David Ellefson has admitted he “would love” to be a part of Megadeth‘s upcoming farewell tour, whilst he mirrored on the turbulent relationship with Dave Mustaine that has outlined a lot of the band’s historical past.
Talking on a particular episode of his video podcast The David Ellefson Show, the previous bassist reacted to the information that Megadeth‘s subsequent album shall be their final, with a farewell world tour deliberate for 2026. “There’s so much, ‘trigger, in fact, it brings up years and years of ideas, emotions, feelings, some nice, some not so nice,” he mentioned.
Wanting on the gold information on his wall, Ellefson pointed to milestones like Countdown To Extinction, Peace Sells, and Rust In Peace as reminders of each triumph and turbulence. “Actually nice stuff… [but also] addictions, rehabs, canceled excursions, misplaced funds within the tens of millions,” he recalled. “For issues to flush out the way in which they did with me not being a part of the ultimate farewell of one thing I began, as one can think about, [it’s] in all probability not one thing I am tremendous joyful about.”
A Sophisticated Historical past With Mustaine
Ellefson traced the stress again to 2001, when Mustaine publicly ended their friendship. After Megadeth briefly disbanded in 2002 because of Mustaine‘s debilitating arm harm, the band returned in 2004 with out Ellefson, sparking authorized disputes over funds and management. Although he rejoined in 2010 and remained till his firing in 2021, Ellefson mentioned the dynamic had shifted completely.
“Clearly Megadeth is a Mustaine family-run enterprise,” he mentioned, including that the collaborative spirit of the early years gave solution to a extra top-down mannequin. “Once I got here again, I knew under no circumstances was that ever gonna type of trump the model… Let me take my artistic stuff over there. I knew — look, we bought it again collectively. Let’s maintain it clear, let’s maintain it easy.”
Monetary disputes in 2004 left lasting scars. “Should you’re a founding member of a band, to a point you ought to be entitled to a bit of all the pieces,” Ellefson argued. “That deal bought modified in 2004. That instantly modified the panorama. It modified my emotions about it.”
Fired In 2021
Ellefson additionally revisited his 2021 dismissal, when sexually express personal messages and video surfaced on-line. “It was pointless,” he mentioned of Mustaine‘s determination to half methods. “They did not have to try this. No matter these circumstances are had been nothing to be feared. We will transfer on. However no matter. They made their determination, so let the chips fall the place they might.”
Nonetheless, Ellefson burdened he and Mustaine had as soon as operated with unity. “[Overkill‘s] Bobby Blitz mentioned… ‘Regardless of how we go into the room with separate concepts, we come out as one voice.’ And I at all times felt like Dave and I did that. Whether or not I agreed with it or not, you get on board with it. And for probably the most half, Dave‘s manner labored fairly good.”
As for Megadeth‘s farewell, Ellefson sees parallels with how Black Sabbath closed their profession in 2017, reuniting their core lineup for followers to say goodbye correctly. “Would I wish to be part of it? Yeah, in fact. Who would not? I am a founding member of it. I am a 30-plus-year member of it,” he mentioned. “Do I believe there ought to be some type of farewell that everyone will get to take part in? I believe that is an necessary a part of it. However that is me. I am not within the band anymore. I’ve no say in it.”
Megadeth’s Closing Album
Dave Mustaine introduced Megadeth‘s last album earlier this week, the follow-up to 2022’s The Sick, The Dying… And The Useless!. Produced by Chris Rakestraw, will probably be launched via Mustaine‘s Tradecraft imprint on Frontiers’ BLKIIBLK label in 2026, with pre-orders launching September 25. Farewell tour dates may even be introduced later this yr.
In an announcement, Mustaine informed followers: “Do not be mad, do not be unhappy, be joyful for us all, come have a good time with me these subsequent few years. We began a musical fashion, we began a revolution… and we modified the world. I really like you all for it. Thanks for all the pieces.”
For Ellefson, although, the query lingers: will he get the possibility to face onstage one final time with the band he co-founded? “Who is aware of?” he mentioned.
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