Megadeth announce they are retiring: 'Don't be sad, be happy for us all' (The Guardian)

[highplainsdem]

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/aug/15/megadeth-announce-they-are-retiring-dont-be-sad-be-happy-for-us-all

Call it a symphony for dissolution. American thrash metal giants Megadeth have announced they are retiring and that their forthcoming album will be their last. They will also embark on a farewell tour in 2026.

“There’s so many musicians that have come to the end of their career, whether accidental or intentional,” Megadeth founder and frontman Dave Mustaine shared in a statement on Thursday. “Most of them don’t get to go out on their own terms on top, and that’s where I’m at in my life right now.

“I have traveled the world and have made millions upon millions of fans and the hardest part of all of this is saying goodbye to them.”

Mustaine and the band have yet to reveal the final album’s title, release date or the band’s remaining tour dates, but shared a video.

-snip-

The full statemenr, from their website:

https://www.megadeth.com/blogs/news/final-album-global-farewell-tour

“There's so many musicians that have come to the end of their career, whether accidental or intentional. Most of them don't get to go out on their own terms on top, and that's where I'm at in my life right now. I have traveled the world and have made millions upon millions of fans and the hardest part of all of this is saying goodbye to them.


We can't wait for you to hear this album and see us on tour. If there was ever a perfect time for us to put out a new album, it's now. If there was ever a perfect time to tour the world, it's now. This is also a perfect time for us to tell you that it's our last studio album. We've made a lot of friends over the years and I hope to see all of you on our global farewell tour. Don't be mad, don't be sad, be happy for us all, come celebrate with me these next few years. We have done something together that's truly wonderful and will probably never happen again. We started a musical style, we started a revolution, we changed the guitar world and how it's played, and we changed the world. The bands I played in have influenced the world. I love you all for it. Thank you for everything.”


- Dave Mustaine

[ProfessorGAC]

1. Good For Them

Walking away before age or infirmity reduces them to a shadow of their former selves.
I've seen some videos of massive bands that are still chugging, and I've hear some really awful stuff.

[highplainsdem]

2. I agree it's best to quit before they become a shadow of their former selves. And this way they can

arrange a very long farewell tour, giving more of their fans another chance to see them.

Though there have been a lot of farewell tours that weren't:

https://www.loudersound.com/features/farewell-tours-that-werent-farewells-kiss-aerosmith-ozzy-osbourne

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/farewell-tours-not-final-1234980572/kiss-2000-2-1234980589/

[speak easy]

3. AC/DC should have retired in 2020.

Angus wrote their goodbye song then, but did not follow it up with an announcement. When they came back on stage Brian Johnson's voice was totally shot.

[Swede]

4. Maybe Mustaine can finally find peace.

He never seemed happy, even though he founded one of the great rock bands, and was a member of another.