Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine lands No. 4 on bestseller list with cancer memoir “In My Darkest Hour”

Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine’s new memoir, “In My Darkest Hour”, has debuted at No. 4 on the New York Times hardcover nonfiction bestseller list. The book was released on September 8, 2026 through Grand Central Publishing’s Da Capo imprint and was co-written with author Joe Layden.

The memoir follows Mustaine’s battle with tongue cancer after his diagnosis in 2019, including the physical and emotional toll of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. It also documents how he continued working on Megadeth‘s 2022 album “The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!” while undergoing treatment.

Mustaine previously discussed the memoir with Chaoszine

During a June 2026 interview with Chaoszine, Mustaine explained that he was diagnosed just as the band were beginning work on the record. With his future uncertain, he was determined to continue making music rather than abandon a project that could have become his final album.

“I didn’t want to stop recording in case it was my last record, in case I died.”

He also spoke about the difficulty of reconstructing events for the book because chemotherapy had affected his memory. The experience, which he described as frightening, became an important part of the story he wanted to tell.

Mustaine has said that he hopes his account will encourage people facing similarly serious illnesses. Beyond the medical treatment itself, the memoir explores the support he received from family and bandmates, his relationship with faith and his efforts to remain creative during a period of profound uncertainty.

Another chart success for the Megadeth leader

“In My Darkest Hour” is Mustaine’s third book. His 2010 autobiography “Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir” previously reached No. 15 on the same hardcover nonfiction bestseller list. In 2020, he published “Rust In Peace: The Inside Story Of The Megadeth Masterpiece”, focusing on the making of the band’s landmark 1990 album.

The literary milestone comes during a significant year for Megadeth. The band’s self-titled 2026 album became their first to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and the group are currently undertaking a multi-year farewell tour. Mustaine’s latest book looks back on a chapter of his life in which his health, family and music were closely intertwined.

Upcoming shows:

• Saturday, November 07, 2026 – Spark Arena, Auckland, New Zealand
• Sunday, November 08, 2026 – Spark Arena, Auckland, New Zealand
• Wednesday, November 11, 2026 – Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, Australia
• Friday, November 13, 2026 – AAMI Park, Melbourne, Australia
• Sunday, November 15, 2026 – Allianz Stadium, Sydney, Australia
• Wednesday, November 18, 2026 – Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Australia
• Thursday, November 19, 2026 – Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Australia
• Monday, February 22, 2027 – Grand Cube, Osaka, Japan
• Wednesday, February 24, 2027 – Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan
• Thursday, February 25, 2027 – Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan
• Tuesday, March 09, 2027 – The SSE Arena, Belfast, United Kingdom
• Thursday, March 11, 2027 – OVO Arena Wembley, London, United Kingdom
• Friday, March 12, 2027 – Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham, United Kingdom
• Saturday, March 13, 2027 – Co-op Live, Manchester, United Kingdom
• Monday, March 15, 2027 – Utilita Arena, Cardiff, United Kingdom
• Tuesday, March 16, 2027 – OVO Hydro, Glasgow, United Kingdom
• Thursday, March 18, 2027 – bp pulse LIVE, Birmingham, United Kingdom
• Friday, March 19, 2027 – First Direct Arena, Leeds, United Kingdom
• Sunday, March 21, 2027 – Zénith Paris – La Villette, Paris, France
• Tuesday, March 23, 2027 – Forest National, Brussels, Belgium
• Wednesday, March 24, 2027 – AFAS Live, Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Thursday, March 25, 2027 – Mitsubishi Electric HALLE, Düsseldorf, Germany
• Saturday, March 27, 2027 – K.B. Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark
• Sunday, March 28, 2027 – Oslo Spektrum, Oslo, Norway
• Tuesday, March 30, 2027 – Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany
• Thursday, April 01, 2027 – Velodrom, Berlin, Germany
• Friday, April 02, 2027 – Tauron Arena, Krakow, Poland
• Sunday, April 04, 2027 – Zenith, Munich, Germany
• Monday, April 05, 2027 – Festhalle Bern, Bern, Switzerland
• Tuesday, April 06, 2027 – Unipol Forum, Milan, Italy
• Thursday, April 08, 2027 – Halle Tony Garnier, Lyon, France
• Saturday, April 10, 2027 – Olimpic Arena, Barcelona, Spain
• Monday, April 12, 2027 – Movistar Arena, Madrid, Spain
• Tuesday, April 13, 2027 – Sagres Campo Pequeno, Lisbon, Portugal