{"id":107372,"date":"2023-11-20T22:30:17","date_gmt":"2023-11-21T03:30:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/themetalden.com\/?p=107372"},"modified":"2023-11-20T22:30:18","modified_gmt":"2023-11-21T03:30:18","slug":"megadeth-moving-foward-with-new-guitarist-teemu-mantysaari","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themetalden.com\/?p=107372","title":{"rendered":"MEGADETH – Moving Foward With New Guitarist Teemu M\u00e4ntysaari\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

MEGADETH<\/strong>\u00a0vocalist\/guitarist\u00a0Dave Mustaine<\/strong>\u00a0has issued a statement of his own regarding the band\u2019s current situation with their lead guitarist role. This past weekend saw the group\u2019s current guitarist\u00a0Kiko Loureiro<\/strong>\u00a0announce he would be extending his absence from the band into 2024.\u00a0Loureiro<\/strong>\u00a0originally stepped down from the band in September of this year, citing the need to\u00a0spend more time at home with his children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, the band have toured with Teemu M\u00e4ntysaari<\/strong> of Wintersun<\/strong> and Imperanon<\/strong> in his place. In a statement issued today, November 20th, Mustaine<\/strong> revealed that M\u00e4ntysaari<\/strong> will continue to be the band\u2019s lead guitarist moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mustaine<\/strong>\u2018s statement reads as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey Droogies, last week I received a call from my partner, Kiko Loureiro<\/strong>, and we spoke for a while. I asked him how things were going regarding the important issues that led to his absence from our previous run, which was necessary for him to be with his family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I want to update you now on what Kiko<\/strong> shared with me. But before I do, want you to know that I love, respect, and fully support Kiko<\/strong>\u2018s decision. He has emphasized his love for me, Megadeth<\/strong>, and all of you, our fans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a reminder, Kiko<\/strong> had to leave the tour last August to handle some very important and private family business. He was conflicted but appreciative when I told him that he needed to go to take care of his family. He agreed but was still concerned about us\u2014meaning the fans, and Megadeth<\/strong>. I told him at the time, \u2018Go! Kiko<\/strong>, you can never regain this time with your family, I know first hand\u2026I paid the price myself\u2019. Eventually, he agreed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kiko<\/strong> is a top-notch professional, a maestro\u2014and he did not want to hurt me or Megadeth<\/strong>. We came up with a solution to find a fill-in for him during that time and that\u2019s when he presented and trained Teemu M\u00e4ntysaari<\/strong> to take over for us. In the beginning, this was only going to be until the first week of October 2023. However, things rarely turn out the way they are planned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2023 tour is over, and it was long and arduous. Last year saw a substantial amount of touring, and it appears that 2024 is gearing up to be even more intense, with extensive touring commitments keeping us on the road for most of the year. We have had many conversations with Kiko<\/strong> about this and they have all been very positive. Kiko<\/strong> is going to remain on an extended leave of absence, due to our heavy touring commitments next year and we are going to continue to move forward with Teemu M\u00e4ntysaari<\/strong> as the guitar player for Megadeth<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I would like to thank Kiko<\/strong> for his dedication and hard work these past 9 years, helping us to achieve a Grammy on \u2018Dystopia<\/strong>\u2018 and the additional awards we have received on this latest record \u2018The Sick\u2026 The Dying\u2026And The Dead<\/strong>\u2018 \u201cI could not have done this without Kiko Loureiro<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We hope to see all of you supporting Kiko<\/strong> in his next endeavors, and we want to see you next year out on the Killing Road. We have exciting plans to share with all of you in our next newsletter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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