Editing Megadeth (section)

===2019–2023: Ellefson's second departure and ''The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead!''===
On May 10, 2019, Megadeth entered the studio in [[Franklin, Tennessee]], to begin pre-production of the next album, once again teaming up with ''Dystopia'' co-producer Chris Rakestraw.<ref>{{cite news|title=MEGADETH Enters Studio For New Album Pre-Production|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/megadeth-enters-studio-to-record-new-album/|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=May 10, 2019}}</ref> On June 17, the band announced that all shows scheduled in 2019 (with the exception of the MegaCruise) would be cancelled due to Mustaine being diagnosed with throat cancer;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/megadeths-dave-mustaine-diagnosed-with-throat-cancer/|title=Megadeth's Dave Mustaine Diagnosed With Throat Cancer|website=[[Kerrang!]]|date=June 17, 2019 |access-date=June 17, 2019}}</ref> of all the cancelled dates, the band was scheduled to support [[Ozzy Osbourne]] on the North American leg of the [[No More Tours II]] tour,<ref>{{cite news|title=OZZY OSBOURNE Announces 2019 North American Tour With MEGADETH|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/ozzy-osbourne-announces-2019-north-american-tour-with-megadeth/|work=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=November 5, 2018}}</ref> which had been postponed from the summer of 2019 to the summer of 2020 due to Osbourne sustaining an injury while dealing with pneumonia. They were replaced by [[Marilyn Manson]] instead.<ref>{{cite news|title=OZZY OSBOURNE To Be Joined By MARILYN MANSON For Rescheduled 2020 North American Dates|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/ozzy-osbourne-to-be-joined-by-marilyn-manson-for-rescheduled-2020-north-american-dates/|work=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=November 20, 2019|date=November 14, 2018}}</ref> Despite Mustaine's illness, the band vowed to continue working on their new album.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.houseofhaironline.com/2019/06/megadeths-dave-mustaine-vows-to-beat-cancer/|author=HOUSE OF HAIR|title=Megadeth's Dave Mustaine Vows To Beat Cancer|website=houseofhaironline.com|date=June 28, 2019|access-date=June 28, 2019}}</ref> On November 6, Mustaine shared a video on [[Instagram]] teasing a track from the band's upcoming album,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://loudwire.com/megadeth-new-song-tease/|title=Dave Mustaine Teases Heavy + Fast New Megadeth Song – Listen|website=[[Loudwire]]|access-date=November 8, 2018}}</ref> which was originally set for release in 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/megadeth-share-rehearsal-footage-from-new-album-sessions|title=Megadeth share rehearsal footage from new album sessions|website=[[Metal Hammer]]|access-date=November 8, 2018}}</ref> On July 17, Megadeth announced their partnership with [[Gimme Radio]] and [[Richard Childress Racing]] on the No. 2 Gimme Radio [[Chevrolet Camaro]], which was driven by [[Xfinity Series]] driver [[Tyler Reddick]] at the [[New Hampshire 200]] on July 20.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rcrracing.com/news-media/news/2019/07/17/tyler-reddick-megadeth-new-hampshire-gimme-radio/|title=Reddick to Celebrate Metal Band Megadeth with Gimme Radio Chevy in Loudon|website=rcrracing.com|date=July 17, 2019|access-date=July 17, 2019}}</ref> On August 21, the band announced that they would embark on their first tour since Mustaine's illness in January and February 2020, with [[Five Finger Death Punch]] and [[Bad Wolves]] supporting on the European tour.<ref>{{cite news|title=FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH To Tour Europe With MEGADETH And BAD WOLVES|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/five-finger-death-punch-to-tour-europe-with-megadeth-and-bad-wolves/|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=August 21, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH Announces Dates For European Tour With MEGADETH, BAD WOLVES|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/five-finger-death-punch-announces-dates-for-european-tour-with-megadeth-bad-wolves/|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=September 9, 2019}}</ref>

