MEGADETH's DAVID ELLEFSON: 'I Have Always Been A Very Aggressive Bass Player'

February 2, 2011

Rocket Queen recently conducted an interview with MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Rocket Queen: Lots of things are going on with MEGADETH at the moment. So let's start with your thoughts on the latest album, "Endgame". What are your [feelings about] on this album? And which song do you like most on this album and why?

David: It has some really good material on it and it is produced and played really well. It has a modern edge which is a good progression for the band's sound. I'm looking forward to recording the next disc this year and seeing how that modern sound evolves with the vintage aspect the fans have come to know of how Dave and I play together, too. I think it will capture a classic sound and create yet another new chapter for the band moving forward now.

Rocket Queen: Also you are doing a bass clinic with Frank Bello (ANTHRAX) this february. And produced a little video clip where you interviewed Frank and he interviewed you on the new bass guitar models.

David: Yes, those clinics will be fun as both of our bands are doing so many things together these days, like the recent Jägermeister "Clash Of The Titans" tour lineup, as well as the "Big Four" dates. Clinics are fun because fans get to be up close and personal with us and the musicians can get a much closer and more in-depth view of how we play and operate as musicians ourselves. I learn a lot from the questions and interaction with the audience at clinics so it is a two-way street that is beneficial for everyone.

Rocket Queen: Are you planning to do another MEGADETH CD after all those touring? Or haven't you had thoughts on a new CD yet?

David: Yes, we are well on our way and working on it as we speak. We have a lot of ideas and the process is moving along well. We definitely have A LOT to work with, which is great after all these years.

Rocket Queen: How would you describe your style of bass playing?

David: I have always been a very aggressive bass player. I like getting into the thick of a riff or a technical musical part. At the same time, the longer I've been playing it has taught me to really listen to the song and what is going on musically so I can complement the tune, rather than just being so anxious to jump all over the bass part to "express myself."

Rocket Queen: Have you got some good advice for young musicians who would like to enter todays metal scene and want to created a metal band?

David: Fortunately, for metal I don't think the rules have changed that much. You get together with musicians you can hang with, you write, record, play out as much as possible and simply do it for the love of that feeling you get when you jam together. I've found that for metal bands it's not good to make it much more complicated than that. Fans will either dig it, or they won't.

Read the entire interview from Rocket Queen.

Find more on
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • reddit
  • email

Comments Disclaimer And Information

BLABBERMOUTH.NET uses the Facebook Comments plugin to let people comment on content on the site using their Facebook account. The comments reside on Facebook servers and are not stored on BLABBERMOUTH.NET. To comment on a BLABBERMOUTH.NET story or review, you must be logged in to an active personal account on Facebook. Once you're logged in, you will be able to comment. User comments or postings do not reflect the viewpoint of BLABBERMOUTH.NET and BLABBERMOUTH.NET does not endorse, or guarantee the accuracy of, any user comment. To report spam or any abusive, obscene, defamatory, racist, homophobic or threatening comments, or anything that may violate any applicable laws, use the "Report to Facebook" and "Mark as spam" links that appear next to the comments themselves. To do so, click the downward arrow on the top-right corner of the Facebook comment (the arrow is invisible until you roll over it) and select the appropriate action. You can also send an e-mail to blabbermouthinbox(@)gmail.com with pertinent details. BLABBERMOUTH.NET reserves the right to "hide" comments that may be considered offensive, illegal or inappropriate and to "ban" users that violate the site's Terms Of Service. Hidden comments will still appear to the user and to the user's Facebook friends. If a new comment is published from a "banned" user or contains a blacklisted word, this comment will automatically have limited visibility (the "banned" user's comments will only be visible to the user and the user's Facebook friends).