch the show through your phone.” Keenan was equally frank about his secrets to success: “At this age, I’ve figured out you have to put the work in.” He also credited his tireless work ethic, adding, “I’ve kind of figured out ways to do things with, yeah, efficiency.” 2. Graham Central Station: A look back at Phoenix’s legendary nightclub Back in the early ’80s, Valley residents flocked to the original Graham Central Station in Phoenix. The 440,000-square- foot honky-tonk, dance joint and venue near 33rd Avenue and Indian School Road was Arizona’s largest nightclub and boasted enormous dance floors, two stages, multiple bars, a mechanical bull and an arcade. While country music reigned — acts like Hank Williams Jr., George Jones, and Reba McEntire performed there — it also hosted future icons like Adam Ant, Oingo Boingo, Paul Reubens, and “Weird” Al Yankovic. A hub for nightlife and enter- tainment, Graham Central Station holds a special place in the hearts of old-school locals, making our July retrospective on its legacy a hit with readers. 1. Then and now: 25 legendary Scottsdale nightclubs and venues Scottsdale bars and nightclubs tend to come and go, but some stick around long enough to leave lasting memories. The city’s famed entertainment district has continually evolved over the decades, replacing older spots with newer, bigger and flashier options for clubgoers and music fans. Back in September, we took a look back at some of Scottsdale’s most legendary bars, clubs and venues from the past 30-plus years, such as iconic dance havens like The Works and Sanctuary and such concert spots as The Rogue Bar and Martini Ranch. It packed enough nostalgia that you could practically smell the Axe Body Spray. Metal legend Dave Mustaine. (Photo by Travis Shinn) An exterior photo of the original Graham Central Station in Phoenix from June 1984. (Photo by Jon “Bermuda” Schwartz) Maynard James Keenan of Tool. (Photo by Jim Louvau) Hit Parade from p 46
