Holy Wars

June 16, 2010 by Jimmy J  · 3 Comments  

Showcasing the vast vintage t-shirt arsenal of Anthrax, Megadeth, Metallica and Slayer.


Shirt #8: Megadeth, Rust in Peace

Availability: Explore Vintage Megadeth Tees on eBay

Album: Rust in Peace

Date: 1990

Fact: The song “Holy Wars…The Punishment Due” was inspired by a bootleg Megadeth t-shirt Mustaine discovered in Northern Ireland. He decided not to take action against the vendors because they were part of a fund raising campaign for the IRA.

Approximate value: $75-$125



  • James

    Your “fact” for this shirt is incorrect.

    “In April 1988, at a concert in Antrim, Northern Ireland, Mustaine “unknowingly” dedicated the final song to the IRA.[101][102] Before the final song, “Anarchy in the UK”, Mustaine said, “This one’s for the cause!” A fight amongst the audience ensued, as Protestants took offense and, according to Mustaine, the band had to travel in a “bulletproof bus” for the remainder of the tour of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Mustaine later alleged that he had been misled as to the meaning of the expression “the cause” by T-Shirt bootleggers outside the venue where they were performing. This incident served as inspiration for one of Megadeth’s most well-known songs, “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due”.”

  • Jimmy J

    Hmmmmm….two can play the wiki cut and paste game…

    The lyrical theme of “Holy Wars” deals with the Northern Ireland conflict, in which the Catholics were against the Protestants, and Mustaine’s feelings concerning religion.[1] In an interview with the UK magazine Guitarist, Mustaine says that he was inspired to write the song in Northern Ireland, when he discovered bootlegged Megadeth T-shirts were on sale and was dissuaded from taking action to have them removed on the basis that they were part of fund raising activities for “The Cause” (i.e. the Provisional Irish Republican Army).

  • Rojasmatthew97

    Megadeth deserves all the respect from all musical grounds. Metallica is great but is not absolute king,  even though they are another one of the Rock & Roll hall of fame’s members it pretty much would not take them long to be considered “Kings”. Megadeth has done an amazing contribution not only to metal music but to all music and society in general.