David Ellefson: "I Miss Dave" But I’m Done With Megadeth’s Drama
Former bassist addresses post-firing silence and lingering personal distance.
Summary
- David Ellefson says he still misses Dave Mustaine despite their long-standing fallout.
- Creative tensions over songwriting and ownership led to Ellefson’s 2021 departure from Megadeth.
- Ellefson stays active with new projects, calling his current life lighter and more free.
David Ellefson still feels the absence of Dave Mustaine in his life, even after everything.
In a recent chat with The Delz Show, Ellefson reflected:
“I miss Dave too. Some of the best stories of my life start with, ‘the time me and Dave…’ because we lived such an interesting life together with that band.”
Though they haven’t spoken in years, Ellefson made it clear the memories remain meaningful.
“We had a lot of fun. Anytime we’ve ever had a falling out, as soon as we get back together, it’s like we were hanging out yesterday.”
Related:
The 2010 Return
When Ellefson rejoined Megadeth in 2010, it wasn’t a grand plan. It was supposed to be temporary. As he told The Candid Mic With Fran Strine:
“I said, ‘Look, I’ll come back for a month. Let’s just get through this tour.’ And it went well.”
At that point, he no longer held ownership stakes.
“I was just a hired sideman musician, which, quite honestly, I was okay with.”
Ellefson saw the trade-off as simple math. The business headaches were no longer his problem.
“The owner of the business gets paid last. And if things fuck up, you’re on the hook for the bills. I thought, let me keep it simple, keep it easy.”
The Big Four Era
Rejoining for the Big Four shows with Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax provided a sense of homecoming.
“Joey Belladonna was back in Anthrax, Dave Lombardo was back in Slayer. Everybody was back home,” Ellefson said.
The energy surrounding the bands was electric, and Megadeth would go on to win a Grammy during his second run.
Silent Since 2021
Ellefson hasn’t exchanged words with Mustaine since his 2021 dismissal following the online leak of explicit personal content. When asked if they’ve spoken, Ellefson simply answered:
“Nope. Not one word. No need to.” He elaborated, “The ending of that friendship was a long time in the making. It really started in 2018.”
Creative tensions over songwriting drove much of the friction.
“Every time I would try to write and put something on it, it would get taken off. It seemed very personal. At some point it’s just kind of, like, ‘Look, dude, if you don’t want me here, fuck it. I’ll move on.’”
Lawsuit History
Their professional relationship has been rocky before. After his first exit in 2002, Ellefson sued Mustaine for $8.5 million over unpaid royalties. That legal battle ended in 2005, and ironically, the settlement helped pave the way for his eventual return.
“Because we settled it, it did allow at a later day for me to come back,” Ellefson explained.
He avoided burning bridges.
“I don’t close doors. I don’t slam it in people’s faces and say, ‘Fuck you.’ Because you’re mad in the moment. That’s all it is. Just move on.”
The Business Side
Ellefson admitted that returning as a salaried musician rather than a co-owner simplified things.
“Being a sideman absolves you from being involved in all the other stuff,” he said in a Metal-Rules.com interview. “At this point in my life, I would rather leave that stuff on the sidelines.”
The Power Dynamic
Looking back, Ellefson sees how the band’s structure evolved.
“People talk about the ‘Rust In Peace’ era, where we were very much a group. It’s not that anymore. It’s the Dave show, and that’s the way they want it.”
Still, Ellefson holds no bitterness toward Megadeth’s legacy.
“Why oppose what I’ve done? That’s like shitting on my own work. Hold that up in high regard, because we did some great stuff together.”
The First Breakup
Megadeth’s original breakup came after Mustaine’s nerve injury in 2002. When Mustaine revived the band for The System Has Failed in 2004, Ellefson was not included. Mustaine recruited James MacDonough to play bass on tour.
The 2004 Dispute
Their 2004 legal battle was ugly. Ellefson accused Mustaine of everything from unpaid royalties to online character attacks.
According to court papers, Mustaine allegedly resented Ellefson for kicking his drug habit, while Mustaine struggled with rehab stints.
The public feud even spilled onto Megadeth’s own website, where Mustaine accused Ellefson of extortion.
Mustaine, for his part, offered his version in a lengthy online post. He claimed Ellefson missed multiple deadlines to accept a deal that included a 20% artist royalty, no publishing rights, and a $500-a-week tour salary.
Moving On
Despite the turbulent past, Ellefson stays busy. When asked if he’s busier now than ever, Ellefson didn’t hesitate:
“Yeah. And I feel lighter, to be honest with you. I wake up and every day is a day, like, ‘All right. What are we gonna do today?’”
For now, Megadeth remains in the rearview mirror. As Ellefson put it,
“If one day we do [play together again], we’ll see where that goes. But you don’t sit around and wait for those things. You just get on with it.”
Got a tip for us? Email: [email protected]
He admitted he liked Faith No More's music but couldn't tolerate their frontman.
