Megadeth have said their farewell tour will be a celebration of the band’s four-decade career rather than a sombre goodbye, as heavy metal legends prepare to retire in 2027.
Frontman Dave Mustaine said the final run of concerts is about thanking fans for their support while sharing the stage with fellow metal acts Black Label Society and Testament.
Megadeth want to celebrate 40 years with fans
In a statement announcing the farewell shows, Mustaine said the tour has been designed to celebrate the band’s legacy and the audiences that supported them throughout their career.
“This isn’t about saying goodbye. It’s about celebrating everything we’ve built together over the last four decades. Every city has its own story, every crowd has given us unforgettable memories, and we want to come back to celebrate that with the fans who made it all possible.
“When we started talking about this tour, we wanted it to be a true celebration of metal. Black Label Society and Testament are bands we have tremendous respect for, and having them join us makes these shows even more special.
“This line-up represents decades of heavy music, and it’s going to be an incredible night for the fans.”
The farewell tour began in Canada in February. The European leg opens in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on 9 March before concluding in Portugal on 13 April.
Dave Mustaine says health influenced retirement decision
Mustaine, 64, previously revealed that ongoing health issues made him realise it was time to bring Megadeth to a close.
Speaking on Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk on SiriusXM, he explained that arthritis and spinal problems have increasingly affected his ability to perform.
“It had been a long time coming, just physical stuff that was going on with my hands … My hands were letting me down.
“And there were other things that were difficult because of all the stuff going on in my neck and my trunk. All that area there has arthritis and it has discs that are bulging.
“I’ve got a broken lumbar bone. Of course, you know I have my back fused, up by my shoulders, by my neck. And just a lot of stuff …
“I always said when it got to the point where I was unable to give a hundred per cent every night, that’s when I was gonna start considering winding down.”
Final album helped shape farewell plans
Mustaine said the decision became clearer after Megadeth completed work on their self-titled final studio album, which was released in January.
“It wasn’t that I was unable to give a hundred per cent, because we finished the record, and I think we did a good job on it, but there was a period when we were working and I said to my manager … ‘I don’t know how much longer I can do this. My hands are really hurting.’
“And I didn’t mean to set the ball rolling. Honestly, I just was making conversation, and it turned into me talking to the band guys and sleeping on it and talking to my family and praying on it.
“And the answer was clear to me that by the time we’re done with the record, I’m gonna know how the record’s gonna do. If the record does really well, then I’ll be able to have one last really good tour.
“And the part about the farewell thing, it’s kind of like the same thing, isn’t it? We’ve got some dates that we wanna play to say goodbye to our friends.”
