MEGADETH's DAVE MUSTAINE: DAVID ELLEFSON Is 'Not My Right-Hand Guy'

During a recent appearance on "That Metal Show" co-host Eddie Trunk's podcast, "Eddie Trunk Podcast", MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine was asked how important it was for him to have bassist David Ellefson as his "right-hand guy" while the band was being revamped once again following the departures of drummer Shawn Drover and guitarist Chris Broderick. He responded (hear audio at this location): "Well, let's not… Dave's not my right-hand guy, first off. He's my bass player, he's my friend. We've been friends for thirty years, but he's not my right-hand guy. I think that was obvious when we parted ways; you know, he went and did his thing, I did my thing, MEGADETH kept going. I'm glad to have him back. I think that he's a remarkable person. He's got a great personality. He's very lovable. And I think that the fans know that they can count on him to be consistent. Dave's always been like the ambassador for MEGADETH."

He continued: "I would say, right now, if you were gonna talk about who's a right-hand guy and who's not a right-hand guy, I would say that, as far as the musical stuff is [concerned], that Kiko [Loureiro, current MEGADETH guitarist] has taken that position, because the conversations we've had have been really in-depth and he's really stepped up to the plate, with talking about different stuff, like what should be parked over at VEVO or YouTube or Facebook and stuff like that. And stuff where I'm scratching my head and I'm thinking, 'How do you have time to figure all this stuff out?' 'Cause not only does he do everything that we ask of him as a player, but he's constantly coming with new ideas and stuff, how to build the brand and to protect the fan base and stuff like that, which is a great feeling."

Ellefson was in MEGADETH from the band's inception in 1983 to 2002, when the group briefly broke up because Mustaine suffered severe nerve damage that left him unable to play. After Mustaine reformed MEGADETH with an all-new lineup in 2004, Ellefson sued his former bandmate for $18.5 million, alleging that Mustaine still owed him substantial merchandise and publishing royalties. In January 2005, the case was dismissed in court, and five years later, Ellefson rejoined MEGADETH.

MEGADETH's new album, "Dystopia", debuted at No. 3 on The Billboard 200, having shifted 49,000 equivalent album units in the week ending January 28.

In terms of pure album sales, "Dystopia" opened with 48,000 copies, marking MEGADETH's highest-charting album since 1992's "Countdown To Extinction" debuted and peaked at No. 2 on the chart dated August 1 of that year. "Dystopia" also logged the group's best sales week since 2007, when "United Abominations" landed at No. 8 with first-week sales of 54,000.

The current MEGADETH lineup is rounded out by drummer Chris Adler, who took time away from LAMB OF GOD to record "Dystopia".