Dave Mustaine of Megadeth states once again that he will keep on performing until he can

Dave Mustaine, the leader of Megadeth, discussed the creation of the band’s latest self-titled album in a recent interview with Primordial Radio host Dewsbury, as per Blabbermouth. The album was released late last month under the band’s Tradecraft imprint on Frontiers Label Group’s new BLKIIBLK label.

We went into the studio and we just started writing. And we said, ‘Okay, guys, let’s write. And whenever we have the right amount of songs, we’ll know.’ So we got to, I think it was 15 or 16 ideas, and we’ve got a lot of really good tracks out of the recording. The main album comes out with 10 tracks and then of my version of ‘Ride The Lightning’ circa 2026. And we also have a song called ‘Nobody’s Hero’. One called ‘Farewell, My Love’, another one called ‘Bloodlust’. And I think that’s it for the additional tracks.

Dave went on to explain why so many bonus songs were necessary.

Whenever you make records, you gotta have an additional track for Japan, because Japan had a terrible thing that used to happen a long time ago for artists where the fans there would go and rent the record from a music store and they would record it at home. So it would affect your sales figures and your tracking numbers for the record business. So you don’t really get the awards that you deserve in some of these countries that have these crazy methods for charting and tracking records. Because I don’t care what anybody says — it is competition. That’s why the chart has numbers on it. If it had flowers or something like that, I would say, ‘Whatever.’ But when you’re all vying for that Number One spot, don’t tell me it’s not competition. And at least if you’re worth your salt, you should compete with your former self.

Additionally, Mustaine reiterated that Megadeth had to quit due to his deteriorating hand health. Due to his Dupuytren’s contracture, also referred to as Viking’s Disease, he is unable to play his guitar to the fullest extent of his abilities, which is why he decided to declare that Megadeth will be going on its final tour.

The injury on my hand, it is progressive. You can see it right there [on my left hand] — there’s a line going across my palm right there. That’s, called Dupuytren contracture and it’s basically gonna pull my finger down like this, where I won’t be able to play. So the answer to your question [about how long the farewell tour is going to be] is, yeah, when I can’t play anymore, I won’t. I’m not gonna stop before I can’t. And I don’t know how long it’s gonna take for this disease to progress. My pinky and this finger on one side’s numb. My thumb’s numb on [the right] side. That’s all from having my neck broken and having it fused together, ’cause I have a piece of metal in my neck with screws holding the two vertebrae together. And consequently, I’ve got numbness in my hand. I mean, what else can I possibly have happen to my hands?

Upcoming shows:

• February 15 – Victoria, BC  – Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
• February 17 – Abbotsford, BC  – Rogers Forum
• February 18 – Kelowna, BC – Prospera Place
• February 20 – Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome
• February 21 – Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place
• February 24 – Saskatoon, SK – SaskTel Centre
• February 25 – Winnipeg, MB – Canada Life Centre
• February 28 – London, ON – Canada Life Place
• March 01 – Ottawa, ON – Canadian Tire Centre
• March 03 – Halifax, NS – Scotiabank Centre
• March 04 – Moncton, NB – Avenir Centre
• March 06 – Québec, QC – Videotron Centre
• April 23 – Lima, PER – Costa 21 
• April 25 – Bogota, COL – Movistar Arena 
• April 27 – Bogota, COL – Movistar Arena 
• April 30 – Buenos Aires, ARG 
• May 02 – Sao Paulo, BRA – Espaco Unimed 
• May 05 – Santiago, CHL – Movistar Arena 
• May 06 – Santiago, CHL – Movistar Arena 
• May 08 – Monterrey, MEX – Arena Monterrey 
• May 10 – Mexico City, MEX – Arena Ciudad de Mexico 
• May 13 – Guadalajara, MEX – Arena Guadalajara
• June 07 – Gelsenkirchen, Germany 
• June 10 – Hradec Kralove, CZE – Rock For People 
• June 11 – Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg 
• June 14 – Ferrara, ITA – Ferrara Summer Festival 
• June 15 – Zurich, Switzerland June 16 – Vienna, Austria 
• June 23 – Istanbul, Türkiye 
• June 26 – Helsinki, FIN – Tuska Open Air Metal Festival 
• June 28 – Almaty, Kazakhstan
• August 29 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena (With Iron Maiden)
• August 30 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena (With Iron Maiden)
• September 03 – Montréal, QC – Parc Jean-Drapeau (with Anthrax) (With Iron Maiden)
• September 05 – Harrison, NJ – Sports Illustrated Stadium (with Anthrax) (With Iron Maiden)
• September 09 – Boston, MA – TD Garden (With Iron Maiden)
• September 11 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live (With Iron Maiden)
• September 12 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion (With Iron Maiden)
• September 15 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium (With Iron Maiden)
• September 19 – Shakopee, MN – Mystic Lake Amphitheater (With Iron Maiden)
• September 22 – Chicago, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre (With Iron Maiden)
• September 25 – Los Angeles, CA – BMO Stadium (with Anthrax) (With Iron Maiden)
• September 26 – Los Angeles, CA – BMO Stadium (with Anthrax) (With Iron Maiden)
• September 29 – San Antonio, TX – Alamodome (with Anthrax) (With Iron Maiden)