Megadeth bassist James LoMenzo recently addressed why frontman Dave Mustaine kept the band’s final album plans secret during recording. He shared insights about the creative process in an interview with Loud And Proud Italy.
LoMenzo explained that Mustaine never indicated to the band members that their latest record would potentially be Megadeth’s last album during the initial recording phases.
“You know what?! If Dave did, he never intimated that to us. He never shared that with us going into the record,” LoMenzo said. “We came off tour last year, and we had decided to an album and find a new label. Frontiers was terrific, but it was just gonna be business as usual. We tried to make a really good Megadeth record.”
The bassist described how the band approached the recording process with a focus on capturing Megadeth’s signature sound.
“And we really focused on trying to find out what there was in all the albums past that kind of made them so Megadeth-y, and tried to really focus together and really intellectually think about what made some records work better than others, some songs better than others, what fans really enjoy,” he continued. “We know it ’cause we play the hits every night when we get out there. So we kind of know what the parameters of that are. So we discussed that. So there was no indication.”
LoMenzo revealed that Mustaine’s intentions only became clear as the recording progressed.
“I mean, Dave was just gung-ho, ‘Let’s just make a great Megadeth record.’ And it wasn’t until we were, like, halfway, two-thirds through that he started letting us know where he was at with it all,” he said. “And you would think at one point, everybody would be, like, ‘Oh, man, come on.’ Teemu [Mäntysaari, Megadeth guitarist] had just joined the band and all that. But we’ve seen [Dave] out there and we’ve seen ourselves out there. And touring is not for the faint of heart unless you’re 19; [I] used to be 19. Doing it at this level and bringing the music to the masses takes a lot.”
The bassist acknowledged Mustaine’s physical challenges and determination to continue performing.
“And Dave’s a bionic dude now. Everybody’s well aware of his history,” LoMenzo explained. “So for him to get out there and really wanna do it really speaks volumes. Giving in to the idea that maybe his hands might not be working as well in the future going forward, it really made a lot of sense to all of us, this was the time to really celebrate Megadeth and bring this thing to its potential close. And I think Dave was a warrior. He never really gets the lyrics all going until the end of the record, to answer your first question. So, we’ll go out there, record some stuff, and he’ll start writing and putting stuff up and testing, and he’ll send it to us and ask us our opinions.”
LoMenzo described the emotional impact of hearing the final version of “The Last Note.”
“So what ended up happening in this case was when I finally heard ‘The Last Note’, and I really heard ‘The Last Note’, the last version of it, it put a lump in my throat ’cause I could really feel Dave’s journey,” he said. “And I didn’t expect that. I didn’t expect him to be that candid and honest about things. And so the follow-up was we should let the audience know that we’re gonna chug this thing out as long as it’s possible. And if you put it into a number, I mean, yeah, a couple of touring cycles is probably what would do it.”
The band plans to continue touring for the foreseeable future while the members remain physically capable of performing at their current level.
LoMenzo’s return to Megadeth represents a significant chapter in the band’s evolving lineup history. Metal Injection reported that LoMenzo first joined Megadeth in 2006 after bassist James MacDonough left over personal differences. He returned permanently in 2021 following David Ellefson’s firing amid sexual misconduct allegations.
The current Megadeth lineup showcases the band’s resilience through multiple member changes over the decades. Wikipedia confirmed that Megadeth’s current lineup includes Mustaine, bassist James LoMenzo, guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari, and drummer Dirk Verbeuren. This represents a blend of veteran and newer members who have helped maintain the band’s signature sound.
LoMenzo has expressed his satisfaction with the band’s recent achievements and his role in their success. Blabbermouth noted that LoMenzo described Megadeth’s recent No. 1 album achievement as “a career high” for him personally. This highlighted the significance of his contributions to the band’s continued success.
The strength of Megadeth’s current configuration has been crucial to their recent output and touring capabilities. Rock and Roll Globe emphasized that the quality of their final LP wouldn’t be possible without the strength of Megadeth’s current lineup. This includes drummer Dirk Verbeuren and bassist James LoMenzo, who has brought stability and experience to the band’s rhythm section.
