MEGADETH’S Dave Mustaine has revealed that he is battling throat cancer. The heavy metal group cancelled most of their upcoming tour so that the 57-year-old rocker can focus on his treatment, with it believed that Mustaine has a 90% chance of recovery. The star announced his cancer battle in a statement on the group’s website, […]
MEGADETH’S Dave Mustaine has revealed that he is battling throat cancer.
The heavy metal group cancelled most of their upcoming tour so that the 57-year-old rocker can focus on his treatment, with it believed that Mustaine has a 90% chance of recovery.
The star announced his cancer battle in a statement on the group’s website, which he linked too on Twitter with the comment: “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.”
Continuing on the site, Mustaine told fans: “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.”
Megacruise is scheduled to take place in October and is the band’s inaugural cruise departing from Los Angeles for “for five days and nights of heavy metal decadence and debauchery” in an at-sea festival, featuring Anthrax, Testament, and Suicidal Tendencies.
The father-of-two concluded his poignant post by thanking his family, doctors, and bandmates – reassuring fans that he and the rest of Megadeth are still working hard in the studio despite cancelling the tour dates.
He explained: “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.”
Mustaine was inundated with supportive messages from his followers, including several of his fellow rockstars.
Anthrax’s Scott Ian tweeted: “Please join me in sending all of our most powerful positive mind bullets to my brother Dave.
“You got this my friend, you can beat it – like you beat me in arm-wrestling! Kick its a** and get healthy!”
Sons of Apollo’s Mike Portnoy added: “Prayers and positive vibes out to my friend. Cancer doesn’t stand a chance fighting this guy!”
Mustaine’s 21-year-old daughter Electra shared a throwback photo with her famous dad alongside the caption: “I would do and give anything for this man. Dad, I love you so so much. You’ve taught me what love should look like, taught me reliability, perseverance, commitment… and mostly, strength.
“On days when you can’t, I will give you mine.”
She also shared a sweet photo tribute to her dad on Instagram, writing: “Nothing’s ever stopped you before, so cancer doesn’t stand a chance.”
His bandmate David Ellefson tweeted: “Praying for my friend Dave Mustaine for a full and speedy recovery!”
Mustaine first found fame in the ’80s as Metallica’s original lead guitarist.
He was fired from the band in 1983 due to his alcoholism, drug abuse and aggressive behaviour.
The star formed Megadeth in the same year, with the band “thrash metal” trailblazers – soon nabbing a record deal with Capitol Records before their 1986 album went platinum.
Mustaine was arrested for driving under the influence in 1990, entering rehab in a bid to get clean before the release of the group’s 1992 album Countdown to Extinction – which was the metal band’s most commercially successful album.
Previous health battles for Mustaine include him suffering severe radial nerve damage in his arm in 2002 when he fell asleep with his arm over the back of a chair.
Medical professionals told him that he would never play guitar again, but defiant Mustaine opted to undergo 18 months of painful therapy, returning to the stage in 2004.
Megadeth’s most recent album, Dystopia, was released in 2016 – with the title track seeing the band win their first ever Grammy for Best Metal Performance.
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