Megadeth's Dave Mustaine embraces 'regular life' after cancer battle

Hear this story Dave Mustaine already spent a lifetime overcoming an abusive and alcoholic father and his own addiction demons.

But when he was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma at the base of his tongue in February 2019, the cofounder, frontman and guitarist for Megadeth was forced to face his most formidable foe.

“In My Darkest Hour” (out now from Hachette) ‒ named for a song from Megadeth's 1988 album "So Far, So Good... So What!" ‒ details Mustaine’s cancer journey with unflinching candor, plainspokenness and wry humor. The pain he thought was tooth-related. The discovery of an inch-wide tumor at the back of his tongue. The foiled plans for Megadeth to record the follow-up to its Grammy-winning “Dystopia” album . Frustrations with the health care system, even for someone with “wealth and access.” How his faith was tested and his concerns elevated considering his 17 previous trips to rehab.