Megadeth and the Boys & Girls Club Of America aren't two names you normally associate with each other; however, good causes make for strange bedfellows.

The speed-metal band (along with its label, Capitol Records, and Electric Artists at Yahoo.com) has just launched a charity auction to benefit the organization.

In order to help make the holiday season a better one for children in need, Megadeth has put an autographed guitar, a limited edition comic book, and tickets and backstage passes to upcoming shows on the auction block. Making the deal even sweeter, Capitol has agreed to match the total donation dollar for dollar.

The auction is located at auctions.yahoo.com. At press time, the most popular item being auctioned is by far the signed guitar, which has a bid of $720; there are ten more days left to bid on the instrument.

Megadeth leader Dave Mustaine has a history

of working with the Boys & Girls Club Of America; he has previously volunteered for the Phoenix chapter of that organization, working as a mentor. He also donated his winnings from his appearance on VH1's "Rock And Roll Jeopardy" to the charity.

In other Megadeth news, the band has announced a new string of tour dates, which will take them through mid-December. The band is also eyeing a New Year's Eve show in Mustaine's home of Phoenix, but that date is still tentative. Here are the band's confirmed dates with Static-X and Loudmouth:

• 10/29 - Kansas City, MO @ Kansas City International Raceway
• 10/30 - Dallas, TX @ Freakers Ball
• 10/31 - Wichita, KS @ Cotillion
• 11/2 - Toledo, OH @ Toledo Sports Arena
• 11/3 - Akron, OH @ Akron Civic Theatre
• 11/5 - Montreal, QC @ Metropolis
• 11/6 - Toronto, ON @ Warehouse
• 11/7 - Detroit, MI @ State Theatre
• 11/9 - Grand Rapids, MI @ DeVos Hall
• 11/10 - Indianapolis, IN @ Mural Centre

IN @ Victory Theatre