As MEGADETH prepare to embark on their upcoming farewell tour, fans have been wondering whether the band’s final concert might bring together all surviving former members for one last onstage celebration. But according to Dave Mustaine, that idea isn’t likely to materialize.
Speaking on the December 5 episode of SiriusXM’s Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk, Mustaine explained why a fully unified lineup reunion isn’t on the table. When asked about the possibility of featuring all past members at the final show, he didn’t mince words. “Well, I can’t really do that, because of the behavior of one of the bandmembers in the past,” Dave said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “I just can’t — I can’t. Because, first off, it would be unfair to the other bandmembers if I didn’t play with them as well.”
But the thing about what we did with [former MEGADETH guitarist] Marty [Friedman] in Japan [in early 2024], that was a no-brainer. That was brilliant. And I love Marty. We had our separation, and he went his way and we went our way. But it was a very, very intense relationship I had with Marty, because that was the first relationship I had with a guitar player. My relationship with [former MEGADETH guitarist] Chris [Poland] was really great, but it wasn’t as good as it was with Marty. My relationship with [former MEGADETH guitarist] Jeff [Young] was good, but it wasn’t as good as it was with Marty. And I probably wouldn’t have a problem playing with any of the members of those two lineups, except the fact that [former MEGADETH drummer] Gar‘s [Samuelson] deceased, and [I’m] just not gonna do anything that is gonna, in any way, seem unfair to the other bandmembers.”
The conversation also touched on how MEGADETH might bring their touring chapter to a close. Asked whether the band would announce a definitive final show or simply fade out without a formal sendoff, Mustaine admitted he’s not sure how he wants it to play out.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I was joking around with our management and said, ‘You guys should probably book some fake dates at the end of the tour that I don’t know about so I won’t go out there on the last date and just blubber like a f**king 175-pound wuss.”
Despite signaling the start of their farewell era, Mustaine recently told Kerrang! that the touring cycle could continue for “another three to five years,” reflecting on a long goodbye. “If we’re going to be doing it for that long then, s**t, I’ll be looking at the birthday I don’t even want to think about,” he added.
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