Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine recently revealed details about an emotional phone call he received from Metallica’s James Hetfield following his 2019 cancer diagnosis, in an exclusive book extract shared by Louder Sound.
In his book, In My Darkest Hour, Mustaine reflects on the support he received from various prominent figures in the music industry during his health battle.
“After my cancer diagnosis became public, I heard from a lot of people both in and out of the music industry,” Mustaine wrote. “Ozzy Osbourne reached out. So did Paul Stanley of KISS. And James Hetfield.”
Mustaine went on to clarify that the gesture was not about resolving past conflicts, but rather about acknowledging their deep, shared history.
“I don’t want this to sound like my getting cancer was the impetus for some sort of cease-fire between Megadeth and Metallica,” Mustaine explained. “That fight had been over for years. But wounds leave scars, even after healing, so it would be inaccurate to say that James and I were best buddies. But we have a shared history that will always be deep and profound; I care about him, and I know that he cares about me.”
He also emphasized the personal significance of Hetfield reaching out privately during a difficult time.
“Hearing from him just as I was about to begin treatment, when I was at a pretty low point, meant a lot to me,” Mustaine continued. “F*ck the drama. Be a human being. And don’t do it for clout or likes on social media. Pick up the damn phone and reach out. Privately. One to one. That’s what James did.”
This extract offers a rare glimpse into the enduring bond between the two metal icons. Mustaine’s book, In My Darkest Hour, is expected to share more stories from his life and career.
The passage lands with extra weight because it sits alongside a candid account of the illness that prompted Hetfield’s call, as well as a decades-long history between the two bands that the book revisits in detail.
Mustaine was diagnosed in 2019 with squamous cell carcinoma at the base of his tongue, following a dental check-up and a series of follow-up tests. The treatment that followed was aggressive, and Mustaine has described its physical toll in blunt terms.
“They hit the cancer really hard, nine doses of chemo and 51 radiation treatments, which just beats the hell out of you,” Mustaine told Louder Sound.
Mustaine was declared cancer-free in early 2020 and returned to the stage with Megadeth in January of that year. His recovery became a central theme of the memoir, which documents both the emotional strain of telling his family and the discomfort of treatment.
The Hetfield phone call also carries decades of context. The Megadeth–Metallica tension traces back to Mustaine’s 1983 firing from Metallica, an event that fueled years of friction between him, James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich.
In more recent years, Mustaine has said that the relationship has improved and that the three men keep working at it. “We are constantly working to improve our relationship, me, James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich. I really love these guys,” he told WikiMetal.
In My Darkest Hour was released on September 8, 2026, by Da Capo, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing. Mustaine co-wrote the memoir with author Joe Layden, and the book covers his cancer battle alongside the wider story of his life and career.
