Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine reveals hand condition making it “really painful to play”
Dave Mustaine has revealed that a hand ailment that makes playing “really painful” is the main reason behind Megadeth’s decision to call it quits after their final album and farewell tour.
Earlier this August, the thrash metal legends announced plans to release a final self-titled record in early 2026, followed by a global farewell tour that will take the band across North America, Europe, and back.
READ MORE: Dave Mustaine wants Megadeth’s last show to be in space: “I think that will be a really fitting climax!”
Speaking with MariskalRockTV about his condition, Mustaine says that he noticed growing discomfort in his hands while working on the band’s new record.
“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,’” the Megadeth leader recalls. “I didn’t say, ‘Hey, I wanna retire right now.’”
The 62-year-old explains that Dupuytren’s contracture – a condition that causes a thick cord of tissue to form in the palm, bending one or more fingers toward the center of the hand – is affecting his hands to the point where playing the guitar has become extremely difficult.
Holding up his hand for the interviewer, Mustaine showed how the disorder is already affecting him. “It’s gonna make my finger come down like this,” he says. “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 make it really painful to play.”
While he plans to undergo surgery to address the condition, Mustaine is waiting until after the farewell tour to avoid any setbacks.
“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 everybody and am not leaving stuff unsaid or unfinished,” he says.
Check out the full list of tour dates at the Megadeth website.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
