If all good things must come to an end, it’s better to go out on your own terms.
Megadeth, founded in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine after being fired from Metallica, is officially calling it quits. The band will release one final album and embark on one last tour in 2026.
The announcement was made in a video released on the band’s YouTube channel, where Mustaine’s “alter ego”, Vic Rattlehead, and longtime band mascot spoke for the first time. Mustaine, 63, himself also released a statement with a bit a reflection on the band’s 42-year history.
“There’s so many musicians that have come to the end of their career, whether accidental or intentional,” the musician says. “Most of them don’t get to go out on their own terms on top, and that’s where I’m at in my life right now. I have traveled the world and have made millions upon millions of fans, and the hardest part of all of this is saying goodbye to them.”
Mustaine went on to say that if there was ever a perfect time for the band to release an album, it’s now. Megadeth’s 17th and final album, first since 2022, is still awaiting a release date. Signing off, the musician gives a salute to everyone in and around the band’s history.
“We have done something together that’s truly wonderful and will probably never happen again,” he concludes. “We started a musical style, we started a revolution, we changed the guitar world and how it’s played, and we changed the world. The bands I played in have influenced the world. I love you all for it. Thank you for everything.”
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Murjani Rawls may be reached at mrawls@njadvancemedia.com
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