NEW YORK — Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine says he has been diagnosed with throat cancer.
The singer and guitarist of the heavy metal band announced the news on social media Monday, writing that he’s “working closely with my doctors, and we’ve mapped out a treatment plan which they feel has a 90% success rate. Treatment has already begun.”
The 57-year-old says as a result, Megadeth has to cancel “most shows this year,” though the 2019 Megacruise will happen “and the band will be a part of it in some form.”
Mustaine adds he and his bandmates, David Ellefson, Kiko Loureiro and Dirk Verbeuren, are in the studio working on a new album. It will be the follow-up to 2016’s “Dystopia,” which won the band their first-ever Grammy Award in 2017.
Concerts scheduled for Aurora’s RiverEdge Park on Aug. 10 (refunds available at riveredgeaurora.com) and at the Illinois State Fair on Aug. 9 have been canceled (refunds available at ticketmaster.com).
Below is the Mustaine’s official statement:
“I’ve been diagnosed with throat cancer. It’s clearly something to be respected and faced head on — but I’ve faced obstacles before. I’m working closely with my doctors, and we’ve mapped out a treatment plan which they feel has a 90% success rate. Treatment has already begun.
Unfortunately, this requires that we cancel most shows this year. The 2019 Megacruise will happen, and the band will be a part of it in some form. All up to date information will be at megadeth.com as we get it. Megadeth will be back on the road ASAP.
Meanwhile, Kiko, David, Dirk and I are in the studio, working on the follow up to Dystopia — which I can’t wait for everyone to hear.
I’m so thankful for my whole team — family, doctors, band members, trainers, and more.
I’ll keep everyone posted.
See you soon,
Dave Mustaine”
