Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine has addressed questions surrounding the band’s long-term future, his health, and what retirement ultimately means to him, making it clear that his exit from the stage will be decided by necessity rather than choice.
The comments were made during a question-and-answer session held on Saturday, January 17, from Nashville, Tennessee, where Mustaine was joined by fellow Megadeth members Teemu Mäntysaari, James Lomenzo, and Dirk Verbeuren. The discussion was hosted by SiriusXM personality Jose Mangin and streamed via Megadeth’s YouTube channel and TalkShopLive’s “Rock ’N’ Roll Channel.”
When asked how long the band’s previously announced “farewell” tour could realistically continue, Mustaine pointed to his ongoing battle with Dupuytren contracture, a condition that affects the mobility of his fingers.
“I don’t know, honestly, because the condition of my hand is, right now I can still play, but it’s progressing. So, I don’t know about that part. As far as us being willing to play, I’ll play as long as I can, and I hope it’s a while,” he said (as trancribed by Blabbermouth).
Mustaine admitted that the possibility of continuing without personally performing has crossed his mind — and it’s not a scenario he’s comfortable with.
“The crazy thing [is] I’ve been thinking about what would I do if we had a tour booked and I just couldn’t play anymore and I had to ask somebody to play for me, what that would be like. And I didn’t like the idea. It’s not me. And I’m gonna play until the last second, and when I can’t, that’s when I’m gonna stop.”
Beyond touring, Mustaine also shared an update on his writing projects, clarifying how they relate to his earlier autobiography. While his recent book “Rust In Peace: The Inside Story Of The Megadeth Masterpiece” focused on a specific era, he explained that it was never intended as a continuation of his original memoir.
“We’ve had another book that came out [‘Rust In Peace: The Inside Story Of The Megadeth Masterpiece’], which was about the making of Rust In Peace, which was something a lot of people had come up to me and asked me about that record in particular because it is a pivotal record for the metal community. And I’m happy to have been part of it, and if I wasn’t part of it, I would be a huge fan of it. [But that book was] not really an addition on my memoir; it was just a isolated period that I went into more depth.”
Mustaine then revealed that a new, deeply personal book has already been completed and submitted to publishers.
“And now I do have something that I finished and we turned it in and the publishers are very happy with how it is right now. It’s called ‘In My Darkest Hour’, and it’s about my cancer treatment [after I was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma at the back of my tongue in 2019] and what it was like and how much I drew strength from you [the fans].”
The book also documents the period during which Megadeth were recording The Sick, The Dying…And The Dead!, a time Mustaine described as especially challenging.
“We were in the middle of making [Megadeth’s last album] The Sick, The Dying…And The Dead! at the same time, so how difficult that was for me and how much strength and support I got from the band and the other people that were part of the team.”
While acknowledging the commercial success of his previous books, Mustaine stressed that numbers are no longer the motivation.
“So far, my first two books were bestsellers. I mean, I don’t really care about having to sell and get numbers. I just wanna be able to have that story get out there and help people that may be afraid, they may get a diagnosis and think, ‘F**k, I’m gonna die.’”
He added that his mindset shifted quickly after his diagnosis.
“’Cause that’s kind of what I thought. And then a few minutes later I thought to myself, ‘I’m f**king Dave Mustaine.’ And I tackled it like everything else that I do, and I wanna be able to share my experience, strength and help with any of you that ever gets sick and need someone.”
As for when readers can expect In My Darkest Hour to arrive, Mustaine said the project is nearing the final stages.
“I don’t know when it’s is coming out, but all the clearances are done now, and I just saw the cover on it and I kind of liked it, but I’m not sure yet. So that’s one of the last things. And then it’s gonna run through the attorneys, and then the attorneys look at it and go, ‘You can’t say that, because that’s an invasion of privacy.’ [And I say], ‘But I’ve talked about that for 40 years.’ [And they respond], ‘Well, we’re attorneys and we’ve gotta come up with a reason to take your money.’”
“In My Darkest Hour” is being co-written with Joe Layden, a New York Times journalist who previously collaborated with Mustaine on his autobiography “Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir”, as well as with original Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley on “No Regrets: A Rock ’N’ Roll Memoir”. Layden also penned “The Last Great Fight”, which explores what many regard as the biggest upset in boxing history: James “Buster” Douglas’ tenth-round knockout victory over Mike Tyson in 1990.
Official “In My Darkest Hour” book description, courtesy of Da Capo, is as follows:
“From King of Metal Dave Mustaine, a powerful reflection on the harsh truths and raw realizations that can only come from confronting death.”
“Dave Mustaine is no stranger to pain and suffering. He battled demons all his life — including an alcoholic father, addiction, and black magic — and turned fifty-eight believing he’d survived the worst. But in 2019, Mustaine was forced to face the loss of his instantly recognizable voice and the disintegration of his musical talent. Diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma at the back of his tongue, his entire career — and possibly his life — was about to end.”
“For Mustaine, it was one more opportunity to fight like hell.”
“‘In My Darkest Hour’ takes readers from the treatment room to the studio as Mustaine chronicles how his diagnosis inspired him to take up the pen and guitar pick, going from radiation and chemotherapy appointments straight into hours-long recording sessions, resulting in Megadeth‘s sixteenth studio album, The Sick, The Dying…And The Dead!. Along the way, Mustaine details how confronting his own mortality brought him closer to his family, taught him how to ask for help, strengthened his faith, and challenged the vulnerability of his art.”
“Filled with perseverance, hope, and the determination to never let the bast*rds grind you down, ‘In My Darkest Hour’ is a masterful portrait of a Dave Mustaine that the world has yet to see, and serves as a moving reminder that even our most invincible heroes are human.”
