Dave Mustaine has shed new light on how Megadeth’s recently announced farewell chapter came into focus and according to Mustaine, it wasn’t the result of a long-planned decision or dramatic turning point.
Megadeth‘s upcoming self-titled album due January 23, 2026 is available for pre-order here.
In a new interview with Spain’s MariskalRockTV, Mustaine explained that the idea surfaced naturally while the band was in the studio working on what will become Megadeth’s final album. Rather than a formal declaration of retirement, the moment arrived quietly during an especially difficult stretch of recording.
“I didn’t decide,” Mustaine said when asked if there was a specific moment that triggered the announcement. “It just came up.”
Mustaine described mounting physical pain during the sessions, citing worsening symptoms of Dupuytren’s contracture, a condition that causes the fingers to curl inward along with severe arthritis in his hands. The combination, he explained, has made playing increasingly painful and unpredictable.
“My hands were hurting really bad,” Mustaine said, noting visible changes in his fingers and joints. “All those bumps make it really painful to play.”
While Dupuytren’s contracture has no known cure, treatments can slow its progression. Mustaine acknowledged that surgery remains an option, but said he has chosen to wait until it becomes absolutely necessary.
“If I try it now and it sets me back, that would’ve been a bad decision,” he explained. “If I wait until it’s really causing a problem and it doesn’t work, then at least I’ve toured everywhere and said farewell properly.”
Mustaine echoed similar sentiments earlier this month during an appearance on SiriusXM’s Trunk Nation, where he emphasized that the farewell decision was rooted in his commitment to performing at the highest level possible. Alongside hand issues, he cited arthritis, bulging discs, and past spinal fusion surgery as contributing factors.
“I always said when I couldn’t give a hundred percent every night, that’s when I’d start thinking about winding down,” he said.
Despite the physical challenges, Mustaine stressed that Megadeth was still able to complete the upcoming album at a level he’s proud of. Still, the uncertainty sparked deeper conversations with management, bandmates, and family conversations that ultimately clarified the band’s future direction.
Megadeth also recently announced they’re teaming up with Trafalgar Releasing for a worldwide cinema screening of the new Megadeth new film Megadeth: Behind The Mask. The film will hit over 1,000 screens worldwide on January 22, 2026. Tickets: On sale now via www.megadethfilm.com and Fandango.
Megadeth’s This Was Our Life farewell tour is currently slated to begin in 2026, with Mustaine indicating the tour could extend several years to allow fans around the world a final opportunity to see the band live.
1/17 La Vergne, TN Let There Be Shred: Immersive Listening Event
2/15 Victoria, BC Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
2/17 Abbotsford, BC Rogers Forum
2/18 Kelowna, BC Prospera Place
2/20 Calgary, AB Scotiabank Saddledome
2/21 Edmonton, AB Rogers Place
2/24 Saskatoon, SK SaskTel Centre
2/25 Winnipeg, MB Canada Life Centre
2/28 London, ON Canada Life Place
3/1 Ottawa, ON Canadian Tire Centre
3/3 Halifax, NS Scotiabank Centre
3/4 Moncton, NB Avenir Centre
3/6 Québec City, QC Videotron Centre
4/23 Lima, Peru Costa 21
4/26 Bogotá, Colombia Movistar Arena
4/27 Bogotá, Colombia Movistar Arena
4/30 Buenos Aires, Argentina TBD
5/10 Mexico City, Mexico Arena Ciudad de Mexico
5/11 Mexico City, Mexico Arena Ciudad de Mexico
5/13 Guadalajara, Mexico Arena Guadalajara
5/2 São Paulo, Brazil Espaco Unimed
5/4 Santiago, Chile Movistar Arena
5/5 Santiago, Chile Movistar Arena
5/8 Monterrey, Mexico Arena Monterrey
6/10 Hradec Králové, Czechia Rock For People – Park 360
6/11 Luxembourg, LUX Rockhal
6/14 Ferrara, Italy Ferrara Summer Festival – Piazza Ariostea
6/15 Zurich, SWI Halle 622
6/16 Vienna, AUT Gasometer
6/2 Hanover, Germany Heinz von Heiden Arena
6/23 Istanbul, TUR KüçükÇiftlik Park
6/26 Helsinki, Finland Suvilahti – TUSKA
6/28 Almaty, KAZ Spartak Stadium
6/7 Gelsenkirchen, GER Amphitheater
8/29 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena
8/30 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena
9/11 Bristow, VA Jiffy Lube Live
9/12 Charlotte, NC PNC Music Pavilion
9/15 Hershey, PA Hersheypark Stadium
9/19 Shakopee, MN Mystic Lake Amphitheater
9/22 Tinley Park, IL Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
9/25 Los Angeles, CA BMO Stadium
9/26 Los Angeles, CA BMO Stadium
9/29 San Antonio, TX Alamodome
9/3 Montréal, QC Parc Jean Drapeau
9/5 Harrison, NJ Sports Illustrated Stadium
9/6 Harrison, NJ Sports Illustrated Stadium
9/9 Boston, MA TD Garden
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