Kiko Loureiro on Megadeth: “I thought bringing Marty Friedman back would be amazing”

In a recent interview with Guitar World magazine, former Megadeth guitarist Kiko Loureiro said he recommended to Dave Mustaine that he be replaced by Marty Friedman, who once held the position. Finnish guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari, who was welcomed into the band last November after first temporarily filling in for Loureiro, was then announced as the replacement.

Loureiro said:

Actually, I even mentioned to management and Dave that I thought bringing Marty Friedman back would be amazing. I have no idea if they’re talking about it or talking to him, but I did say that. But again, I have no idea beyond that, and I don’t want to make anything more complicated.

He then spoke about Megadeth fans:

The fans never said anything bad about me or complained, which was amazing. But I’m a fan, and I always understood that Marty was a part of those iconic albums like ‘Rust In Peace’ and ‘Countdown To Extinction’. I understood that Marty was the guy who helped create that sound and style, you know? From the moment I joined Megadeth, I knew the fans could show me love, but I would never win their hearts over Marty.