In a new conversation with Guitar World, Kiko Loureiro discussed his exit from Megadeth, catching Dave Mustaine off guard.
When asked for the reasons or factors that led to his decision to leave Megadeth at the end of 2023, the guitarist replied:
“It started when I booked a trip home to Brazil. The last time I’d been was in 2019, before the pandemic; I got to a point where I said, ‘I need to visit my family,’ so I booked a trip for the Thanksgiving period in 2023 because Megadeth never does anything around that time.”
Communication With Dave Mustaine
After talking about the challenge of balancing his music career with the responsibilities of family life, Loureiro continued:
“So the feeling of, ‘Should I be out doing this rockstar thing while my kids are at home?’ kept coming up. And the more moments and important dates I missed, the harder it was. It got harder in 2023, especially during the three-month summer tour. So I went to Dave in June, saying, ‘This is too much. I’m not feeling like I’m in the right place or mood to give 100 percent.'”
Mustaine’s Unexpected Reaction
The musician added the following about Mustaine’s initial reaction to his decision to leave:
“It was complicated for me to say because I wanted to play, but I knew I needed to be at home. And, of course, Dave was not expecting it. We had just done a show in Florida with the Misfits, and it was right after that show that I talked to Dave. And then Megadeth management was there, and I let them know I could not do the September gigs. I offered to help find a replacement and do what was needed to help Megadeth be ready to go.”
Announcement And Extended Break
In September 2023, Kiko said he was taking a break from Megadeth. Then, on November 19, 2023, he revealed he’d be extending the break into 2024, saying:
“In September, I had to step away from the US leg of the tour for family reasons. Looking ahead, during 2024, we anticipate an even heavier touring schedule for Megadeth. After thorough reflection and discussions with Dave Mustaine and Megadeth’s management, we have collectively agreed that it is the right move to extend my absence. I don’t want to hinder any of the band’s plans or the hard work of all the incredible people involved in the tour.”
After Loureiro’s departure, the band picked Teemu Mäntysaari as the new guitarist for their 2024 concerts. Still, Kiko mentioned to the management and Mustaine that he thought bringing back Marty Friedman would be great, as he revealed in the same Guitar World chat.
