Kiko Loureiro

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“You know how much I had to beg for the last 30 years to get any of the other guitar players to learn somebody else’s solo?!” Dave Mustaine says new Megadeth member Teemu Mäntysaari is the guitarist he’s “been looking for for a very long time”

By Phil Weller published 15 April 24

Mustaine has heaped praise on Mäntysaari's “intelligent” right hand, and his ability to learn Megadeth material and smash out solos like he’s “eating Rice Krispies”

Guitarist Kiko Loureiro of American thrash metal group Megadeth performing live on stage at Bloodstock Open Air Festival in Derbyshire, on August 13, 2017.

“I had two viable options: to be in Megadeth or not. I chose my personal life. No regrets”: Kiko Loureiro opens up on what he meant by “freedom,” how he trained up his replacement, and why he suggested Marty Friedman should return

By Andrew Daly published 10 January 24

The former Angra guitarist reveals his current relationship with Dave Mustaine after his temporary departure became permanent, and where he wants to take his guitar playing next

“Are you improvising? Damn, you’re good!” Kiko Loureiro has released his first music since leaving Megadeth: a “harmonically weird” song he wrote with Plini in just one day

By Phil Weller published 8 January 24

The two musicians met in the studio for the first time to showcase Neural DSP’s newly updated Archetype: Plini X plugin, with a mini-documentary detailing their creative process

“I thought bringing Marty Friedman back would be amazing”: When Kiko Loureiro left Megadeth, he suggested Dave Mustaine rehire Marty Friedman to fill his spot

By Matt Owen published 4 January 24

Finnish metal prodigy Teemu Mäntysaari eventually got the gig, but that seemingly doesn't rule out the possibility that the former Megadeth icon could return in the future

“Kiko is a top-notch professional, a maestro – and he did not want to hurt me or Megadeth”: Dave Mustaine pays tribute to outgoing guitarist Kiko Loureiro – and names his successor

By Matt Owen published 21 November 23

Megadeth's main man put to bed speculation surrounding Loureiro's replacement, and named the guitarist who would help carry the band into 2024

“I don’t want to hinder any of the band’s plans”: Kiko Loureiro announces his departure from Megadeth after 9 years – and his successor may already be in place

By Matt Owen published 20 November 23

Is Teemu Mäntysaari, the young star currently filling in for Loureiro, set to take the mantle full-time? Or is a past player poised to make a sensational return?

Teemu Mäntysaari will fill-in for Megadeth guitarist Kiko Loureiro on the band's fall 2023 dates

“He's an amazing, incredible player”: Meet Teemu Mäntysaari, the fast-fretting fill-in set to take on Kiko Loureiro’s Megadeth tour duties

By Matt Parker published 6 September 23

The Megadeth lead man is taking time out from the band’s fall shows to support his family, but he’s got a formidable replacement lined-up

Watch Marty Friedman, Kiko Loureiro and Dave Mustaine rehearse for one of the summer’s biggest festival sets in new Megadeth behind-the-scenes footage

By Matt Owen published 16 August 23

See the ensemble run through sections of their four-song setlist – complete with an up-close view of Friedman's absurd solo powers

Marty Friedman, Dave Mustaine and Kiko Loureiro

Marty Friedman hints at next Megadeth performance – and it might be closer than you think

By Matt Owen published 2 March 23

Fans had to wait 23 years to see a reunion between Megadeth and their long-estranged guitarist. It's looking likely that the next wait will be much, much shorter

Kiko Loureiro shares Megadeth audition tape for Holy Wars and Trust - one day after learning to play the songs

By Richard Bienstock last updated 28 October 22

“I don’t think I would able to do this again five years later,” he says

Kiko Loureiro posts his original Megadeth audition tape playing Hangar 18 - after learning the song the day before

By Richard Bienstock last updated 28 October 22

Dave Mustaine's response? “There’s a lot of wrong notes!”

Dave Mustaine breaks down every track on Megadeth's The Sick, The Dying… and the Dead!

By Jon Wiederhorn published 23 September 22

From the fastest song Megadeth have ever recorded, to calling in Ice-T for tactical support, Megadave goes track by track and unpacks the story behind the band's 16th studio album

Megadeth's Dave Mustaine and Kiko Loureiro go deep on the tragedy and triumph that fueled The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead!

By Jon Wiederhorn published 6 September 22

In this exclusive interview, the state-of-the-art metal guitar duo unpack a story of sickness and recovery, and reveal how their opposing styles yielded some of the heaviest riffs and solos of the thrash titans' career

Megadeth’s Kiko Loureiro names the best bass players he’s ever played with

By Matt Owen published 18 August 22

The shredder draws from a long list of collaborators new and old and reveals the six low-end legends who he considers to be the best bassists he's collaborated with

Megadeth thrash out in Oslo, Norway, 2022.

Megadeth show us their war face on precision-riffing new single Soldier On!

By Jonathan Horsley published 12 August 22

Dave Mustaine keeps the full thrash-metal jacket vibe going with the latest military-inspired track from forthcoming studio album, the The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!

Dave Mustaine performs with Megadeth at the Sentrum Scene in Oslo, Norway on June 5, 2022

Dave Mustaine reveals the fastest song Megadeth have ever written, and it is 190 bpm

By Jackson Maxwell published 10 August 22

In a brand-new interview with Guitar World, the thrash pioneer also discussed his determination to work on the band's new album while undergoing radiation and chemo treatments for cancer

(from left to right) James LoMenzo, Dave Mustaine and Kiko Loureiro from the band Megadeth perform on stage at the Sentrum Scene on June 05, 2022 in Oslo, Norway

Megadeth return in glorious form with new thrasher, We’ll Be Back

By Jackson Maxwell published 23 June 22

The band also revealed that their long-awaited, highly-anticipated new album, The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!, will be released on September 2

NAMM 2022: Fresh Nita Strauss, Tom Quayle and Jake Bowen signatures headline Ibanez’s new-for-2022 artist model lineup

By Matt Owen published 3 June 22

New models for Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Kiko Loureiro and George Benson have also been unveiled

Why Kiko Loureiro's mom bought him an electric guitar instead of sending him to therapy as a teen

By Sam Roche published 13 April 22

The Megadeth guitarist's school principal sought to refer him to a psychologist for writing a story about guitars, skulls and blood

Megadeth’s Kiko Loureiro sets up his own online Guitar Academy

By Matt Owen published 18 March 22

The comprehensive platform will see Loureiro break down his most elaborate compositions, host monthly hangouts and tutor technique and theory