Ex-Megadeth guitarist Kiko Loureiro wanted the band to bring Marty Friedman back: “He was a part of those iconic albums.”

Kiko Loureiro, who stepped down as Megadeth’s guitarist last year, has revealed that he wanted one of the thrashers’ most iconic ex-members to replace him

Former Megadeth guitarist Kiko Loureiro has revealed that he wanted the band’s ’90s lead player, Marty Friedman, to replace him.

Loureiro joined Megadeth in 2015 and played on two of the famed thrashers’ albums: 2016’s Dystopia and 2022’s The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!. He announced he was taking a leave of absence last year to focus on time with family, then announced his formal exit in November.

Friedman was part of Megadeth from 1989 to 2000 and played on five of their albums, including fan favourites Rust In Peace and Countdown To Extinction. The guitarist appeared with the band onstage for the first time in 23 years last summer during their Japanese tour.