Megadeth founder Dave Mustaine has offered one of the most candid explanations yet for why the iconic thrash metal band is winding down after more than four decades: a painful, progressive condition affecting his hands that has made playing guitar increasingly difficult.
In a recent interview with MariskalRockTV, Mustaine — singer, guitarist, and the only constant member of Megadeth since its 1983 inception — detailed how his physical health, especially his hands, played a key role in the band’s decision to embark on a farewell tour in support of their upcoming self-titled final album, due out in January 2026.
Mustaine revealed that he is suffering from Dupuytren’s contracture, a condition in which thickened tissue under the skin of the palm pulls the fingers toward the palm over time. Combined with worsening arthritis, the ailment has significantly impacted his ability to play guitar — an instrument at the very heart of his identity and career.
“It’s gonna make my finger come down like this,” Mustaine demonstrated, explaining how his fingers are already beginning to curl and bunch up. “And then if you look at the tips of my fingers, they’re severely arthritic… all those bumps makes it really painful to play.”
The condition, sometimes referred to as Viking Disease, is progressive and currently has no cure. Treatments such as injections or surgery can help slow its advancement or ease symptoms, but Mustaine says he’s choosing to delay any such intervention until after he completes this final touring cycle.
According to Mustaine, there wasn’t a single dramatic moment when he decided to end Megadeth. Instead, the idea began to emerge naturally while the band was working on their farewell record and facing the realities of tight deadlines, grueling creative work, and ongoing physical strain.
He told interviewers that the subject came up during studio work — not as a firm decision at first, but as an honest acknowledgment of his physical limitations. “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,’” Mustaine explained. “I didn’t say, ‘Hey, I wanna retire right now.’”
Mustaine says he wants to complete a proper farewell run — rather than stop abruptly — and not leave fans feeling as though anything was left incomplete. That tour is scheduled to begin in early 2026, launching in Canada and moving through Europe and North America over the coming years.
Megadeth’s impact on metal is undeniable. As one of the “big four” of thrash alongside Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax, the band has released a string of influential albums that pushed the boundaries of speed, technical skill, and aggression. The group’s forthcoming self-titled record will stand as their seventeenth studio effort and arguably one of the most poignant, given the context of its creation.
Mustaine’s career has been marked by perseverance through physical challenges before. He has battled radial neuropathy, spinal issues, and even throat cancer — which he fought and overcame in 2020 — yet he continued to make music through these obstacles.
Now, with the band’s final chapter in motion, Mustaine’s decision reflects a bittersweet balance between physical reality and artistic pride: finishing strong, on his own terms, before the pain truly dictates what he can and cannot do.
While the condition has clearly influenced his outlook, Mustaine has made it clear he’s not retiring quietly or halfway. Rather, he plans to tour extensively and give fans a chance to celebrate Megadeth’s legacy while the band is still performing at a high level.
By tackling the subject openly, Mustaine has added a deeply human layer to what many fans assumed was simply a strategic end to an epic career. Instead, it’s become a story of endurance, honesty, and a musician’s determination to finish the race the right way — even when every chord requires effort.