The band was originally scheduled to perform on the first-ever MegaCruise to coincide with the release of the next album,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/megadeth-announces-first-ever-megacruise/|title=MEGADETH Announces First-Ever 'Megacruise'|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=September 25, 2018}}</ref> due to sail on October 13, 2019, from [[Los Angeles]] and hit ports of [[San Diego]] and [[Ensenada, Baja California|Ensenada]] before returning on October 18, including performances by heavy metal acts such as [[Lamb of God (band)|Lamb of God]], [[Anthrax (American band)|Anthrax]], [[Testament (band)|Testament]], [[Overkill (band)|Overkill]], [[Corrosion of Conformity]], [[Queensrÿche]], [[Armored Saint]], [[Metal Church]], [[Suicidal Tendencies]], [[DragonForce]], [[Doro (musician)|Doro]], [[John 5 (guitarist)|John 5]], [[Death Angel]] and [[Toothgrinder]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/anthrax-testament-corrosion-of-conformity-others-confirmed-for-megadeths-first-ever-megacruise/|title=ANTHRAX, TESTAMENT, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, Others Confirmed For MEGADETH's First-Ever 'Megacruise'|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=October 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metalinsider.net/news/overkill-and-dragonforce-added-to-first-ever-megacruise|title=Overkill and Dragonforce added to first-ever MegaCruise|website=Metal Insider|date=October 25, 2018|access-date=October 28, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Trapp|first=Philip|title=Suicidal Tendencies, Queensryche + More Added to 2019 Megacruise|url=https://loudwire.com/suicidal-tendencies-queensryche-megacruise-2019/|website=[[Loudwire]]|date=March 21, 2019|access-date=June 18, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=LAMB OF GOD Added To MEGADETH's 'Megacruise'|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/lamb-of-god-added-to-megadeths-megacruise/|work=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=August 31, 2020|date=August 6, 2019}}</ref> however, Mustaine was not present due to his illness. It was instead a live performance featuring members of each respective band playing [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]] songs.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/megadeth-no-official-decision-has-yet-been-made-regarding-dave-mustaines-involvement-in-megacruise/|title=MEGADETH: No Official Decision Has Yet Been Made Regarding DAVE MUSTAINE's Involvement In 'Megacruise'|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=September 21, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/members-of-megadeth-anthrax-testament-death-angel-others-take-part-in-kiss-all-star-jam-on-megacruise-video/|title=Members Of MEGADETH, ANTHRAX, TESTAMENT, DEATH ANGEL, Others Take Part In All-Star KISS Jam On 'Megacruise' (Video)|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=October 19, 2019}}</ref>

[[File:HF2022Megadeth 5.jpg|thumb|left|Bassist [[James LoMenzo]] rejoined Megadeth in 2022, after his replacement David Ellefson was dismissed from the group the previous year.]]
Megadeth was originally scheduled to embark on a co-headlining tour in North America with Lamb of God dubbed "The Metal Tour of the Year" in the summer of 2020, with [[Trivium (band)|Trivium]] and [[In Flames]] as support acts,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/live/8550594/megadeth-lamb-of-god-north-america-2020-tour-dates/|author=Mims, Taylor|title=Megadeth and Lamb Of God Announce North American 2020 Co-Headline Tour|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=February 10, 2020}}</ref> but was postponed due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. The tour was rescheduled for the summer of 2021,<ref>{{cite news|title=MEGADETH, LAMB OF GOD, TRIVIUM And IN FLAMES Announce 2021 Dates For 'The Metal Tour Of The Year'|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/megadeth-lamb-of-god-trivium-and-in-flames-announce-2021-dates-for-the-metal-tour-of-the-year/|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=July 1, 2020}}</ref> with [[Hatebreed]] replacing In Flames due to the latter being forced to withdraw from the line-up due to international visa issues caused by the pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/hatebreed-replaces-in-flames-on-the-metal-tour-of-the-year/|title=HATEBREED Replaces IN FLAMES On 'The Metal Tour Of The Year'|access-date=July 13, 2021|website=Blabbermouth.net|date=July 13, 2021}}</ref> Megadeth re-entered the studio in Nashville in mid-2020 to resume recording their new album, tentatively planned for release in 2021.<ref>{{cite news|title=DAVID ELLEFSON Will Travel To Nashville This Week To Begin Recording New MEGADETH Album|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/david-ellefson-will-travel-to-nashville-this-week-to-begin-recording-new-megadeth-album/|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=May 19, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=DAVE MUSTAINE Says New MEGADETH Album Is 'Coming Along Great'|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/dave-mustaine-says-new-megadeth-album-is-coming-along-great/|work=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=July 25, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Why MEGADETH Decided Against Recording New Album Remotely|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/why-megadeth-decided-against-recording-new-album-remotely/|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=July 31, 2020}}</ref> While hosting a Masterclass "Front Row Live" for fans via [[Zoom (software)|Zoom]] on January 9, 2021, Mustaine announced the title of the band's sixteenth album would be called ''[[The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead!]]'', however he indicated that the title might be subject to change.<ref name="Metal Addicts">{{cite web|url=https://metaladdicts.com/site/dave-mustaine-reveals-title-for-new-megadeth-album/|title=Dave Mustane Reveals Title For New Megadeth Album|publisher=Metal Addicts|date=January 10, 2021|access-date=January 11, 2021}}</ref>

