Dave Mustaine’s New Memoir ‘In My Darkest Hour’ to Recount His Cancer Battle

We’ve got a saying around here: “fuck cancer.” Okay, that’s likely a saying literally everywhere because why wouldn’t it be but right now, we’re talking about Dave Mustaine (Megadeth), his battle with cancer, and his next memoir.

Tentatively set for release in September 2027, Mustaine’s new work In My Darkest Hour will detail his self-described “gnarly” cancer treatment, following a 2019 diagnosis of a squamous cell carcinoma at the back of his tongue. Yep, that sounds gnarly, alright.

In My Darkest Hour is being released under Grand Central Publishing’s new imprint Da Capo and co-written by The New York Times journalist Joe Layden, who also worked with Mustaine on his autobiography Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir, as well as the late Ace Frehley’s No Regrets: A Rock ‘N’ Roll Memoir.

The official In My Darkest Hour, as provided by Da Capo, reads as follows:

“From King of Metal Dave Mustaine, a powerful reflection on the harsh truths and raw realizations that can only come from confronting death.

“Dave Mustaine is no stranger to pain and suffering. He battled demons all his life — including an alcoholic father, addiction, and black magic — and turned fifty-eight believing he’d survived the worst. But in 2019, Mustaine was forced to face the loss of his instantly recognizable voice and the disintegration of his musical talent. Diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma at the back of his tongue, his entire career — and possibly his life — was about to end.

“For Mustaine, it was one more opportunity to fight like hell.

“In My Darkest Hour takes readers from the treatment room to the studio as Mustaine chronicles how his diagnosis inspired him to take up the pen and guitar pick, going from radiation and chemotherapy appointments straight into hours-long recording sessions, resulting in Megadeth’s sixteenth studio album, The Sick, The Dying…And The Dead! Along the way, Mustaine details how confronting his own mortality brought him closer to his family, taught him how to ask for help, strengthened his faith, and challenged the vulnerability of his art.

“Filled with perseverance, hope, and the determination to never let the bastards grind you down, In My Darkest Hour is a masterful portrait of a Dave Mustaine that the world has yet to see, and serves as a moving reminder that even our most invincible heroes are human.”

Hopefully that 2027 release date turns out to be legit. Ya know, so you can get your hands on it sooner if you like reading about gnarly things and all.