Megadeth guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari recently shared his thoughts on Dave Mustaine’s retirement decision. He addressed how it feels to join the band just as they prepare for their farewell, in an interview with The Metal Voice.
Mäntysaari joined Megadeth in 2023. He was asked about his reaction to the band’s retirement plans and how it affects him as the newest member.
When asked about Dave Mustaine announcing retirement shortly after he joined, and whether he was encouraging more albums and tours, Mäntysaari responded with mixed emotions.
“Right. Kind of. Of course, there’s a bit of that bittersweetness there,” Mäntysaari said. “At the same time, right now we think that it might be 3 to 5 years of this touring. So, the end is not quite yet in sight, I would say.”
The guitarist emphasized the band’s commitment to making their remaining time count.
“We really want to just focus on making every show count and making it as good as possible, making people walk away from the shows with the feeling that this was an amazing show,” he continued. “And we still hope to catch another show if possible. And yeah, we hope to be able to carry on for a while still and then yeah, let’s see what happens.”
Mäntysaari also outlined the band’s current touring strategy. He explained their approach to promoting their latest album before the official farewell tour begins.
“The plan is now that we are we’re promoting this album this year is really focusing on promoting the new album,” he said. “We’re playing currently three songs of off the new album here and hoping to add more. Then after we’ve been promoting this album for a while, then the actual farewell tour starts and then we’re going to do a different set list again.”
Mäntysaari’s comments come as Megadeth has already begun their farewell journey. This marks the end of an era for the legendary thrash metal band.
Loudwire reported that the band’s farewell tour officially kicked off on February 15, 2026, in Victoria, B.C. The show featured a 17-song set that heavily emphasized their classic hits like “Tornado of Souls” alongside tracks from their new album. The opening show demonstrated the band’s commitment to delivering memorable performances during their final touring cycle.
The timeline Mäntysaari mentioned aligns with Dave Mustaine’s own statements about the farewell tour’s duration. Parade noted that Mustaine confirmed the extended nature of their goodbye, stating, “We’re easily talking about touring for another three to five years.” This extended farewell gives fans worldwide multiple opportunities to witness the band’s final performances.
“We’re easily talking about touring for another three to five years,” Mustaine said. This echoed the timeline that Mäntysaari referenced in his interview.
The farewell tour represents a comprehensive global effort. Dates span multiple continents over the coming years. Global News 247 detailed that the tour includes North American dates starting April 12 in Los Angeles, European shows beginning June 5 in London at The O2 Arena, and support slots for Iron Maiden in Australia and New Zealand scheduled for November 2026.
The band released their self-titled final studio album on January 23, 2026. This provided fresh material for their farewell performances. Ultimate Classic Rock confirmed that the current setlist incorporates three songs from this new album, with plans to add more as the tour progresses. This matches exactly what Mäntysaari described in his interview about their promotional strategy.
