David Ellefson
Encyclopedia
David Warren "Dave" Ellefson (born November 12, 1964 in Jackson, Minnesota
) is a bassist
and founding member of the American thrash metal band Megadeth
. He also goes by "Junior." He currently resides in Scottsdale, Arizona
. He also has various side projects which include Temple of Brutality, F5
, and Killing Machine
.
He then became an accomplished rhythm guitarist and honed his songwriting skills while leading several of his own bands through the club scene of North America's Midwest region.
, Ellefson was the only constant member of Megadeth from the time of their establishment in 1983 to the group's dissolution in 2002 (Mustaine subsequently reformed Megadeth but without Ellefson). To differentiate between the two Daves, Mustaine referred to Ellefson as "Dave Junior", which was often shortened to "Junior". He appeared on every album and tour from 1985's thrash record Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!
up until 2002's Rude Awakening
. Ellefson's original playing style involved using his fingers, however, as Megadeth progressed and the music became more complex, he tended to prefer playing with a pick/plectrum. Ellefson was credited with some Megadeth songs, including "Family Tree" from 1994's Youthanasia
(in the 2004 remastered collection of the CD however, the track is credited to Mustaine
, Ellefson, Friedman
, Menza
, but Dave Mustaine credited the Rust in Peace
-era line-up with the entire Youthanasia album as a tribute to the band's success at the time of the record's initial release).
. Ellefson and Mustaine had a severe disagreement over royalties and rights to Megadeth's name and back catalog resulting in Ellefson filing an unsuccessful lawsuit. Though the two once enjoyed a close friendship, considerable animosity developed between Ellefson and Mustaine to the point that on Ellefson's website, Megadeth was not mentioned in his biography, only in the discography.
In a mid-2005 podcast, Ellefson did not mention his past with Megadeth at all, instead concentrating on discussing his current projects. Mustaine felt Ellefson was unfairly using the Megadeth name when advertising for an amplifier for Peavey
. On Blabbermouth.net, Mustaine claims to have had dinner with Ellefson at Christmas in 2005 to talk things through; this got them on good terms, as Mustaine has stated that they spoke on the phone numerous times afterward. In 2010 Mustaine and Ellefson have agreed to keep any unresolved issues in the past and are working on building and maintaining their friendship again.
following Megadeth's 2002 disbandment. The band featured Ellefson on bass, Dale Steele on vocals, Steve Conley on lead guitar, John Davis on rhythm guitar and Jimmy DeGrasso
on drums. Their first album, "A Drug for all Seasons" was released in 2005. F5 appeared in support for Disturbed in February 2006 and toured the American Mid-West in the summer of 2006. Ellefson also appeared on the new Killing Machine
record "Metalmorphosis" in 2006 alongside former Megadeth drummer Jimmy DeGrasso
and has also been working with Temple of Brutality. Ellefson is currently a member of the melodic power metal
band Avian
which features singer Lance King
. He commented in an interview with Alternative-Zine.com that "Megadeth was really just a starting point for me, creatively"
Ellefson currently works for Peavey Electronics Corporation
as an artist relations representative.
Ellefson played five tracks for the Soulfly
album Prophecy and also played on one track on Dark Ages
.
He has recently worked with underground
emcee/Record producer
Necro for his album entitled Death Rap
.
Ellefson is also a member of a tribute band called "HAIL". Ellefson, Jimmy DeGrasso (Mike Portnoy for 2010), Tim "Ripper" Owens and Andreas Kisser
formed the band in late 2008. The band, as of April 2009, is touring Europe
.
Ellefson participated in the Christmas Rock project Northern Light Orchestra, he performed bass on many of the 17 cuts produced by rock drummer Ken Mary and also at the live show Christmas in April Orpheum Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona.
On February 8, 2010, Dave Ellefson got a text message from now Megadeth drummer Shawn Drover, saying "if ever there was a time for you and Dave to talk, now is it.". Dave Ellefson called Dave Mustaine and the two talked out everything and decided they missed being friends. After the phone call, the news was released that David Ellefson would return to the Megadeth lineup. Ellefson was quoted saying "it felt like I never left" after their first rehearsal together.
that he, like Dave Mustaine
is a committed Christian
. "Well, I was actually brought up in a Christian household, so I have, you know, a pretty broad knowledge of it; and strayed from it for quite a while. And, now that I have children, I actually do go to church, so I’ve kinda sorta returned to it, you know?"
When asked about how he came to be a Christian, Ellefson came out to be surprisingly similar to Mustaine. “My faith has been with me from birth really as I was baptized in the Lutheran Church when I was an infant and raised in that setting my whole life. My family went to church on Sundays, my dad was on church committees, my mom sang in the church choir, and I was confirmed as a teenager too. In fact my mother’s Wurlitzer
organ was my first musical experience and how I learned to play.”
