Kiko Loureiro Says He Chose “Freedom” and Family When He Left Megadeth
Earlier this month, ex-Megadeth and Angra guitarist Kiko Loureiro said goodbye to the Megadeth fanbase after already being away from the band since September. Having been with the iconic thrash metal outfit for nine years, Loureiro was the second longest-running guitarist in the band’s history, with only Marty Friedman having more time in the band.
As one of the few ex-Megadeth members to have the unique distinction of not getting fired by frontman Dave Mustaine, Loureiro is in rarefied air. During a recent appearance on the Amplifica podcast, hosted by his former Angra bandmate Rafael Bittencourt, Loureiro said he chose to leave the band because he wants to spend more time with his family and that he also “needs freedom.”
“And now, due to circumstances in my life, I have taken the liberty of choosing not to be in Megadeth. Because it’s my option. Because freedom is having the choice between two viable options; that is freedom.”
According to Loureiro, his career as a musician caused him to nearly miss some major milestones, including the birth of his daughter in 2011. Back in 2016 he missed 10 days on tour to be there for the birth of his twin sons. Looking back, he said he wouldn’t even be put in that position if faced with the same situation.
Another reason for wanting to leave seems to be a feeling of complacency. As big an operation as Megadeth is, each member pretty much has a team of handlers and stagehands that make it so the members just show up to gigs and play. That led to him feeling “comfortable” as a member of Megadeth.
Still, his eventual departure wasn’t a surprise to the band, as he said he’d been openly discussing wanting to get out with Mustaine since June. Loureiro said he personally handpicked Wintersun guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari as his temporary replacement in a bid to make the transition easier.
Loureiro announced his exit from the band back on November 19 with a post on the band’s official social media pages that extended his gratitude to his bandmates and the fans around the world.
“Dear Megadeth fans,
“I want to share with you a decision that hasn’t been easy for me.
In September, I had to step away from the U.S. leg of the tour for family reasons. Looking ahead, during 2024, we anticipate an even heavier touring schedule for Megadeth. After thorough reflection and discussions with Dave Mustaine and Megadeth’s management, we have collectively agreed that it is the right move to extend my absence. I don’t want to hinder any of the band’s plans or the hard work of all the incredible people involved in the tour.“My nine years with Megadeth have been an unbelievable journey, filled with countless ‘pinch-me’ moments. Unforgettable tours, a Grammy Award for ‘Dystopia’, a Grammy nomination, and various accolades for ‘The Sick, The Dying, And The Dead’ are just a few of the highlights. It is hard to put into words the magnitude of these experiences. I am sure any heavy metal fan can appreciate how incredible it is to play and create music in a band you grew up listening to, and to share the stage with a guitar legend like Dave Mustaine, along with phenomenal musicians like James LoMenzo and Dirk Verbeuren, not to mention our incredible crew. However, the most cherished aspect of these nine years has been getting to know the incredible army of devoted Megadeth fans around the world. Your dedication is inspiring, and I have immense admiration and respect for all of you.
“Much love, see you soon!”
A couple days later, Mustaine publicly thanked Loureiro for his service in the band via social media, calling him a “top-notch professional, a maestro.”
As of right now, Megadeth have the 2024 leg of their “Crush The World” tour planned. You can find the dates below.
Crush The World Tour 2024
Sat April 6 Lima, Peru Arena 1
Tu April 9 Santiago, Chile Movistar Arena
Thu April 11 Montevideo, Uruguay Arena Antel
Sat April 13 Buenos Aires, Argentina Movistar Arena
Tue April 16 Asuncion, Paraguay Jockey Club
Thu April 18 São Paulo, Brazil Espaco Unimed
Sun April 21 Bogota, Colombia Movistar Arena
Tue April 23 San Salvador, El Salvador Complejo Cuscatlan
Thu April 25 Ciudad de México, México Arena Ciudad de México
Sat April 27 Monterrey, México Arena Monterrey
