Watch MEGADETH Play First Concert With New Touring Guitarist TEEMU MÄNTYSAARI

September 7, 2023

MEGADETH played its first concert with new touring guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari (WINTERSUN, SMACKBOUND) last night (Wednesday, September 6) at Revel in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Teemu is filling in for the band's longtime axeman Kiko Loureiro, who announced earlier this week that he would sit out the next leg of MEGADETH's "Crush The World" tour in order to stay home with his children back in Finland.

Fan-filmed video of the Albuquerque concert can be seen below.

MEGADETH's setlist was as follows:

01. Hangar 18
02. Dread And The Fugitive Mind
03. Wake Up Dead
04. In My Darkest Hour
05. Sweating Bullets
06. Angry Again
07. We'll Be Back
08. The Conjuring
09. Dystopia
10. A Tout Le Monde
11. Trust
12. Tornado Of Souls
13. Symphony Of Destruction

On Tuesday (September 5),the Brazilian-born musician released the following statement regarding the matter: "Kiko checking in here! Our new record 'The Sick, The Dying, and The Dead' and our 'Crush The World tour have been great. The worldwide chart positions have been our best yet! We want to really thank you for that.

"I have something that is difficult to share, but we always like to keep you informed with the truth. I have to leave the tour for now, to be home with my children, and to help them face the difficult challenges that arise from us being 'Dads that work away from home.'

"I found a guitarist, Teemu Mäntysaari, to fill in for me during the fall, and I think you'll be very happy. He's an amazing, incredible player. I have shared this with my partner in shred, Dave Mustaine, and to no surprise, he said, 'Go! Go be there for your family and keep us posted!'

"To my band mates and all of our fans around the world, see you all very soon, back out on the Killing Road!"

Added Mustaine: "Kiko has had something come up in his family life that requires him to miss this next leg of our 'Crush The World' tour.

"We will not be cancelling the tour, and we'll introduce you to Teemu on September 6th in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at the Revel Arena. We are asking for your support and understanding at this time."

The 36-year-old Mäntysaari was born in Tampere, Finland and began playing guitar at the age of 12. In 2004, he joined the band WINTERSUN. He has also been a member of SMACKBOUND since 2015.

In April 2015, it was announced that Loureiro had joined MEGADETH, replacing Chris Broderick, who had left the band five months earlier.

In addition to Mustaine andLoureiro, MEGADETH's current lineup includes former SOILWORK drummer Dirk Verbeuren and bassist James LoMenzo.

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