DAVE MUSTAINE Isn’t Ruling Out A Solo Album After MEGADETH Calls It Quits

In a new interview with Poland’s Teraz Rock, Megadeth leader Dave Mustaine addressed the long-rumored idea of a solo album, saying it remains a possibility as the band moves forward with its latest release and touring plans.

When reminded that he nearly released a solo record more than two decades ago, Mustaine reflected on the period surrounding 2004’s The System Has Failed. At the time, a serious arm injury led him to believe his playing career was over, prompting him to inform his bandmates that Megadeth was finished.

“I hadn’t touched a guitar for 17 months,” Mustaine recalled. That changed after his godfather Alice Cooper invited him to take part in a benefit concert for a deceased crew member. Despite his doubts about his ability to play, the performance reignited his passion. “Somehow the pilot light was reignited and the fire inside of me started burning again,” he said.

Mustaine explained that attempts to reunite the classic lineup with Marty Friedman, Nick Menza, and David Ellefson ultimately failed, leading him to record with other musicians instead, including acclaimed drummer Vinnie Colaiuta and bassist Jimmie Sloas. Though originally intended as a solo effort, the album was released under the Megadeth name.

Asked if he might pursue a solo album following Megadeth‘s eventual farewell tour, Mustaine remained ambivalent. “I might. I don’t think so. I might,” he said. For now, his focus is firmly on the band.

“Right now, things are going so great for us, we’re not even really thinking about the end. We’re thinking about the beginning of this, this campaign, and heading out and, and showing this [new] music to our fans. And we’ve been looking at the tours that we’ve got on our schedule, and everything’s doing really well ticket-wise. Dates are selling out way in advance, and that’s good for us too because in many of the places that we booked, we’ve had to go to a different configuration.

“Some places will be set up for, say, for example, 7,000 seats and they’ve got some seats up in the top that they’ve blocked off. And a band comes in and they keep selling tickets, they’ll open up those areas. ‘Cause a lot of times they don’t open those areas up because it looks bad for bands that don’t sell out the venue. And we’ve had a lot of concerts already that has — it’s gone to a bigger-size venue.”

Megadeth‘s new self-titled album, Megadeth, was released on January 23, 2026, via Mustaine’s Tradecraft imprint in partnership with Frontiers Label Group’s BLKIIBLK label.