MEGADETH frontman Dave Mustaine has opened up about the thrill and nerves of debuting the band’s latest single, “Tipping Point,” live for the first time during their European tour with DISTURBED. The performance took place at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam on October 14, marking a pivotal moment in what Mustaine has called MEGADETH’s final chapter.
In a brief interview with the Instagram account of MEGADETH’s iconic mascot Vic Rattlehead, Mustaine admitted, “I was a little nervous about playing it because we hadn’t played it live yet. And I always get a little nervous whenever we play a song for the first time. But it went off without a hitch and the fans really liked it.”
He continued: “I thought we were going to save it until we got to England [a week later], but we were so excited because of the fans, their approval of the song and how many people are really responding in a positive way for ‘Tipping Point’. So we just couldn’t wait anymore.”
Before launching into the track onstage, Mustaine addressed the crowd: “So, we have a new record coming out. And we have a new single that’s out right now. And we’re gonna play that song the first time ever right now.”
“Tipping Point” is the lead single from MEGADETH’s forthcoming self-titled album, slated for release on January 23, 2026. The record will be released via Mustaine’s Tradecraft imprint in collaboration with Frontiers Label Group’s new BLKIIBLK label. It follows the band’s critically acclaimed 2022 album The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!
The new album also marks a historic milestone: MEGADETH’s final studio release. Mustaine announced in August that the band will embark on a global farewell tour in 2026, celebrating over four decades of thrash metal dominance.
He said back in August: “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.”
Also set for next year is a new memoir from Mustaine, details of which will be revealed in the coming months.
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.