As MEGADETH move toward the final chapter of their storied recording career, Dave Mustaine is once again confronting the long shadow cast by his earliest days in metal — and the band he helped shape before being pushed out of it. With one last album on the horizon and decades of unresolved history lingering in the background, Mustaine is openly entertaining an idea that once seemed impossible: a full-scale MEGADETH/METALLICA tour.
Rather than stirring controversy, the latest spark comes from a deeply symbolic decision. MEGADETH’s forthcoming and final studio album, Megadeth, due out January 23, 2026, via Mustaine’s Tradecraft imprint in partnership with Frontiers Label Group’s BLKIIBLK label, will feature a cover of “Ride The Lightning.” The song dates back to Mustaine’s short but pivotal tenure in METALLICA prior to his 1983 dismissal, and it remains one of the clearest examples of his early creative fingerprint on the genre.
According to Mustaine, the inclusion of the track isn’t meant as a provocation. Instead, it represents closure — a deliberate act of respect that acknowledges his past without rewriting it. Still, the move has naturally reignited discussion about his relationship with his former bandmates, and whether any real reconciliation is possible after more than four decades.
In a recent interview with Revolver, Mustaine was asked if he had spoken to METALLICA since news broke about the cover. His answer was characteristically straightforward.
“No. And I don’t expect to. But I’m sure at some point we’ll hear what they think,” he said.
That emotional distance, however, doesn’t mean indifference. When the conversation shifted to whether he wished those early friendships could be revived, Mustaine offered a candid and reflective response, acknowledging both the affection and the damage that still exist.
“You know, I liked them. If the friendship was restarted, it wouldn’t bother me. I would accept, and I think it would be nice to revisit some of those times. But I just think because there was a lot of hurt and misunderstanding around our time together that it would be difficult not to keep bringing up the past.”
Rather than dwelling on personal reconciliation alone, Mustaine believes there’s a larger, more practical solution — one that could put decades of tension into perspective while celebrating the music that grew from it.
“I think what needs to happen is there needs to be a MEGADETH/METALLICA tour. Period. That would, I’m sure, make everything right. We could hang out. Spend time together. But I know they don’t really tour like we do. I mean, when we go out on tour, we play many, many shows.”
The idea of such a tour has floated around the metal world for years, often dismissed as fantasy or wishful thinking. Yet, coming from Mustaine himself — especially as MEGADETH prepare to step away from studio albums — the suggestion carries new weight. It’s framed less as a business move and more as a final opportunity to bridge gaps that time alone hasn’t healed.
Revolver noted how difficult it can be to rebuild relationships burdened by decades of shared history, particularly when that history includes conflict, resentment, and unresolved emotion. Mustaine agreed, admitting that even the best intentions don’t always lead to resolution.
“Yeah. It’s starting over. Sometimes, I think, when you have a grudge, you can’t… You can’t get past it. Personally, I’m pretty good at getting over grudges. But I don’t know…”
Despite the uncertainty, Mustaine stopped short of closing the door entirely. Instead, he reflected on a moment from the past that still stands out — a reminder that mutual respect has never completely disappeared.
“If it’s meant to be, I’m sure I’ll see those guys. I remember we played up in San Francisco at the Cow Palace, and James told me he wanted me to play ‘My Last Words‘, because that was his favorite song. I thought that was really cool. Thank you, James. To say that you had a favorite song of mine, that was really nice.”
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.