He was also asked that if he was a Christian his whole life, and how he felt about being in Megadeth
and doing the things that he did. “I will say that my adult religious beliefs were strengthened once I got cleaned up off dope and booze back in 1990 by way of 12 step programs. That really brought me back to putting God at the center of my life again and as a result I experienced the best years of my career, too. That was paramount for me because being 25 years old, and playing in a metal band, God was certainly not considered “cool” and is still not something most metal fans want to have their heroes proclaim in public! However, the reality is that even in my days of drug use, for me from age 15 to 25, my Christian
upbringing always haunted me a bit because I knew I was doing the wrong thing living that lifestyle. Fortunately, getting cleaned up seemed to be in the cards for me so I’m glad I was able to get through it because so many people don’t seem to be able to make it through that. At the end of the day there is no escaping God’s will… He will always win!”
One of the things that helped him to come back to Christ was that he was having children with his wife, and he started to remember how he was brought up, and the appreciation he had for it. He wanted his kids to be brought up in the church, and after several incidents in the studio that he thought was very strange, he felt God was calling him to come back to the church. After calling his wife and telling her that, she said, “well, I’m glad this is all happening, because the worship leader was asking if you could come sit in this Sunday because their normal bass player isn’t going to be able to make it this week. That’s when he decided, “Okay God, I get it”. And then started his entrance into the Christian Music Scene.
In an article titled CODA - Ready for a MEGA Life, Ellefson indicated that in the fall of 2007 he began the new MEGA Life Ministries worship service in Scottsdale, AZ. "Oddly, the service has become one of my most rewarding and musically invigorating gigs I’ve ever had…a gig that literally landed in my lap and not something I had to chase down either. Not only are the parishioners respectful (no bar fights, spilled drinks and foul mouthed hecklers in the crowd like many secular gigs full of rational people) but it’s a musical event my whole family participates in. Plus, I’d finally had been given the venue to put into practical application the very words I’d been trying to live by for many years which is 'Play music for God, not us'." Ellefson has recently begun studying for the ministry in the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
through an extension program of Concordia Seminary
in St. Louis.
Worshiping Satan
, it’s like, ‘Is that the best you can do?’ He’s kind of a small fry guy. You’re kind of limiting your resources a little bit there, if you go down that road.
Basses primarily the Mockingbird series in black for the albums Peace Sells and Killing Is My Business. Ellefson secondarily used Jackson
Concert 4 and 5-string basses in a black gloss finish and also a custom blue finish, the colour inspiration was his telephone answering machine.
In 1993, looking for a deeper sound which would "sit" under the bass drums in the mix, Ellefson tried EMG
pick ups and pre-amps in the Jackson basses- pleased with the results he tried basses from almost every manufacturer while in pre-production for the "Youthanasia" album in early 1994.
A clerk at The Bass Shop in Tempe loaned his Modulus Bass for trial, the longer scale, carbon-graphite neck and electronics offered all that was missing. That started an association with Modulus
- which later faltered as Modulus changed hands.
He chose to play Modulus Quantum and Flea
5-strings and sometimes two Fender Precision Bass
es, a rosewood neck '78 with a DiMarzio
split-coil humbucking pickup and a maple neck '77 These basses were used for a "grinding" sound . David switched to the American Deluxe Series
P-Basses around 2000/01. His current bass arsenal includes a pair of maple-neck American Deluxe Precisions in 4 and 5-string versions, his '78 and '76 P-Basses, an Epiphone
El Capitan 5-string acoustic bass, an Ovation 4-string, a Hamer
Chaparral 12-string bass and an assortment of Peavey
and Modulus 5-string basses. He has also recently been seen using a transparent red B.C. Rich Mockingbird and black and Silver Jackson Concert basses on the Rust In Peace Anniversary Tour. In addition to his bass gear, Ellefson's guitar rig included an Ibanez
Destroyer, a pair of Peaveys as well as Alvarez
and Briarwood acoustics.
Up to 1993 Ellefson used Gallien-Krueger 800RB amps and Hartke 4.5XL cabs, switching to Ampeg SVT
2 amps and SVT 8x10 cabs. In the studio, guitar amps were sometimes used for alternate tracks- notably a Peavey 5150
on Paranoid (1993).
