Megadeth vocalist/guitarist Dave Mustaine has issued an announcement of his personal relating to the band’s present scenario with their lead guitarist position. This previous weekend noticed the group’s present guitarist Kiko Loureiro announce he can be extending his absence from the band into 2024. Loureiro initially stepped down from the band in September of this 12 months, citing the necessity to spend extra time at residence together with his kids.

Since then, the band have toured with Teemu Mäntysaari of Wintersun and Imperanon in his place. In an announcement issued at this time, November twentieth, Mustaine revealed that Mäntysaari will proceed to be the band’s lead guitarist shifting ahead.

Mustaine‘s assertion reads as follows:

“Hey Droogies, final week I obtained a name from my accomplice, Kiko Loureiro, and we spoke for some time. I requested him how issues had been going relating to the essential points that led to his absence from our earlier run, which was crucial for him to be together with his household.

I wish to replace you now on what Kiko shared with me. However earlier than I do, need you to know that I really like, respect, and absolutely assist Kiko‘s resolution. He has emphasised his love for me, Megadeth, and all of you, our followers.

As a reminder, Kiko needed to go away the tour final August to deal with some crucial and personal household enterprise. He was conflicted however appreciative after I informed him that he wanted to go to handle his household. He agreed however was nonetheless involved about us—which means the followers, and Megadeth. I informed him on the time, ‘Go! Kiko, you may by no means regain this time with your loved ones, I do know first hand…I paid the value myself’. Ultimately, he agreed.

Kiko is a top-notch skilled, a maestro—and he didn’t wish to harm me or Megadeth. We got here up with an answer to discover a fill-in for him throughout that point and that’s when he offered and educated Teemu Mäntysaari to take over for us. At first, this was solely going to be till the primary week of October 2023. Nevertheless, issues hardly ever end up the best way they’re deliberate.

The 2023 tour is over, and it was lengthy and arduous. Final 12 months noticed a considerable quantity of touring, and it seems that 2024 is gearing as much as be much more intense, with intensive touring commitments maintaining us on the street for many of the 12 months. We’ve got had many conversations with Kiko about this and so they have all been very optimistic. Kiko goes to stay on an prolonged go away of absence, resulting from our heavy touring commitments subsequent 12 months and we’re going to proceed to maneuver ahead with Teemu Mäntysaari because the guitar participant for Megadeth.

I want to thank Kiko for his dedication and exhausting work these previous 9 years, serving to us to attain a Grammy on ‘Dystopia‘ and the extra awards we have now obtained on this newest report ‘The Sick… The Dying…And The Useless‘ “I couldn’t have achieved this with out Kiko Loureiro.

We hope to see all of you supporting Kiko in his subsequent endeavors, and we wish to see you subsequent 12 months out on the Killing Highway. We’ve got thrilling plans to share with all of you in our subsequent e-newsletter.”