Megadeth releases their version for Metallica‘s “Ride the Lightning”, which was co-written by Dave Mustaine before he was fired from the band in the early 80s. The bonus track is part of their final album “Megadeth” which is already available on streaming platforms. In a recent interview with Revolver magazine, Mustaine said that a tour with Metallica “needs to happen” before his group reaches the end of its farewell tour.
Megadeth releases “Ride the Lightning” version and Mustaine asks for a tour with Metallica
“You know, if I needed to get the last laugh (by covering this), I would get it. (He pauses, and smiles) But no, this is about showing respect. No (They didn’t say anything yet about my version). And I don’t expect to. But I’m sure at some point we’ll hear what they think.”
“You know, I liked them. If the friendship was restarted, it wouldn’t bother me. I would accept, and I think it would be nice to revisit some of those times. But I just think because there was a lot of hurt and misunderstanding around our time together that it would be difficult not to keep bringing up the past. I think what needs to happen is there needs to be a Megadeth/Metallica tour. Period. That would, I’m sure, make everything right. We could hang out. Spend time together. But I know they don’t really tour like we do. I mean, when we go out on tour, we play many, many shows,” Dave Mustaine said.
Mustaine previously said that although “Megadeth” (2026) will be their final studio album, they will probably also release a final live album. He recently said that the farewell tour might last a couple of years.
In a recent interview with Mariskal Rock TV, Mustaine revealed he has a hand condition called “Dupuytren’s contracture”. “It’s gonna make my finger come down like this. It’s already started, where it’s kind of bunching up a little bit. And then if you look at the tips of my fingers, they’re severely arthritic. So all those bumps makes it really painful to play.”
Their final tour will last a couple of years
He noted that he will undergo surgery after the farewell tour ends. “If I wait until my hands are causing a problem and I try it and it doesn’t work, well then I’ve toured everywhere, I’ve said farewell everybody and am not leaving stuff unsaid or unfinished.”
The band is currently formed by Mustaine, Dirk Verbeuren (Drums), James LoMenzo (Bass) and Teemu Mäntysaari (Guitar). Megadeth is the second band of the Big 4 of Thrash Metal to do a farewell tour, since Slayer was the first in 2019, although the band reunited and is playing in festivals around the world right now.