This letter is made with profound appreciation, contemplation, and respect to my brothers in Megadeth, to my former colleagues in Metallica, to the devoted fans who have supported me through every era, and to the international community that has carried this music forward for decades.
I never thought the journey would be this lengthy, this difficult, or this significant when I first took up a guitar. Raw energy, revolt, and a refusal to fit in gave rise to thrash metal. A lifetime of music, conflict, fraternity, reinvention, and unrelenting passion ensued.
To the musicians that have supported me throughout the years in Megadeth: you were instrumental in bringing my vision to life. You provided discipline, inventiveness, and passion to every note through lineup changes, international tours, studio marathons, and the unwavering quest for perfection. Together, we created music that pushed limits, a band that refused to compromise, and a legacy that is still developing today.
To my old Metallica bandmates: Thrash metal is rooted in our shared past. What started in modest venues and garages spread throughout the world. The influence of that early chapter is still evident even though our paths diverged. Respect for the music, the impact, and our individual contributions to the development of a genre that permanently altered heavy metal.
To the fans: you are this journey’s real lifeblood. You supported us through all of our successes, failures, victories, and comebacks, as well as the classic albums and experimental stages. Every hardship was rewarded because of your devotion, your enthusiasm in the pit, your voices yelling every word, and your unshakable faith in this music. Beyond the stage, you gave this band a purpose.
To all of the Megadeth fans throughout the worldβpromoters, crew members, producers, engineers, journalists, and metalheads who spread the word internationallyβyou contributed to the creation of an atmosphere that allowed our music to flourish and reach a new generation of listeners. You transformed thrash metal into a culture rather than just a genre.
Perseverance, in addition to talent, has shaped my career. There were times of uncertainty, disagreement, and reimagining. Nevertheless, the community’s support and passion for the music never wavered. Every song, every riff, and every performance was driven by that support.
It was never intended for thrash metal to be secure. It was supposed to be loud, honest, and unyielding. We created something that endured throughout time together.
I’m grateful for the flames.
I am grateful for your faith.
I am grateful for the brotherhood.
The music endures.
David Scott Mustaine