Dave Mustaine opens up about Dupuytren's contracture, arthritis, and why Megadeth's farewell tour emerged naturally during recording.
In a new interview with Spain's MariskalRockTV, Megadeth leader Dave Mustaine reflected on how the band's newly announced farewell chapter began -- and made it clear it wasn't the result of a dramatic, premeditated decision. When asked if he remembers the moment he decided it was time to announce the final phase of his career, Mustaine responded bluntly: "No. No, 'cause I just brought it up. I didn't decide."
According to Mustaine, the topic surfaced organically while Megadeth were in the studio working on their upcoming self-titled album, which is set to be the band's final release: "We were working in the studio, and it just had been a really difficult few weeks.
"We were trying to get everything done... we had a bunch of deadlines we ran up against, and my hands were hurting really bad. And then 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.' I didn't say, 'Hey, I wanna retire right now.'"
Mustaine went on to explain the physical issues affecting his playing, pointing specifically to Dupuytren's contracture, a condition that causes fingers to gradually curl toward the palm, as well as severe arthritis: "You can look right here on this hand. There's a line right there that's sticking up. That's something called Dupuytren's contracture... 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."
According to the Mayo Clinic, Dupuytren's contracture has no cure, though treatments can slow progression and relieve symptoms. When asked whether he has considered surgery, Mustaine explained why he's waiting: "If I try it now and I'm 95 percent, and the surgery sets me back, that would've been a bad decision. If I wait until my hands are really causing a problem and I try it and it doesn't work, then at least I've toured everywhere and said farewell properly."
Mustaine echoed similar thoughts earlier this month during an appearance on SiriusXM's Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk, where he discussed Megadeth's upcoming This Was Our Life farewell tour, officially set to begin in 2026.
"There wasn't one big moment," Mustaine said, explaining that the realization came during the album's creation as physical issues mounted -- including arthritis, bulging discs, and prior spinal fusion surgery. "I always said when it got to the point where I was unable to give a hundred percent every night, that's when I'd start considering winding down."
While he stressed that Megadeth were still able to complete the album at a high level, the uncertainty was enough to spark deeper conversations with management, bandmates, and family: "I didn't mean to set the ball rolling. I was just making conversation. Then I slept on it, talked to my family, prayed on it -- and the answer became clear."
Megadeth has a whole bunch of farewell dates lined up for 2026 so far, all of which you can find below. And if you miss these, I'm sure it's not an issue considering Dave Mustaine said this tour is gonna be going on for "three to five years." Get the full list of dates below and get your tickets here.