Megadeth announce retirement after 40 years with 17th studio album to be their last
The legendary band shared the news in an Instagram video on Friday morning, via their mascot Vic Rattlehead, revealing that their aptly titled album The End Is Near will be a full stop to their illustrious careers – but not before they embark on a farewell global tour in 2026.
The clip shows Rattlehead speaking for the first-time ever to their fanbase, called the Cyber Army, in a video-game style clip as emergency sirens blared in the background while TV anchors delivered news of a looming apocalypse.
'For over four decades, I've been chained in silence, but the end demands my voice,'
Rattlehead, a skeletal figure whose mouth is covered by metal clamps, says from behind a newsdesk. 'It is confirmed, the next Megadeth studio album will be the last.'
'40 years of metal forged in steel, emptying in fire. And when the new year arises, the global farewell tour,' Rattlehead added. 'You've heard the warning, now prepare yourselves, super army. Stay loud, stay tuned and meet me on the front lines.'
The new album The End Is Near will arrive next year and follows their 2022 offering The Sick, the Dying … and the Dead!
Following Rattlehead's announcement, frontman Dave Mustaine shared his own personal message, as per The Guardian, saying he considers himself at the peak of his career, but that's how he wants to bow out.
'There's so many musicians that have come to the end of their career, whether accidental or intentional,' the 63-yeat-old said in a statement. '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. 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.'
'If there was ever a perfect time for us to put out a new album, it's now. If there was ever a perfect time to tour the world, it's now. This is also a perfect time for us to tell you that it's our last studio album. We've made a lot of friends over the years and I hope to see all of you on our global farewell tour.'
Megadeth has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide and Mustaine pleaded with the fans, who made them one of the biggest bands of the genre, for their understanding.
'Don't be mad, don't be sad, be happy for us all, come celebrate with me these next few years,' he said. 'We have done something together that's truly wonderful and will probably never happen again. We started a musical style, we started a revolution, we changed the guitar world and how it's played, and we changed the world. The bands I played in have influenced the world. I love you all for it. Thank you for everything.'
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