Ex-MEGADETH Bassist DAVID ELLEFSON: 'I'm Still A Metalhead All The Way!'

Brazilian MEGADETH fan site MegadethWorld.com recently conducted an interview with the group's former bassist David Ellefson. A few excerpts from the question-and-answer session follow:

Q: Are you aware that the MEGADETH fans dream about the return of the classic lineup (you, Marty Friedman and Nick Menza)? What do you think about it?

Ellefson: I understand it but I'm not sure it will happen, at least not for some time to come. The reality is that we've all gone off and started new lives away from each other and as long as we're happy doing that I don't see a reunion on the horizon. Hopefully, if it ever does happen, it will be for all the right reasons like the doing it for the fans to make them happy and because we all really want to play together again.

Q: What are your future plans in your career regarding music, bands and solo projects?

Ellefson: I have my band F5, TEMPLE OF BRUTALITY and doing a stint with my friends in IRON STEEL. I'm also producing many things and enjoying my life as an active musician/songwriter/producer. Life is good where I'm at and I get to be my own boss and do the things that I want to do.

Q: During all those years, MEGADETH showed an ideology and spiritual change, as we can see in the "Peace Sells" and "Rust in Peace" albums where there are descriptions of magic rituals or even Satanic ones like in "Five Magics", "The Conjuring", "Bad Omen" songs. Nowadays Mustaine refuses to play in concerts with Satanic (black metal) bands. Which were your relations with those "satanic songs", and how you see this belief and attitude changing?

Ellefson: I didn't write the lyrics to those songs so I don't have a strong connection to them as something personal to me. Musically, I like them all and really dig "Five Magics", especially after someone recently sent a video of me, Marty and Nick playing it at a soundcheck on YouTube years ago.

Q: By the time you were in the band, MEGADETH changed the lineup lots of times. In your opinion, why so many lineup changes? How were you relationship with Dave Mustaine during almost two decades in MEGADETH?

Ellefson: Well, when things were reuniting a few years back I had already moved on to new things from when the group disbanded in 2002. At that point it seemed best for me to keep moving forward in the new directions I had started on. Not that I wasn't into the band and music from the past, but we were all growing in different directions and I think it was time for me to move on and branch out. Now, I get to choose who I work with and am happy with these new things.

Q: How you deal with the "MEGADETH legacy" in your career? Do people recognize you as David Ellefson or MEGADETH ex-bass player? Did this cause you any kind of problem?

Ellefson: No, I take it as a compliment. I'm happy that so many people hold that work in high regard. I'm very aware that as I work on new things I'm not trying to compete with my past but rather just moving forward with new things, new ideas and new music. I think that is the healthy way to look at it as I don't have ill feelings about my past work.

Q: I imagine that you listen different styles of music. What I want to know is, what do you think about the music today, with all those emos and rappers, and so, and so and so? Do you think they deserve credits for the music they play?

Ellefson: I don't like emo and I can't stand rap! I'm still a metalhead all the way!

Q: In your opinion, how much MEGADETH's songs helped the young ones and what they will help or teach in the future?

Ellefson: It seems our music has reached out to at least one or two generations now, which is huge! I think because we stayed at it so long the depth of our catalog is very extensive and there's something for almost any fan of metal music.

Read the entire interview at MegadethWorld.com.