In a recent interview Megadeth bassist David Ellefson openly shared his feelings about the band's leader, Dave Mustaine , stating that he misses him despite their estrangement. This statement reignites discussions about the complex relationship between the two musicians who, for decades, were the backbone of one of the world's greatest thrash metal bands.
David Ellefson, who co-founded Megadeth with Mustaine in 1983, stood alongside the guitarist and vocalist through various phases of the band, including their most successful periods and the turbulent disagreements that resulted in his departure and return. David Ellefson first left Megadeth in 2002 when the band went on hiatus due to a nerve injury suffered by Dave Mustaine. This initial departure wasn't a dismissal in the traditional sense, but rather part of the band's temporary "end." In 2021, after the release of sexually explicit messages and videos with a young woman on social media , Ellefson was fired from Megadeth.
In an interview on The Delz Show , Ellefson commented on his relationship with Mustaine: “I miss Dave too. Look, some of the best stories in my life start with 'The time Dave and I…' — fill in the blank. We lived a very interesting life together in that band. We haven't spoken in a few years, but I miss the guy, of course. We had a lot of fun. And whenever we had (a fight) like this (in the past), as soon as we got back together, it was like we had just left yesterday.”
A remarkable return and legacy.
Ellefson recalled his return to Megadeth in 2010 for the 20th anniversary tour of the album Rust In Peace . Initially, he accepted the position of a hired musician, unlike his previous position as co-owner of the company. This change, according to him, brought a certain lightness.
“I thought, ‘Well, let me just try… Let me keep things simple, easy.’ And as we traveled the world, it was great. With the Big Four (with Metallica , Slayer , and Anthrax ) it was cool because I was back in Megadeth, Joey Belladonna was back in Anthrax, Dave Lombardo The Candid Mic With Fran Strine podcast .
During this second period, Megadeth won a Grammy , and Ellefson considers that "a lot of our history together in Megadeth, Dave and I, was able to be concluded." He keeps the door open for a future collaboration, but without expecting it. "You just move on. I certainly didn't stop. I just kept going," he stated.
The end of a friendship and new paths.
Asked if he had spoken to Mustaine since his dismissal in May 2021 , Ellefson was blunt: “No. Not a word. No need. After that? No, I don’t need to be his friend. I’ll move on.” He explained that the end of the friendship “was built a long time ago,” dating back to 2018, due to disagreements over the composition of the album The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead !.
“Every time I tried to write and put something in it, it was taken down. And it felt very personal. At some point, it was like, ‘Look, man, if you don’t want me here, screw it. I’m moving on.’ So, I guess it took what it took and what happened, happened. And then it was time to just abolish everything and make it all disappear,” Ellefson explained.
Despite past adversities and legal battles (such as a lawsuit filed by Ellefson against Mustaine in 2004 alleging unpaid royalties and other broken agreements), Ellefson emphasizes that he is not closing doors and seeks to preserve the legacy he has built. “I don’t close doors,” David explained. “I don’t slam them in people’s faces and say, ‘Fuck you. That’s it. And you’re never going to work in this city again.’ Because you’re angry at the moment. That’s all. Just move on.”
For Ellefson, Megadeth is no longer the "united band" of the 90s, but rather "Dave's show," and he understands that he has other things to say and do in his life. He always seeks to refer to Megadeth in a positive way, instead of opposing it. "Why would I oppose what I did? That's like shitting on my own work. So, it's like I should hold it in high regard, because it is—we really did great things together—and then just move on. That way, you don't tarnish your own past and your own work."
Post-Megadeth activity: Ellefson's current projects and endeavors.
Despite the ups and downs and personal and professional challenges, David Ellefson hasn't stopped. The bassist has remained extremely active in the music scene and in other areas.
Currently, he is a central figure in several prominent projects, such as Kings of Thrash , a band he co-founded with fellow ex-Megadeth member Jeff Young , dedicated to celebrating and playing classic early Megadeth albums. They have toured extensively, including in Europe, focusing on anniversaries of albums like Youthanasia .
In addition, Ellefson is a member of the supergroup Dieth , a death/thrash band with guitarist Guilherme Miranda (ex- Entombed AD ) and drummer Michał Łysejko (ex- Decapitated ), which released its first album, To Hell And Back , in 2023. He is also involved with the project The Lucid , alongside Vinnie Dombroski ( Sponge ) and Mike Heller (Fear Factory ).
Offstage, David Ellefson has ventured into executive producing films, such as the horror movie Bunker Heights , and continues with his record label EMP Label Group, his coffee line, Ellefson Coffee Co. , and even a solo tour titled Bass Warrior , where he revisits songs from his career and shares stories.
READ ALSO: David Ellefson says he hasn't spoken to Dave Mustaine in four years.
