Dave Mustaine physically showed fans the reason why Megadeth are calling it quits during a book launch event for his recently released memoir, In My Darkest Hour, in New York earlier this month. When the moderator, Rolling Stone Senior Writer Kory Grow, asked him if his fans should believe him when he says his band was calling it quits, Mustaine held up his left hand for the audience to see. I’ve got what’s called Dupuytren’s contracture.
In the center of my hand, the tendons have grown together and are pulling my finger down. So I have the option at some point to do surgery, and I figured I would do this tour and do the support for this record and at that point, we’ll see what the technology’s like. … I think about, ‘Could I carry on if I just sang?’ I wouldn’t want to do that. I would want to play guitar, because that’s my love.” In August 2025, Mustaine announced that the long-running thrash group would be retiring sometime after the release of Megadeth.
When Grow asked Mustaine at the book launch how that achievement made him feel, Mustaine put his microphone to his crotch and tilted it up, saying, “Boiiiing,” to the audience’s amusement. During the chat, Mustaine hinted that recordings from the tour may serve as the basis of a future live album. But I think those are supposed to be bonus tracks for the label or something. … There may be a song or something, but I don’t know.” He also revealed that another book he had written, detailing the stories behind every song he’d written, was lost in the shuffle of a label that went out of business.
They gave the book back, and I don’t know what happened to it. … I just don’t know if I want to write another book right now.” When asked what the “Dave Mustaine Retirement Plan” would look like, Mustaine said he’d like to remain involved in music in some fashion — “whether it’s as simple as listening to it or making it,” he said. Mustaine added he hoped for technological developments that would help his hand heal. Trending Stories Pearl Jam Surprise Perform With Drummer Abe Laboriel Jr. at Ohana Festival The World Is Watching BE:FIRST.
If You Want to Know Who America’s Oligarchs Are, Read This List ‘Heart of the Beast’ Feels Like Something Brad Pitt Made 30 Years Ago Elsewhere in the hour-long chat, Mustaine discussed his tongue-cancer diagnosis, how he handled it, and what he learned from his battle — all of which serve as the basis for the book, In My Darkest Hour. He explained his mindset about hearing that he had “the Big C” as a doctor rudely told him to the ways that the discipline he’s learned from studying martial arts helped him through it, as well as his general attitude now. It’s important to use those days wisely.
For me, I try to live every day like it’s my last, because I don’t know when that will be, and I want to make sure that it’s a good day for everybody around me, my family, my friends.” Related Content Cancer, Covid, and ‘Sexually Explicit Videos’: Dave Mustaine Reflects on Megadeth’s Most Turbulent Album Megadeth Rip Through Metallica’s ‘Ride the Lightning’ for the First Time Live Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine Plans Revealing Memoir Examining Cancer Journey Megadeth Are Number One ... When asked what gives him hope, he simply described his mindset. I look forward to whatever is in store for me, the touring, the playing, the new music if there is any, the moments we get to share doing things like this. … We just like to do cool things.
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