Ellefson used Peavey amps/cabinets and Mackie
power amps for amplification. His effects setup includes DigiTech Genesis 3 and BP-2000 pedals, Korg
and Peterson tuners, BBE and Tech 21
Sansamp DIs, Digidesign
Pro Tools
MBox LE and Peavey Pro Comm U1002 Wireless systems. Ellefson uses D'Addario
Nickel Electric guitar strings for his guitars, Prism and Pro Steel Medium Gauge bass strings (45-130) for his basses, Jim Dunlop Medium Tortex picks and Planet Waves
cables. For effects, Ellefson uses the MXR
M-134 Stereo Chorushttp://www.jimdunlop.com/product/m134-stereo-chorus.
After rejoining Megadeth in early 2010, Ellefson started using his old Jackson bass and Hartke amps again. He used an LH1000 with two HX810s on the Rust In Peace 20th Anniversary Tour. Recently David Ellefson's new Signature Series Powerwound Nickel Bass Strings from SIT strings were released. In early 2011, Jackson is set to release a Dave Ellefson signature model, both in 4-string and 5-string variants. As of summer 2011, David has added several new Jackson basses to his arsenal. One in a transparent red finish, which he is using in the studio to record the new Megadeth album, and another in a natural pre-painted finish which he will be using this summer on tour.
*For full list, see Megadeth discography
With Others
Jackson, Minnesota
Jackson is a city in Jackson County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,299 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Jackson County.-Geography:...
) is a bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
and founding member of the American thrash metal band Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
. He also goes by "Junior." He currently resides in Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
. He also has various side projects which include Temple of Brutality, F5
F5 (band)
F5 is a heavy metal band which features Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson and ex-drummer Jimmy DeGrasso. F5 is based out of Phoenix, Arizona.- Former Megadeth Members:...
, and Killing Machine
Killing Machine (band)
Killing Machine is an American Metal band found by Peter Scheithauer that has released three albums, the self-titled effort in 2000 via Candlelight Records , Metalmorphis in 2006, via Mausoleum Records and Chapter One in 2010, via Axe Killer....
.
Early life
Ellefson was born in November 12, 1964 in Jackson, Minnesota, US to an Norwegian-American family.He then became an accomplished rhythm guitarist and honed his songwriting skills while leading several of his own bands through the club scene of North America's Midwest region.
The Original Megadeth years (1983-2002)
Other than guitarist, vocalist, and primary lyricist Dave MustaineDave Mustaine
David Scott "Dave" Mustaine is the founder, main songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Prior to Megadeth, Mustaine was the first lead guitarist and a co-songwriter of the heavy metal band Metallica until he was fired from the band in 1983. In 2009, he...
, Ellefson was the only constant member of Megadeth from the time of their establishment in 1983 to the group's dissolution in 2002 (Mustaine subsequently reformed Megadeth but without Ellefson). To differentiate between the two Daves, Mustaine referred to Ellefson as "Dave Junior", which was often shortened to "Junior". He appeared on every album and tour from 1985's thrash record Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!
Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!
Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! is the debut album by the American heavy metal band Megadeth, released in June 1985 through Combat and Relativity Records. During the beginning of 1985, the band was given $8,000 by Combat Records to record and produce their debut album, but this...
up until 2002's Rude Awakening
Rude Awakening (Megadeth album)
Rude Awakening is a live album by American heavy metal band Megadeth. The album was released by Sanctuary Records in 2002, the last release before the band broke up in 2002...
. Ellefson's original playing style involved using his fingers, however, as Megadeth progressed and the music became more complex, he tended to prefer playing with a pick/plectrum. Ellefson was credited with some Megadeth songs, including "Family Tree" from 1994's Youthanasia
Youthanasia
Youthanasia is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Megadeth, released on November 1, 1994 through Capitol Records. A remixed and remastered version, featuring several bonus tracks, was released in 2004....
(in the 2004 remastered collection of the CD however, the track is credited to Mustaine
Dave Mustaine
David Scott "Dave" Mustaine is the founder, main songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Prior to Megadeth, Mustaine was the first lead guitarist and a co-songwriter of the heavy metal band Metallica until he was fired from the band in 1983. In 2009, he...
, Ellefson, Friedman
Marty Friedman (guitarist)
Marty Friedman is a guitarist, well known for his tenure as the lead/rhythm guitarist for thrash metal band Megadeth, which lasted almost a decade...
, Menza
Nick Menza
Nick Menza is an American drummer best known for his work in Megadeth from 1989 to 1998, appearing on four of the band's studio albums.-Early life:...
, but Dave Mustaine credited the Rust in Peace
Rust in Peace
Rust in Peace is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Megadeth. Released on September 24, 1990, it was the third Megadeth album distributed through Capitol Records. The album was the band's only collaboration with record producer Mike Clink who was the first producer to...