In May 2021, sexually explicit videos of Ellefson were leaked to social media. The videos, reportedly recorded by a 19-year-old fan who was in correspondence with Ellefson, led to initial accusations of child grooming. Ellefson and the fan denied these claims in separate statements and maintained their encounters were consensual.<ref name="leak videos">{{cite web |title=Megadeth Comments On Leak Of 'Embarrassing' David Ellefson Videos: 'We Are Watching Developments Closely' |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/megadeth-comments-on-leak-of-embarrassing-david-ellefson-videos-we-are-watching-developments-closely/ |website=Blabbermouth |date=May 10, 2021 |access-date=May 23, 2021}}</ref> On May 24, Megadeth issued a statement announcing Ellefson's dismissal from the band.<ref>{{cite web |title=MEGADETH Officially Parts Ways With David Ellefson Following Sex Video Scandal|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/megadeth-offically-parts-ways-with-david-ellefson-following-sex-video-scandal/ |website=Blabbermouth |date=May 24, 2021 |access-date=May 24, 2021}}</ref> Ellefson later confirmed that he had actually been dismissed ten days earlier on May 14; the videos originally surfaced on May 10.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://metalinjection.net/news/drama/david-ellefson-was-actually-fired-from-megadeth-four-days-after-sexual-allegations-surfaced-new-details-from-revenge-porn-report|author=Pasbani, Robert|title=David Ellefson Was Actually Fired From Megadeth Four Days After Sexual Allegations Surfaced, New Details From Revenge Porn Report|website=Metal Injection|date=June 9, 2021|access-date=June 9, 2021}}</ref> Following the controversy, Mustaine said there would be no chance for Ellefson to rejoin the band, while Ellefson said he would pursue legal action against the leaked videos.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/dave-mustaine-says-there-is-no-chance-of-david-ellefson-ever-rejoining-megadeth-again/|title=Dave Mustaine Says There Is No Chance Of David Ellefson Ever Rejoining Megadeth Again|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|date=July 13, 2021|access-date=July 13, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kennelty |first1=Greg |title=David Ellefson On Recent Sex Scandal: "There Was Nothing Illegal" |url=https://metalinjection.net/news/drama/david-ellefson-on-recent-sex-scandal-there-was-nothing-illegal |website=Metal Injection |date=October 22, 2021 |access-date=September 13, 2023}}</ref>

