David Ellefson Archives - Page 4

Megadeth, one of the “big four” bands of thrash metal (along with Metallica, Anthrax and Slayer) has released its 15th studio album, Dystopia. The album started coming together in an unusual way, as the band was between guitarists and drummers. “It was an interesting process. I don’t know of any other record that started with recording the bass to a...

Megadeth’s Dystopia North American tour will kick off in February, with support from Suicidal Tendencies, Children of Bodom and Havok. Megadeth, of course, will feature David Ellefson on bass. Suicidal Tendencies now has Michael Morgon handling bass duties following the death of Tim Williams. The lineup also reveals Megadeth’s longevity — Children of Bodom’s bassist Henkka Sepalla has cited Ellefson...

Steve Bailey has sent out his annual audio Christmas greeting, and this year’s is the biggest yet. As head of the Berklee Bass Department, Bailey brings in featured artists during their visits to the college to make special bass arrangements of holiday carols. This year has Bailey, Sandro Scoccia, Leland Sklar, John Patitucci, Victor Wooten, David Ellefson, Gary Willis, and...

Metal Allegiance’s self-titled debut album, featuring some prominent metal bassists, has arrived. The core group includes Megadeth bassist David Ellefson and songwriter/bassist Mark Menghi, drummer Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater, The Winery Dogs) and guitarist Alex Skolnick (Testament). The metal supergroup pulled in some bass heavyweights for a little extra thunder. Rex Brown (Pantera/Kill Devil Hill) appears on the bass-heavy track...

A boatload of rock and metal bass awaits anyone taking the 6th annual ShipRocked cruise in February. The cruise features a host of bass heavyweights performing as part of the Metal Allegiance supergroup: Rex Brown (Kill Devil Hill/ex-Pantera), Frank Bello (Anthrax), David Ellefson (Megadeth), and Troy Sanders (Mastodon). Bands performing during the Feb. 2-6 cruise between Port Miami and Great...

Although Megadeth’s drummer and guitarist have left the band, band bassist and co-founder David Ellefson is assuring fans that the band isn’t over. He recently talked with the Megadeth Cyber Army (the band’s fans) online, and noted that his presence on the fan forum should reveal that the band is still together. He then added, “As of right now, we...

Jackson Guitars has announced a 5-string version of Megadeth bassist David Ellefson’s signature Kelly Bird Bass. Building on the 4-string version, the bass retains many of the same features including a basswood body and a bolt-on bound maple neck with block inlays. The bass is fitted with a pair of EMG HZ40 pickups matched with separate volume controls and a...

Have you always loved Dave Ellefson’s bass work in Megadeth and the metal band’s bass sound in general? If you want to replicate it yourself, check out the new from Hal Leonard. The 64-page book features a CD containing all the songs covered in the book, as well as backing tracks. You can also change the tempo of the CD’s...

Megadeth is hitting the road for a 25-country, four-continent “Killing Road” world tour that will begin following guitarist/bandleader Dave Mustaine’s sold-out April 12 “Symphony Interrupted” performance with the San Diego Symphony. After he collaborates with the symphony on the “Summer” and “Winter” movements of Vivaldi’s “The Four Season” and Bach’s “Air” (on the G string) the band will bring a...

Megadeth’s David Ellefson and Anthrax’s Frank Bello have teamed up for a brand new project called “Altitudes & Attitude”. The band features both bass players taking turns laying down the low end as well as filling the guitar role. Bello also handles lead vocals. While the duo’s resumés are chockful of metal, Altitudes & Attitude is solidly in the realm...

Hal Leonard’s newest edition in their “Bass Recorded Versions” offers up David Ellefson‘s bass line transcriptions for 20 Megadeth tunes. Megadeth Bass Anthology includes transcriptions for each song in both standard notation and tab. Megadeth Bass Anthology Song List: Countdown To Extinction Dawn Patrol Five Magics Hangar 18 Head Crusher Holy Wars…The Punishment Due In My Darkest Hour My Last...

This one seemed like a long time coming. We reported back in December, 2012 that David Ellefson was working on his autobiography. Today, that book hits the shelves. My Life with Deth: Discovering Meaning in a Life of Rock & Roll chronicles the bassist’s time with Megadeth, which began in 1983. The behind-the-scenes look details the ups and downs of...