Dave Mustaine on Teemu Mäntysaari’s Impact on Megadeth: “We’re a Band Again”
Dave Mustaine, the iconic frontman of Megadeth, has shared his thoughts on how the addition of Finnish guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari has revitalized the band. In an interview on *Loudwire Nights*, Mustaine expressed his enthusiasm about the new lineup and the renewed band dynamic.
A Revitalized Band Dynamic
Mustaine revealed that Mäntysaari’s presence has created a fresh sense of unity within the band. “We’re a band again. It doesn’t feel like me and a few side guys or session musicians. Not that it felt like that with any of the previous lineups, but that was one of the fears I had,” Mustaine explained. He emphasized that the new lineup has reignited a feeling similar to the days when Marty Friedman was in the band, noting a deeper connection with Mäntysaari.
The transition from Kiko Loureiro to Mäntysaari was facilitated by Loureiro himself, who had to step away from touring to be with his family. “Kiko really did us a huge favour by helping us find Teemu when Kiko had to step away. I thought I would end my career with Kiko. But then things happened with him and he couldn’t tour anymore because he had to be home with his kids. Now he’s back on tour. I’m glad he’s back playing live. But he had to go home. And in the process, he introduced us to Teemu. And it was even closer between me and Teemu than between me and Kiko.”
New Music on the Horizon
Mustaine also touched on the future of Megadeth’s music. The band is working on new material, and Mustaine indicated that the process will be quicker than the gap between their previous albums, *Dystopia* (2016) and *The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead!* (2022). He acknowledged the challenges faced during the last album cycle, including the pandemic, lockdowns, and his cancer treatment, which significantly impacted the band’s progress. “We’re not going to take as long this time. There were a lot of setbacks—the pandemic, the lockdown, my cancer treatment, the lineup changes. The cancer treatment was also difficult for the guys because they watched me go through all of that. One day I seemed normal, the next day I couldn’t stay awake because of the medication.”
With Mäntysaari now firmly in the band, Megadeth is poised to continue their evolution and deliver new music that reflects their revitalized spirit.
