Former Megadeth guitarist Kiko Loureiro has opened up about the demanding touring schedule that led to his departure from the legendary heavy metal band. In a candid interview, Loureiro explained how the relentless five-to-six-month annual tours conflicted with his family responsibilities. This ultimately forced him to make a difficult decision after nearly nine years with the group.
“During Megadeth, it was great, so nothing to complain,” Loureiro said. “But it was eight years, almost nine years, and then I was touring maybe — I don’t know — five months, maybe sometimes six months [in a year], so that’s a lot. It’s very different than doing 25 days [as I have done on my solo tour].”
The guitarist emphasized that multiple factors contributed to his decision. Family concerns took center stage. “There’s never one reason when you take a big decision in life,” he explained. “So one of the reasons was the family. That was the more intensive reason. After doing the tour, there was another three-month tour, and then it was, like, ‘Oh, maybe this is too much.’ But I was fighting with these thoughts since I joined Megadeth, basically.”
Loureiro’s family situation became increasingly challenging as his tenure with Megadeth progressed. His daughter was around five years old when he joined the band. Shortly after, in 2016—the same year Megadeth released the Grammy-winning album “Dystopia”—he became a father to twins. “So all those years in Megadeth was difficult to be traveling and having newborn twins at home, and then traveling,” he reflected. “So it makes you think a lot, because that’s what I always wanted, to be touring, etc., and playing guitar. And then also have the kids, and then your mentality, your mindset changes a lot.”
The pandemic further complicated matters. It added another layer of stress to an already demanding situation. After years of internal conflict between his passion for touring and his responsibilities as a father, Loureiro reached a breaking point. “And then, at some point, I said, like, ‘I think eight, nine years is enough.’ And then I felt, like, okay. And then also I felt that the kids needed me more, more than before,” he said. “And there was a three-month tour [coming up], so [I said], like, ‘Look, I can help to find a substitute. If you can wait, great. If you don’t wanna wait, it’s fine as well.'”
While Loureiro’s recent comments frame his departure as permanent, the official timeline reveals a more nuanced situation. Loureiro initially stepped away from Megadeth in September 2023, taking a leave of absence to address pressing family matters, according to Loudwire. The guitarist pulled out of the band’s North American tour leg, which was set to begin on September 6, 2023, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Finnish guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari stepped in as his replacement.
Metal Injection reported that Loureiro extended his leave of absence into 2024. He cited discussions with Dave Mustaine and band management. The guitarist made the decision to remain absent as Megadeth anticipated an even busier touring year. He felt this schedule would further disrupt his family life. This extension signaled that his absence was not a temporary measure but rather a more prolonged step back from the band’s grueling schedule.
The transition to a new guitarist happened seamlessly. Teemu Mäntysaari filled in for Loureiro starting with that September 6 show. Megadeth’s official timeline indicates that Mäntysaari continued as the band’s touring guitarist through multiple major tours in 2024 and beyond. These included the Destroy All Enemies U.S. tour and Latin American shows. The Finnish guitarist’s consistent presence in the lineup suggests that Loureiro’s absence has become a permanent fixture in Megadeth’s current lineup.
