First published 2026
Dave Mustaine thought he had survived the worst life could throw at him. The Megadeth frontman had already fought through an alcoholic father, personal addiction, and decades of industry battles. At fifty-eight, he believed his hardest days were behind him. Then doctors diagnosed him with squamous cell carcinoma at the back of his tongue. The cancer threatened both his distinctive voice and his entire musical career. Mustaine refused to surrender. He split his time between radiation treatments and recording sessions, channeling his fight against mortality into Megadeth's sixteenth studio album. The book follows his journey from the treatment room to the studio, revealing how facing death transformed his relationships with family, faith, and creativity. Mustaine shows readers how confronting his vulnerability as an artist taught him to ask for help and deepened his spiritual beliefs. This memoir captures a legendary metal musician stripped of his usual armor, fighting for his life and legacy simultaneously.
Genres: non-fiction, biography-memoir, music
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: overcoming-adversity, personal-transformation
240 pages · Hardcover · Da Capo
Content warnings: terminal-illness