For only the second time in their storied 40-plus year career, Megadeth have performed a live cover of a Metallica song. The historic moment took place in Bogota, Colombia, on April 26, 2026, as the thrash icons continued their ongoing farewell tour.
During the set, the band surprised fans by debuting two specific tracks: “This Was My Life,” originally featured on 1992’s Countdown to Extinction, and a blistering rendition of the 1984 Metallica classic “Ride the Lightning.” Notably, the latter appears as a bonus track on Megadeth‘s final studio album.
The inclusion of these songs carried a thematic weight, as both tracks contain lyrical references to the electric chair. In “This Was My Life,” Dave Mustaine sings of paybacks and the looming threat of execution, a sentiment mirrored by the dark, heavy narrative of “Ride the Lightning,” a song Mustaine co-wrote during his tenure with Metallica.
While Megadeth has long kept “Mechanix” as a staple of their live performances, the band has historically avoided covering Metallica material. Prior to this performance, the only other documented instance of the band playing a Metallica song live occurred in 2013. During the final night of the Gigantour, Megadeth welcomed former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted to the stage for a performance of “Phantom Lord,” another track co-written by Mustaine.
The Bogota setlist served as a testament to the band’s legacy, featuring a career-spanning selection of hits before closing with their signature anthem, “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due.” As Megadeth continues their globe-trotting farewell tour, which is currently scheduled through late November, fans are left to wonder if other surprises remain in store for the final chapter of one of metal’s most influential bands.
