From Rolling Stone · Rolling Stone · · 1m 10s
Dave Mustaine Announces Megadeth Retirement
Dave Mustaine reveals Megadeth's retirement due to hand injury and final tour.
In brief
Dave Mustaine reveals Megadeth's retirement due to hand injury and final tour. Dave Mustaine is retiring Megadeth after his hand injury prevents guitar playing, with final tour and potential live album. Originally reported by Rolling Stone.
Hand Injury
Dave Mustaine showed his hand injury at a New York book launch event, explaining Dupuytren’s contracture prevents him from playing guitar.
“I have an injury to my hand. Some of you can see it.”
Retirement Announcement
Mustaine announced Megadeth would retire after the release of their final studio album in August 2025.
“If there was ever a perfect time to tour the world, it’s now.”
Billboard Success
Megadeth’s final album debuted at Number One on the Billboard 200 after its January 2026 release.
“It’s a great feeling.”
Bittersweet Tour
Mustaine described Megadeth’s final tour as bittersweet, with moments of stage pride and emotional reflection.
“There’s times when we take the stairs in the back, and walking up the stairs... I say, ‘It’s your stage,’ and I go up there and do my job.”
Live Album Possibility
Mustaine suggested recording live tracks from the final tour could form a future live album.
“If we were to want to, say, have some live recordings of us playing songs for the future, it might be a good idea to record a bunch of different live tracks.”
Unreleased Songs
Mustaine mentioned completed songs from the final album with band members James LoMenzo, Teemu Mäntysaari, and Dirk Verbeuren that may become bonus tracks.
“There’s a couple completed songs from the last album with James [LoMenzo, bass], Teemu [Mäntysaari, guitar], and Dirk [Verbeuren, drums], that we did not release yet.”
Lost Book
Mustaine revealed his song history book, Score, was lost when Sanctuary Records went bankrupt.
“That book was written and turned into Sanctuary Records many, many years ago, and Sanctuary went bankrupt.”
The main idea
Dave Mustaine is retiring Megadeth after his hand injury prevents guitar playing, with final tour and potential live album.