On Mustaine's Gimme Radio program ''The Dave Mustaine Show'' on June 17, he said that the bass tracks recorded by Ellefson in May 2020 would not appear on the upcoming album and would be re-recorded by a different bassist,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/dave-mustaine-confirms-david-ellefson-will-not-appear-on-upcoming-megadeth-album/|title=DAVE MUSTAINE Confirms DAVID ELLEFSON Will Not Appear On Upcoming MEGADETH Album|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|date=June 17, 2021|access-date=June 17, 2021}}</ref> which was completed a short time later, but did not say who it was. He also revealed a song title from the album called "The Dogs of Chernobyl".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/dave_mustaine_confirms_david_ellefsons_bass_parts_on_new_megadeth_album_were_already_re-recorded_by_another_bassist.html|author=jomatami|title=Dave Mustaine Confirms David Ellefson's Bass Parts on New Megadeth Album Were Already Re-Recorded By Another Bassist|website=[[Ultimate Guitar]]|access-date=July 8, 2021}}</ref> Mustaine confirmed soon after that a new bassist was chosen with a picture showing the neck of the bass guitar and the unknown member being shown on the floor behind a chair, however, he did not reveal the name, but would announce it soon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/heres-the-first-glimpse-of-megadeths-new-bassist/|title=Here's The First Glimpse Of MEGADETH's New Bassist|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|date=July 12, 2021|access-date=July 12, 2021}}</ref> Former bassist [[James LoMenzo]] filled in for the band's upcoming tour with Lamb of God,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/news/megadeth-new-live-bassist|author=Maxwell, Jackson|title=Megadeth announce James LoMenzo as new live bassist|website=[[Guitar World]]|date=August 11, 2021|access-date=August 11, 2021}}</ref> while [[Steve Di Giorgio]] of [[Testament (band)|Testament]] performed as a session bassist on ''The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead!'', which was released in September 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://metaladdicts.com/megadeth-new-album-the-sick-the-dying-and-the-dead-postponed-to-september/|title=Megadeth's New Album, 'The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead', Postponed To September|date=June 12, 2022|accessdate=June 12, 2022|work=Metal Addicts}}</ref> LoMenzo was announced as the band's official bassist in May 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/megadeth-announces-james-lomenzo-as-permanent-replacement-for-david-ellefson|title=MEGADETH Announces JAMES LOMENZO As 'Permanent' Replacement For David Ellefson|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|date=May 31, 2022|access-date=May 31, 2022}}</ref>

After several teasers,<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 21, 2022 |title=Megadeth tease new music on mysterious website|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/megadeth-tease-new-music-on-mysterious-website|access-date=June 23, 2022 |website=loudersound |language=en}}</ref> "[[We'll Be Back]]", the first single from the record, was released on June 23,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Trapp |first=Todd FooksTodd FooksContributing Authors: Philip|title=Fans React to Megadeth's New Song 'We'll Be Back'|url=https://loudwire.com/megadeth-new-song-well-be-back-reactions-fans-listeners/ |access-date=June 23, 2022 |website=Loudwire |date=June 23, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> along with the tracklist, followed by next singles "Night Stalkers" and "[[Soldier On!]]", released on July 22<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/news/megadeth-ice-t-night-stalkers|title=Megadeth join forces with Ice-T for pummeling new single, Night Stalkers|work=[[Guitar World]]|date=July 22, 2022|accessdate=September 3, 2022}}</ref> and August 12<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/megadeth-soldier-on|title=Megadeth Unleash New Single 'Soldier On'|website=[[Ultimate Classic Rock]]|date=August 12, 2022|accessdate=September 3, 2022}}</ref> respectively.

In November 2022, the band released a cover of a [[Judas Priest]] song titled "Delivering The Goods" from their 1978 album, ''[[Killing Machine]].''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kennelty |first=Greg |date=February 21, 2023|access-date=May 15, 2025|title=MEGADETH Streams Cover Of JUDAS PRIEST's "Delivering The Goods" |url=https://metalinjection.net/new-music/megadeth-streams-cover-of-judas-priests-delivering-the-goods |website=Metal Injection}}</ref>

On February 27, 2023, Megadeth was joined by former guitarist Marty Friedman where they performed three songs at the Budokan in Japan. This marked Friedman's first performance with the band since 2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://guitar.com/news/music-news/marty-friedman-megadeth-reunion-japan/|title=Watch: Marty Friedman reunites with Megadeth onstage for the first time in 23 years|website=[[Guitar.com]]|date=February 28, 2023|accessdate=May 19, 2023}}</ref> On June 23, former drummer [[Lee Rausch]] died at the age of 58.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/former-megadeth-drummer-lee-rauch-dies|title=Former MEGADETH Drummer LEE RAUCH Dies|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|date=June 25, 2023}}</ref>