Dave Mustaine has probably always liked playing the foil to Metallica. The metal icons fired him in 1983, and Mustaine started his own legendary metal band, Megadeth. Over the years, there have been lawsuits and sniping, mostly from Mustaine.
But this isn't about Mustaine not creating great music. He has. He is one of the better guitarists in the history of rock, though in more recent years, his live solos have been shorter and less engaging. They are still fantastic, but not quite as elite.
Mustaine recently announced some news that means, in part, Metallica is going to outdo him once again. As excellent as Megadeth has been, it pales in comparison to the catalog that Metallica has produced. Now, Metallica is going to outlive Megadeth and keep making great records. Megadeth is done.
Megadeth decides to end its run but Metallica will continue on
In a press statement, Mustaine said the band will release one last studio album and do one farewell tour. There were no specifics given about the album or the tour, other than the record will be released in 2026. Who knows? Maybe the tour lasts for a couple of years.
One might also wonder if Mustaine will attempt to pull off an Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath-type final show. The guitarist has the ego to probably have that passing thought, though let's hope he doesn't try. Megadeth is great, but they are nowhere near as beloved as Ozzy and Sabbath.
Plus, it isn't like Metallica is going to show up as part of the potential farewell show. Maybe many bands hold out and wait for a farewell gig for Metallica.
The last Megadeth album has no title yet, of course, but it will be the band's 17th studio album. The group also has six live albums. Megadeth has had plenty of chart success, obviously, but they are even better in concert.
Closing the chapter of play concerts makes sense when coupled with a final record. Megadeth producing albums with no backing tour would seem hollow. Instead, fans will be left with fond farewells, though Metallica will continue entertaining us.