Dave Mustaine: My hands betray me, not lack of desire to stay
Dave Mustaine, the iconic frontman of Megadeth, recently made a heartbreaking announcement regarding the band’s future. Mustaine revealed that due to a worsening hand condition, Megadeth would be retiring. This revelation comes on the heels of the band’s final studio album release, fittingly titled Megadeth. The album made waves with its closing cover of Metallica’s Ride the Lightning and introduced Finnish virtuoso Teemu Mäntysaari to Megadeth fans.
Mustaine’s hand condition, officially diagnosed as Dupuytren’s contracture or Viking’s Disease, has become increasingly painful, impairing his ability to play guitar. In an interview with Eddie Trunk on SiriusXM’s Trunk Nation, Mustaine opened up about how his health struggles influenced his decision to bring Megadeth’s five-decade run to an end. Despite his love for music and performing, Mustaine admitted that his hands were betraying him, leaving him with no choice but to retire.
As Dupuytren’s contracture is a degenerative condition that worsens over time, Mustaine faces the difficult reality of his guitar-playing days being numbered. However, he is determined to give Megadeth a proper send-off before bowing out. Mustaine emphasized that the band’s farewell tour would not involve a reunion of former members, dismissing the idea of it being a “puppet show.”
Former Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman, who parted ways with the band after a decade, expressed that leaving Megadeth was the best decision he ever made. Mustaine also addressed the strained relationship between him and Metallica’s James Hetfield, shedding light on why they are no longer on speaking terms. Additionally, Mustaine delved into the intricate dynamics of hiring and firing every guitarist in Megadeth’s history in an interview with Guitar World, revealing unexpected insights into the band’s tumultuous journey.
As Megadeth prepares to bid farewell to their fans and the music industry at large, Mustaine’s resilience in the face of chronic pain is admirable. Despite the challenges posed by his hand condition, Mustaine remains committed to delivering a memorable final chapter for Megadeth. With a career spanning five decades and an indelible legacy in the world of heavy metal, Megadeth’s influence on music and its dedicated fan base will endure long after the final notes fade away.