Dave Mustaine has announced plans for a farewell tour and a final self-titled album. The 64-year-old guitarist is dealing with Dupuytren’s contracture and arthritis, which have made performing increasingly difficult. During a recent studio session, he realized the pain was too much. “I told my management, ‘I don’t know how much longer I’m gonna be able to do this,’” Mustaine shared in an interview.
He has decided to postpone surgery on his hands until after the farewell tour. Doctors advised that operating now, while he’s at 95 percent capacity, could leave him in worse shape. “I always said when I couldn’t give a hundred percent every night, that’s when I’d start thinking about winding down,” he explained.
The final album will be released on January 23, following 2022’s *The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!*. It will come out under Mustaine’s Tradecraft label through Frontiers Label Group’s new BLKIIBLK label, with Chris Rakestraw producing, who also worked on their last two records.
The farewell tour, titled *This Was Our Life*, is set to kick off in 2026 and could last three to five years, bringing Mustaine close to his 70th birthday in 2031. “Many musicians don’t get to end their careers on their own terms, but that’s where I’m at right now,” he said.
The current band lineup includes guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari, drummer Dirk Verbeuren, and bassist James LoMenzo. Mäntysaari joined the band two years ago after Kiko Loureiro left to spend more time with his family in Finland. Fans can pre-order the new album and check out upcoming tour dates.
