David Ellefson recently spoke about his feelings towards former Megadeth bandmate Dave Mustaine. Ellefson was fired from the band in 2021 after a video of him engaging in sexual activity with a 19-year-old fan was leaked online. “I miss Dave too,” Ellefson said in the interview.
“Some of the best stories of my life begin with ‘the time me and Dave’ — fill in the blank. We lived such an interesting life together with that band.”
Ellefson and Mustaine have not spoken in a few years, but the bassist expressed that he misses his former bandmate. “We had a lot of fun.
Every time we’ve had a falling out like this in the past, as soon as we get back together, it’s like we were hanging out yesterday,” he said. Despite the fond memories, Ellefson has been open about the challenges in his relationship with Mustaine. When he rejoined Megadeth in 2010, he found himself in a hired gun role rather than being a part-owner of the band.
Ellefson also faced difficulties contributing to the band’s new album.
Ellefson recalls mustaine and megadeth
“Every time I would try to write and put something on it, it would get taken off.
And it seemed very personal,” he said. The bassist has come to terms with the end of his time in Megadeth, acknowledging that it is a business ultimately under Mustaine’s control. However, he still cherishes the positive memories and significant part of his life spent with Mustaine in one of metal’s most iconic bands.
In a separate interview, Ellefson claimed he worked on Megadeth’s song “Soldier On!” without receiving credit. He stated that he brought the lyrics and melody, collaborating with Mustaine who later changed the title and took full credit after Ellefson’s dismissal. Ellefson compared the situation to his previous experience with Metallica, suggesting that while they credited Mustaine for his work on their debut album, his own contributions to Megadeth have been overlooked.
The bassist reflected on the concept of ownership and credit within bands, emphasizing that while it’s understandable for bands to retain songs created during a member’s tenure, he took issue with his name being removed from “Soldier On!” entirely. Despite the complex history and recent estrangement, Ellefson’s contributions to both Megadeth and Metallica are undeniable. He was a founding member of Megadeth and played a significant role in shaping the sound of both bands over the decades.
