Megadeth kicked off their farewell tour on February 15 at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria, British Columbia. The band played 17 songs that night, including two new tracks from their self-titled album. This final studio record features a cover of “Ride the Lightning,” a song co-written by frontman Dave Mustaine during his time with Metallica.
Mustaine, now 64, founded Megadeth in 1983 after being let go from Metallica, where he was the lead guitarist for two years. His contributions can be heard on four songs from Metallica’s 1983 album, *Kill ‘Em All*, and two tracks from 1984’s *Ride the Lightning*, including the title track featured on the new album. Mustaine shared his thoughts on covering his own song, saying, “It would’ve been different if I would’ve done a song by a band I was in that I didn’t write. But this is one of my songs.”
The self-titled album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard sales charts after its release on January 23, selling 73,000 equivalent album units in its first week, with 69,000 from pure sales. This marks the first time Mustaine has reached the top spot on the charts.
In August 2025, Mustaine announced plans for a final studio album and farewell tour. He is dealing with Dupuytren’s contracture, a condition that causes his fingers to curl toward his palm, making it painful to play. “It’s already started, where it’s kind of bunching up a little bit,” he explained.
Megadeth has sold over 50 million records worldwide and solidified their place in thrash metal with four consecutive albums from 1986 to 1992. The band will tour North and South America until summer before heading to Europe and returning to North America. Fans can find all tour dates and ticket information online.
