DAVID ELLEFSON On MEGADETH's New Lineup: 'To Go Back And Chase Some Glory Day Is Like Chasing Fool's Gold'

In a brand new interview with Full Throttle Rock, MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson was asked if there is any news regarding who will become the band's new drummer and lead guitarist following last year's departures of Shawn Drover and Chris Broderick.

"There are some developments with it, and I think I've come to realize… We've certainly spent the last several months, [since] late November, sorting things out," he said. "I think, what I've come to is that we need to make a great record, 'cause that should always be… The songs have always determined who's going to be in the band, from day one. And nothing should change with that. To go back and chase some glory day is like chasing fool's gold. I think that the songs, and the album, are going to determine what the lineup is and I think that's the proper order of putting the horse in front of the cart."

Ellefson also talked about how his relationship with MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine has changed over the years. He said: "You know, I've gotta tell you, it's certainly gone through a lot. In the early days, it was not just about forming a band, but it was also about survival together. I mean, he was just really down on his luck, from the METALLICA thing and financially really behind the eight ball. I had just moved to California from a pretty comfortable middle-class life on a farm in Minnesota and straight into Hollywood. I never went back home, I never called home for money. My attitude was, I'm out of home now pursuing what I want to do and now it's time to do this on my own. So Dave and I, we became like brothers in arms. We started a band together, we had to figure out a way to survive together, we drank together, we did girls together [laughs], we did everything together, you know? That was just the spirit of being in a rock and roll band together. Especially being a heavy metal band in 1983; I can't think of a better time to start a heavy metal band. Especially in L.A., 'cause it was full on; it was great. It was just one of those things when you go through those experiences together. I mean, that's a bond that just doesn't come along that often. It's sort of like a heavy metal fraternity or something…. And a lot of the other guys, they couldn't handle it, they couldn't take it, you know? Dave and I, we were the two... We were literally at the bottom, and then we were even lower… and that's… When you go to those kind of lows together… you like to think you can handle the highs together, and so that's what mine and David's relationships is, and I think now that we're older and we have families, we've grown into grown men now. Now we can look back at those things and laugh about them. We've certainly got enough stories together. But I think, just as importantly, we know, 'Well, we've been down this road before. We know what this looks like…' And the funny thing is he and I have been in the business longer than damn near anybody in our organization — managers, record company people, publishers. Maybe not booking agents, 'cause there's a couple of people who have been doing this longer than we have, but for the most part, Dave and I, we are the statesmen of our organization, without a doubt."

Only hours after Shawn Drover announced his exit from MEGADETH on November 25, 2014 to "to pursue [his] own musical interests," Broderick revealed he also quit the legendary metal band, saying that he was leaving the group "due to artistic and musical differences."

Broderick joined MEGADETH in late 2007 as the replacement for Glen Drover, who left the group in order to focus on family life.

Shawn joined MEGADETH in 2004 as the replacement for Nick Menza, who had only just rejoined the group. Drover performed on four MEGADETH studio records: 2007's "United Abominations", 2009's "Endgame", 2011's "TH1RT3EN" and "Super Collider".