Megadeth Through Fire and Pandemic | Music News

Dave Mustaine’s battle with cancer, the pandemic’s grip on recording, and a shocking bassist exit collided to make Megadeth’s latest album “The Sick, the Dying … and the Dead!” an epic test of endurance. Drummer Dirk Verbeuren recalls driving from LA to Nashville in 2020 to record during lockdowns, highlighting how COVID forced remote sessions. The drama escalated when leaked videos exposed tensions with longtime bassist David Ellefson — after nearly 40 years of stormy collaboration, Mustaine made the painful decision to part ways. With Ellefson’s parts needing full re-recording, Testament’s Steve DiGiorgio stepped in, mastering all bass lines in just two...