American thrash metal band Megadeth have announced their retirement, with frontman Dave Mustaine confirming the group's forthcoming album will be their last. The band will also embark on a farewell tour in 2026.
In a statement on Thursday, Mustaine said: 'There's so many musicians that have come to the end of their career, whether accidental or intentional. Most of them don't get to go out on their own terms on top, and that's where I'm at in my life right now.' He added: 'I have travelled the world and have made millions upon millions of fans and the hardest part of all of this is saying goodbye to them.'
The frontman urged fans not to be sad but to celebrate the band's achievements. 'Don't be mad, don't be sad, be happy for us all, come celebrate with me these next few years. We have done something together that's truly wonderful and will probably never happen again,' he wrote.
Details of the final album's title, release date and remaining tour dates have yet to be revealed. The announcement follows a teaser post on Wednesday that read: 'The end is near …'
Megadeth was formed in 1983 after Mustaine was fired from Metallica. They rose to prominence as one of thrash metal's 'Big Four' alongside Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax. In 2019, Mustaine was diagnosed with throat cancer but later recovered.
