David Ellefson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Ellefson
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Ellefson playing at the Illinois State Fair in 2019
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| Background information | |
| Genres |
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| Occupation(s) | Bassist |
| Years active | 1982–present |
David Ellefson is an American musician famous for being the bassist for the thrash metal band Megadeth. He was a key member of the band for two long periods.
Before moving to Los Angeles, Ellefson became a skilled bass player. He led several of his own bands in the Midwest. He joined Megadeth in 1983 and stayed with them until they broke up in 2002. He later rejoined the band from 2010 to 2021.
In 2021, Ellefson started a new hard rock band called The Lucid. The band includes singer Vinnie Dombroski, guitarist Drew Fortier, and drummer Mike Heller. Besides Megadeth and The Lucid, Ellefson has been part of other music projects like Temple of Brutality, F5, and Metal Allegiance.
Contents
Musical Career
Early Days and First Time with Megadeth (1983–2002)
David Ellefson was one of the earliest members of Megadeth, along with singer and guitarist Dave Mustaine. For a long time, he and Mustaine were the only members who had been with the band since the beginning. Mustaine sometimes called him "Junior" to tell the two Daves apart.
Ellefson played on every Megadeth album and tour from their first record, Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good! in 1985, until Rude Awakening in 2002. When the band first started, he played the bass with his fingers. As the music became faster and more complex, he started using a pick, also called a plectrum.
He also helped write some of Megadeth's songs. One example is "Family Tree" from the 1994 album Youthanasia.
Leaving and Returning to Megadeth (2002–2010)
After Megadeth broke up in 2002, Ellefson formed a new band called F5. They released their first album in 2005 and toured with other popular bands. He also played with other groups like Temple of Brutality and Avian. He played bass on a few songs for the band Soulfly.
Ellefson is also a member of a cover band called Hail!. The band, which includes other famous musicians, has toured in Europe.
In 2010, Ellefson got a message from Megadeth's drummer, Shawn Drover. Drover suggested it was a good time for Ellefson and Dave Mustaine to talk. After they spoke, it was announced that Ellefson was rejoining Megadeth. He said that playing with the band again felt like he had never left.
Second Time with Megadeth (2010–2021)
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In 2013, Ellefson released his life story, a book called My Life with Deth. It was co-written with author Joel McIver and had a foreword by rock star Alice Cooper. He released a second book in 2019 called More Life with Deth, which featured stories and thoughts from many other famous musicians.
In 2018, Ellefson shared that he was considered to be the bassist for Metallica two times. The first was in 1986 after their bassist Cliff Burton died, and again in 2002 when Jason Newsted left the band. The job eventually went to Robert Trujillo.
On May 24, 2021, Megadeth announced that David Ellefson was no longer in the band. This happened after a personal controversy became public. His bass parts on the band's next album, The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead!, were re-recorded by another bassist. James LoMenzo, who had played with Megadeth before, rejoined as the new full-time bassist.
Recent Music Projects (2021–Present)
After leaving Megadeth, Ellefson quickly formed a new band called The Lucid. They released their first album in October 2021 and an EP in 2023.
In 2022, he started a death metal band called Dieth. The band released their first album, To Hell and Back, in 2023. On this album, Ellefson sang lead vocals for the first time in his career on the song Walk With Me Forever.
He also formed a band called Kings of Thrash with another former Megadeth member, Jeff Young. They play early Megadeth songs at their live shows. In 2024, Ellefson filled in on bass for the band Overkill during their Latin American tour.
Other Work
In 2015, Ellefson started his own record label called EMP Label Group. The label helps new bands release their music. He also opened a coffee shop in his hometown of Jackson, Minnesota, in 2017.
In 2019, he started a film company called Ellefson Films. The company produced a horror movie called Dwellers, which was released in 2021. Ellefson also appeared in the movie.
Personal Life
Ellefson is a committed Christian. He was raised in a Christian family and has spoken about how his faith is important to him, especially now that he has a family of his own. He has even been involved in a church worship service in Scottsdale, Arizona.
For many years, Ellefson and Dave Mustaine had disagreements. They had a legal dispute after Megadeth first broke up. For a while, they were not on good terms. However, they fixed their friendship before Ellefson rejoined the band in 2010. After Ellefson left the band again in 2021, their relationship became tense once more.
Equipment
When he rejoined Megadeth in 2010, Ellefson went back to using his old Jackson bass guitars and Hartke amplifiers. Jackson even released signature bass models designed for him. In the early days of Megadeth, he often played B.C. Rich basses.
Ellefson almost always plays with a guitar pick. He finds it necessary for playing the fast and complex music of Megadeth.
Discography
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)
- No Cover (2020)
With The Lucid
- The Lucid (2021)
- Saddle Up and Ride (2023)
With Dieth
- To Hell and Back (2023)
Guest Appearances Ellefson has also played bass as a guest on albums for many other artists, including:
- Soulfly
- F5
- Avian
- Tim "Ripper" Owens
- Metal Allegiance
- Ministry
Filmography
- Dwellers (2021), as himself
- Bunker Heights (2024), as Cranford
