MEGADETH's ELLEFSON Says His Love Of Early KISS Helped Him Understand Why Fans Get Upset About Lineup Changes

During a recent interview with the Niagara Gazette, MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson did not want to weigh in directly on the recent Rock And Rock Hall Of Fame "controversy" involving the original lineup KISS — which he cites as one of his favorite bands of all time — but he did offer an interesting perspective.

"I am a KISS fan; they were the first band I was a full-blown fan of," he said. "They lent themselves to that kind of adoration and I learned a lot from being a fan and it gives me a better understanding of why fans get upset about things like lineup changes."

He continued: "A band is about a lot more than just the songs, it’s about an identity. Fans identify with lineups and individuals and they don’t like change. But bands like KISS and MEGADETH change, and we have both managed to keep our core sound strong."

Ellefson was in MEGADETH from the band's inception in 1983 to 2002 when the group briefly broke up because MEGADETH mainman Dave 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.

MELVINS frontman Buzz "King Buzzo" Osborne recently weighed in on Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer dressing up as Peter Criss' and Ace Frehley's respective "Spaceman" and "Catman" personas (designs owned by KISS leaders Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley) after Ace and Peter left KISS. "I couldn't care less," Buzz said. "As far as I can tell, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss are fucked-up alcoholic junkie guys. So I don't think Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley should let those two fuck-ups ruin them. Why should they? Okay, they chose to be alcoholics and fuck-ups, now in doing that they have to face the consequences. Gene Simmons didn't do it, why should he face the consequences? That's what I think."

During a February 2014 interview on Cleveland's WMMS-FM radio station, ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian also weighed in on KISS' Rock Hall controversy, saying "I'm a fan, just like everyone else, and would I wanna see, if I was going … the four original dudes back in makeup one more time? Of course I would, as a fan," he said. "But bands don't do things dictated by what the audience wants. A band would last about a year if that's how you worked. You have to do things the way you wanna do them."

Ian continued: "KISS has been around for 40 years and are bigger now than they were in 1977 because Gene and Paul make smart decisions — that's why. So, as a fan, and if you love them, you have to abide by the decisions that Gene and Paul are making for their brand and their band. So, why people get so upset over these things, I really don't understand.

"I think they made the right decision by saying, 'We're just not gonna play. You can't please everybody. We're just gonna shut it down and just not do it.' I get it. I understand."