“Smile and keep going. That’s my message”: Watch the moment Kiko Loureiro’s strap falls off mid-solo – in front of Guthrie Govan By Phil Weller published 24 April 24 The former Megadeth virtuoso insists his Ibanez is “better than ever” despite clattering the stage floor mid-jam
“You can find all the guitars I was using with Megadeth. All the tours, and also the recording of The Sick, The Dying… and the Dead!” Kiko Loureiro is selling his Megadeth gear on Reverb By Matt Owen published 17 April 24 The former Megadeth guitarist has hit a hard reset on his gear collection, and parting ways with a host of Ibanez, Gibson and Godin gear he used over the past few years
“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”
“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?
“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 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 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 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
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