MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine has posted the following "open letter" on the band's official web site:

"METALLICA, as you know, has been selected to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. So, it is with much respect that I say congratulations!

"I also had the nice surprise of hearing that they called to invite me to the pre-ceremony party the night before, and then to the actual ceremony. Unfortunately, as you all know, I will be winding down our European tour with JUDAS PRIEST, so I will be unable to attend. However, I'd like to say to Lars (Ulrich) and James (Hetfield), I am so very proud of all you have accomplished. I will continue to pray for the very best for you and your families, as I always have.

"Thank you for the invitation and thinking of me."

MEGADETH's "Priest Feast" European tour with JUDAS PRIEST and TESTAMENT is scheduled to wrap on March 23 in Amsterdam, Holland.

METALLICA will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during an April 4 ceremony at Cleveland's Public Hall.

In a late 2008 interview with Rolling Stone magazine about the band's nomination for induction, Hetfield was asked who will be onstage with METALLICA when they get inducted. "Everyone that played on a record should be there," he said. "You're considered for the Hall 25 years after your first recording, not after you formed." After being told that this would omit Dave Mustaine, Hetfield replied, "He wasn't on a record. Jason Newsted [former METALLICA bassist] should be up there — he was in the band for 14 years and played on quite a few records. And so should Robert [Trujillo; current METALLICA bassist]." Asked if it will be weird to be there with Jason, Hetfield said, "There's no reason for it to be weird. We don't want to be part of the soap opera of the Hall of Fame. Everybody wants a train wreck, like with BLONDIE onstage arguing over crap [in 2006]. That really cheapens the moment."