David Ellefson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Ellefson
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Ellefson playing at the Illinois State Fair in 2019
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | David Warren Ellefson |
| Born | November 12, 1964 Jackson, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Genres |
|
| Occupation(s) | Bassist |
| Years active | 1982–present |
David Warren Ellefson (born November 12, 1964) is an American musician. He is best known as the bassist and backing singer for the famous thrash metal band Megadeth. He was with the band for two long periods.
David became a skilled bassist and songwriter by leading his own bands. He played in clubs across the American Midwest. Later, he moved to Los Angeles. He was Megadeth's bassist from 1983 until they broke up in 2002. He then rejoined them from 2010 to 2021.
In 2021, David co-founded a hard rock band called The Lucid. He plays bass in this band. Other members include Vinnie Dombroski from Sponge and Drew Fortier. Besides Megadeth and The Lucid, David has worked on many other music projects. These include Temple of Brutality, F5, Killing Machine, and Metal Allegiance.
Contents
David Ellefson: A Metal Bass Legend
Early Life and Megadeth Beginnings
David Ellefson was a key member of Megadeth from 1983 to 2002. He was the only constant member besides the band's leader, Dave Mustaine. Dave Mustaine often called him "Dave Junior" or "Junior" to tell them apart.
Ellefson played on every Megadeth album and tour. This started with their 1985 record Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!. It continued until their 2002 album Rude Awakening. In the early days, David played bass with his fingers. As Megadeth's music got more complex, he started using a pick.
David helped write some Megadeth songs. One example is "Family Tree" from the 1994 album Youthanasia.
Life After Megadeth and His Return
After Megadeth broke up in 2002, David formed a band called F5. He played bass, and his former Megadeth bandmate Jimmy DeGrasso played drums. Their first album came out in 2005. F5 toured to support other bands like Disturbed.
David also played on albums for other bands. He worked with Killing Machine and Temple of Brutality. He was also a member of the melodic power metal band Avian. He said that Megadeth was just the start of his creative journey.
He played on several songs for the band Soulfly. He also worked with the rapper Necro on his album Death Rap.
David was also part of a cover band called Hail!. This band formed in late 2008. They toured Europe in 2009. David also played bass for the Christmas Rock project Northern Light Orchestra.
In February 2010, David got a message from Megadeth's drummer, Shawn Drover. He was invited to rejoin Megadeth. David said it felt like he "never left" after their first practice together.
Second Time with Megadeth and New Adventures
.jpg)
In 2013, David announced he was writing his autobiography. It was called My Life with Deth. The book was co-written with Joel McIver. Famous musician Alice Cooper wrote the introduction.
In 2018, David started working on a second book. It was called More Life with Deth. This book came out in July 2019. It included stories from many other famous musicians.
David shared that he was considered to be a bassist for Metallica twice. Once in 1986, after Cliff Burton passed away. And again in 2002, when Jason Newsted left the band. However, he did not join Metallica.
In May 2021, Megadeth announced that David Ellefson had left the band again. His bass parts for Megadeth's 2022 album were re-recorded by Steve Di Gorgio.
Post-Megadeth Projects (2021–Present)
After leaving Megadeth, David formed a new band called The Lucid. He plays bass, with Mike Heller on drums, Drew Fortier on guitar, and Vinnie Dombroski on vocals. They released their first album, The Lucid, in October 2021.
In January 2023, The Lucid released a five-song EP called Saddle Up and Ride. It included a guest performance by Violent J from Insane Clown Posse.
In 2022, David also formed a death metal band called Dieth. He plays bass, and Guilherme Miranda is on guitar and vocals. Their first album, To Hell and Back, came out in 2023. David even sings lead vocals on one song, "Walk With Me Forever." This was his first time singing lead on a record.
David also started the band Kings Of Thrash in 2022. He plays with former Megadeth guitarist Jeff Young. They perform songs from Megadeth's early albums live. They have had other former Megadeth guitarists join them on stage.
In April 2024, David filled in as bassist for the band Overkill on their Latin American tour.
Other Cool Projects
Starting a Music Company
In 2015, David Ellefson started his own record label. It is called Ellefson Music Productions, or EMP Label Group. He helped release music for new bands. One of the first bands he worked with was Doll Skin.
EMP Label Group works with big music distributors. This helps their artists' music reach many people. In 2017, David also opened Ellefson Coffee Co. in his hometown in Minnesota.
Making Movies
In May 2019, David and his business partner Thom Hazaert started Ellefson Films. They are producing a horror movie called Dwellers. David and Thom also have small roles in the movie.
A short preview of the film was released in August 2019. The movie was released in October 2021.
Writing Books
In November 2020, David announced he had finished a fiction thriller novel. It is called Rock Star Hitman. He wrote it with Drew Fortier. It was released through his own book company, The Ellefson Book Co.
Personal Life
Family
David Ellefson married his wife, Julie, in 1993. They have a son and a daughter.
His Faith
David Ellefson is a Christian. He grew up in a Christian home. He has said that going to church with his children helped him return to his faith. He believes that living by example is the best way to show his beliefs.
In 2007, David started a worship service called MEGA Life Ministries. He said it was one of the most rewarding musical experiences he's had. He also began studying to become a minister.
His Gear: What He Plays
When David rejoined Megadeth in 2010, he started using his old Jackson bass guitars again. He also used Hartke amplifiers. Jackson later released special "signature" bass guitars designed by David.
He used to play Peavey amps and his Peavey Zodiac DE Scorpio bass. In the very early days of Megadeth, David often used B.C. Rich basses.
David almost always plays bass with a guitar pick. This helps him play the fast and complex songs in Megadeth's music. He started using a pick mostly after their first album.
Music He's Played On
With Megadeth
- Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (1985)
- Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? (1986)
- So Far, So Good... So What! (1988)
- Rust in Peace (1990)
- Countdown to Extinction (1992)
- Youthanasia (1994)
- Cryptic Writings (1997)
- Risk (1999)
- The World Needs a Hero (2001)
- Thirteen (2011)
- Super Collider (2013)
- Dystopia (2016)
Solo releases
- Sleeping Giants (2019)
With Ellefson
- No Cover (2020)
With The Lucid
- The Lucid (2021)
- Saddle Up and Ride (2023)
With Dieth
- To Hell and Back (2023)
With Ellefson "ES" Soto
- Vacation In The Underworld (2022)
Guest appearances (selected)
- Soulfly – Prophecy (2004)
- Avian – From the Depths of Time (2005)
- Temple of Brutality – Lethal Agenda (2006)
- Necro – Death Rap (2007)
- F5 – The Reckoning (2008)
- Tim "Ripper" Owens – Play My Game (2009)
- Angels of Babylon – Kingdom of Evil (2010)
- Gus G – I Am the Fire (2014)
- Johnny Wore Black – Walking Underwater Pt. 2 (2014)
- Metal Allegiance – Metal Allegiance (2015)
- Operation: Mindcrime – The Key (2015)
- Altitudes & Attitude – Get It Out (2019)
- Mark Morton – Anesthetic (2019) (tracks 4 and 10)
- Offensive – Awenasa (2021)
- Ministry - Moral Hygiene (2021) (tracks 5 and 6)
Movies He's Been In
- Dwellers (2021), as Ellefson
- Bunker Heights (2024), as Cranford
See also
In Spanish: David Ellefson para niños
