Rafael Bittencourt 's podcast Amplifica , Kiko Loureiro publicly commented for the first time on his departure from Megadeth .
In September, the band announced that the guitarist would be stepping away from the remainder of the North American tour due to family reasons. At the end of November, Kiko released a new statement explaining that he and Megadeth had decided to "extend his leave" so as "not to jeopardize any of the band's plans."
Kiko hasn't yet given many details about the reasons that led him to leave Megadeth, but in a conversation with Rafael Bittencourt, the guitarist spoke about seeking the freedom to make his own choices, taking into account the options he had at the time. "Due to circumstances in my life, I took the liberty of choosing not to be in Megadeth," he commented.
In a lengthy statement posted on Megadeth's social media , Dave Mustaine reiterated that Kiko's departure was due to "important issues" and that the band fully supported the guitarist's decision. Kiko Loureiro has been filling in for Megadeth's live shows with guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari , chosen by Kiko himself.
On December 8th and 9th, Kiko will be performing at Sesc Avenida Paulista in São Paulo .
