Guitarist Kiko Loureiro left Megadeth for good in late 2023 after an extended leave of absence from the band. But before he departed, Loureiro suggested another ex-Megadeth axeman to take his place: Marty Friedman.
Friedman famously played guitar in Megadeth during the 1990s, contributing his virtuosic guitarwork to two of the band’s most beloved albums, 1990’s Rust in Peace and 1992’s Countdown to Extinction, among other LPs.
The pairing of Dave Mustaine and Friedman pairing stands as one the greatest twin-guitar attacks in heavy metal history, and some fans thought Loureiro’s initial absence from the band — temporary at first (he sat out multiple tours) — was the perfect time to bring Friedman back into the fold.
Apparently, Loureiro had the same idea.
“Actually, I even mentioned to management and Dave that I thought bringing Marty Friedman back would be amazing,” Loureiro told Guitar World in a new interview.
Instead, Megadeth officially named Finnish guitar wizard Teemu Mäntysaari as Loureiro’s replacement after he served as a temporary sub during the band’s 2023 tour slate. Loureiro said that he can’t confirm whether Megadeth were still in the process of determining permanent personnel when he announced his exit, though he did namedrop Friedman on the way out.
“I have no idea if they’re talking about it or talking to him, but I did say that,” Loureiro said. “But again, I have no idea beyond that, and I don’t want to make anything more complicated.”
Loureiro, who helped recruit Mäntysaari, went on to say that he could never hope to escape Friedman’s shadow as a guitarist in Megadeth, but remains gracious that the fanbase accepted him in that role. His stint, 2015 through 2023, yielded two studio albums: 2016’s Grammy-winning Dystopia and 2022’s The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead!
“The fans never said anything bad about me or complained, which was amazing,” Loureiro said. “But I’m a fan, and I always understood that Marty was a part of those iconic albums like Rust in Peace and Countdown to Extinction. I understood that Marty was the guy who helped create that sound and style, you know? From the moment I joined Megadeth, I knew the fans could show me love, but I would never win their hearts over Marty.”
Friedman did reunite with Megadeth for a couple of one-off shows in 2023, including a gig at Tokyo’s famed Budokan Arena. The guitarist discussed the experience in an exclusive interview with Heavy Consequence.
As of now, Megadeth have a run of Latin American and European dates slated for the spring and summer of this year. Pick up tickets here, and watch our recent interview with Dave Mustaine and bassist James LoMenzo below.