MEGADETH's ELLEFSON: DAVE MUSTAINE And I 'Have Walked A Mile In Each Other's Shoes'

Justin Tedaldi of Music Q&A Examiner recently conducted an interview with MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Music Q&A Examiner: "TH1RT3EN" has earned MEGADETH some of its strongest reviews in recent years. How different is it working with Dave [Mustaine] compared to the last time around?

Ellefson: I think before, because we all lived in the same town, we would get together, we would start to throw ideas around for a couple of weeks, and then we would start to solidify them; we would make demos of them, and that could be a two- to three-month process. Then we would secure a producer and we would book the studio time to go in and actually record, and by the time the record was mixed and mastered and out the door, that process could be nine to 12 months long. And then, of course, you make a video and you start booking the tour. So that was how things used to roll when I was making records with Dave before. Now, a lot of things have changed. One, Dave's got his studio, Vic's Garage, close to where he lives in the San Diego area, so when the band works, we work there in the location. [MEGADETH drummer] Shawn [Drover] and I live out of town, and Chris [Broderick, guitarist] lives up in the L.A. area, so essentially, we're all kind of in different locations. So when we get together, it's all very focused…in general, I've learned to just let Dave outline a lot of the songs and get the framework of them put together, before too much collaboration starts, and that seems to be a pretty good working process on this album. To some degree, I think Dave and I just kind of learned what works and what we know doesn't, so we try to lead with our strengths and go with the things that work.

Music Q&A Examiner: Some of the tracks from "TH1RT3EN" are reworked from the past. Why did the band decide to do that, and did your return to the band play a role in that?

Ellefson: Bands are about a lot more than just the notes and the words, you know? When you listen to an album, that's the connection you make, but there's also kind of a sixth sense involved….And that's, I think, ultimately what people like when Dave and I work together again — there's a synergy, there's a vibe, there's an energy, there's a connectivity. Not just to us and the fans with the past, but even with the current day, there's a comfort there [that people notice]. Obviously, if it didn't look and sound good (laughs) people wouldn't like it. There's an intuitive sense that songwriters and musicians have together, and if they don't have it, there's no magic. But when they do have it, there's magic, and I think that's what happens when Dave and I get together.

Music Q&A Examiner: What's the biggest misconception the public has about bands reuniting?

Ellefson: I've seen some reviews of the record, and again, people look at either credits or titles that were put on records. There's so much more that goes into being in a band than just four guys standing on a stage playing the notes. It's the human connection, and that's what people like or dislike (laughs) about bands. There's times when key members are not part of a group anymore, and it affects the overall outcome….In the case of MEGADETH, Dave was productive while I was away and he made some really good records, but I think there comes a time when Dave and I coming back together — and I'll use our experience on this — had it happened any sooner, it may not have been the right time, and I'm convinced that it would not have been. So when it did finally happen, I think the fans were longing for it and then were happy about it, and Dave and I were happy about it, you know? We were excited to be working together again. I think it's nice to know that [Dave] has a right-hand man again, you know? That he doesn't have to do all this by himself. And Shawn Drover is really a fantastic component to MEGADETH as far as the stability. Just his personality and the way he plays drums; he understands metal music, he understand MEGADETH music, all the way back to the beginning. He really is a great historian of our legacy. I've been there with Dave, you know? We've walked a mile in each other's shoes, and as a result there's just a synergy that happens with that, as opposed to Dave always having to groom other guys to learn about MEGADETH — Dave and I are MEGADETH (laughs); we've came there from day one.

Music Q&A Examiner: Did you read Dave's memoir released last year?

Ellefson: I did. I have not read it cover to cover, because I read it on the [tour] bus, so I pick it up and I start reading (laughs) and we have to go do something so I put it down. So that's basically how I've read the book, piecemeal. But it's a good read, you know. Dave's always been a great storyteller, and I think that the way they authored the book, Dave has as a really genuine voice; it's like Dave sitting down and telling stories. The fondness that I have for it is, that when I first met Dave — after we got our case of Heineken and we went through the apartment and hung out with two of my buddies — that's exactly what it was, Dave started telling stories, you know? So there's a real genuine personality of Dave's that comes out in his book.

Music Q&A Examiner: You were cool about the way he talked about you in the book?

Ellefson: Yeah. When I came back, he asked me to review it, and I think it's part of writing a book of that nature, that it's best to secure their consent (laughs) before you tell those stories. So I'm glad that he did it, and again, I didn't sit and pick through everything with a fine-toothed comb. In fact, I even said, "Ehh, there's a couple of things maybe we might want to look at," but I said, "Overall, Dave, I don't want to edit out the story of your life," because that's what that is: that's the story of Dave's life, as told by Dave. I mean, look, I'm in [VH1's] "Behind The Music" [special on MEGADETH], everyone knows our stories, we lived a crazy life, and we're lucky enough to have survived it and lived through it and looking back on it, to be honest with you, it's actually kind of funny.

Read the entire interview from Music Q&A Examiner.