MEGADETH frontman Dave Mustaine has shared details about the hand condition that has plagued him for years, offering fans an inside look at the physical challenges behind the band’s decision to enter its final chapter.
In a recent interview with Spain’s MariskalRockTV, Mustaine reflected on the moment he realized he might have to step back from his legendary career. “No. No, ’cause I just brought it up. I didn’t decide,” Mustaine said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “We were working in the studio [on MEGADETH‘s upcoming self-titled album], and it just had been a really difficult few weeks. We were trying to get everything done, and it obviously was important to us to make sure the record was done right. And we had a bunch of deadlines we ran up against that was making it hard and stuff like that. And my hands were hurting really bad. And then I just said one day to my management, ‘You know, I don’t know how much longer I’m gonna be able to do this.’ I didn’t say, ‘Hey, I wanna retire right now.’”
Mustaine elaborated on the physical toll his hands have taken over the years, explaining how it affects his ability to play guitar at full capacity. “Yeah, you can look right here on this hand. There’s a line right there that’s sticking up. That’s something called Dupuytren’s contracture, and it’s gonna make my finger come down like this. It’s already started, where it’s kind of bunching up a little bit. And then if you look at the tips of my fingers, they’re severely arthritic. So, all those bumps makes it really painful to play.”
When asked about the possibility of surgery, Mustaine said he is taking a measured approach. “I’m gonna wait for that until I’m ready to try it, because if I try it now and I’m 95 percent, and I do a surgery and it sets me back, that would’ve been a bad decision,” he explained. “If I wait until my hands are causing a problem and I try it and it doesn’t work, well then I’ve toured everywhere, I’ve said farewell to everybody and I’m not leaving stuff unsaid or unfinished.”
MEGADETH’s final album, Megadeth, arrives January 23, 2026 via Mustaine’s Tradecraft imprint in partnership with the BLKIIBLK label under Frontiers Label Group. The album will officially begin the band’s last chapter — one that aims to honor their legacy, their fans, and a career that reshaped the landscape of metal.
Fans can also look forward to a farewell tour, which Mustaine promises will be far from a brief swan song. “We’re easily talking about touring for another three to five years,” he told Kerrang! in a previous interview, emphasizing that the band intends to give fans a proper send-off.
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