-era line-up with the entire Youthanasia album as a tribute to the band's success at the time of the record's initial release).
Feud with Mustaine
Mustaine resurrected Megadeth in 2004 to record the album The System Has FailedThe System Has Failed
-Songs:* "Blackmail the Universe" has numerous quotes from the movie Thirteen Days, which was about the Cuban Missile Crisis.* "Die Dead Enough" was released as a single, and was originally set to be featured in the movie Saw, but it was not used for undisclosed reasons.* "The Scorpion" was...
. Ellefson and Mustaine had a severe disagreement over royalties and rights to Megadeth's name and back catalog resulting in Ellefson filing an unsuccessful lawsuit. Though the two once enjoyed a close friendship, considerable animosity developed between Ellefson and Mustaine to the point that on Ellefson's website, Megadeth was not mentioned in his biography, only in the discography.
In a mid-2005 podcast, Ellefson did not mention his past with Megadeth at all, instead concentrating on discussing his current projects. Mustaine felt Ellefson was unfairly using the Megadeth name when advertising for an amplifier for Peavey
Peavey Electronics
Peavey Electronics Corporation is one of the largest audio equipment manufacturers in the world, headquartered in Meridian, Mississippi in the United States.- History :...
. On Blabbermouth.net, Mustaine claims to have had dinner with Ellefson at Christmas in 2005 to talk things through; this got them on good terms, as Mustaine has stated that they spoke on the phone numerous times afterward. In 2010 Mustaine and Ellefson have agreed to keep any unresolved issues in the past and are working on building and maintaining their friendship again.
Post Megadeth career and return (2003-Present)
Ellefson formed F5F5 (band)
F5 is a heavy metal band which features Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson and ex-drummer Jimmy DeGrasso. F5 is based out of Phoenix, Arizona.- Former Megadeth Members:...
following Megadeth's 2002 disbandment. The band featured Ellefson on bass, Dale Steele on vocals, Steve Conley on lead guitar, John Davis on rhythm guitar and Jimmy DeGrasso
Jimmy DeGrasso
Jimmy DeGrasso is an American heavy metal drummer. He is currently the drummer for F5.DeGrasso was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and graduated from Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1981....
on drums. Their first album, "A Drug for all Seasons" was released in 2005. F5 appeared in support for Disturbed in February 2006 and toured the American Mid-West in the summer of 2006. Ellefson also appeared on the new Killing Machine
Killing Machine (band)
Killing Machine is an American Metal band found by Peter Scheithauer that has released three albums, the self-titled effort in 2000 via Candlelight Records , Metalmorphis in 2006, via Mausoleum Records and Chapter One in 2010, via Axe Killer....
record "Metalmorphosis" in 2006 alongside former Megadeth drummer Jimmy DeGrasso
Jimmy DeGrasso
Jimmy DeGrasso is an American heavy metal drummer. He is currently the drummer for F5.DeGrasso was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and graduated from Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1981....
and has also been working with Temple of Brutality. Ellefson is currently a member of the melodic power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
band Avian
Avian (band)
Avian is a melodic power metal band founded in 2002 by guitarist Yan Leviathan. The band features singer Lance King. In 2005 they released their debut album From the Depths of Time, a concept album dealing with the end of days and a warning to mankind. Musically, Avian is influenced by bands...
which features singer Lance King
Lance King
Lance King is an American heavy metal vocalist. Lance has sung for many metal bands in his career, including Defyance, The Kings Machine, Empire, Gemini, Decibel, Balance of Power, Pyramaze, Shining Star and Avian. He is known for singing in a traditional metal style with falsetto vocals in the...
. He commented in an interview with Alternative-Zine.com that "Megadeth was really just a starting point for me, creatively"
Ellefson currently works for Peavey Electronics Corporation
Peavey Electronics
Peavey Electronics Corporation is one of the largest audio equipment manufacturers in the world, headquartered in Meridian, Mississippi in the United States.- History :...
as an artist relations representative.
Ellefson played five tracks for the Soulfly
Soulfly
Soulfly is a heavy metal band formed in 1997 based in Phoenix, Arizona. The original lyrical content revolved around spirituality and religious themes, with later albums encompassing other themes including war, violence, aggression, hatred and anger. Soulfly is led by former Sepultura frontman Max...
album Prophecy and also played on one track on Dark Ages
Dark Ages (album)
-Credits:*Max Cavalera - Lead vocals, Guitar, Sitar, Producer, Berimbau*Marc Rizzo - Guitar, Vocals, Flamenco guitar*Bobby Burns - Bass*Joe Nunez - Drums, Percussion*Billy Milano - Vocals on "Motolov"*David Ellefson - Bass on "Riotstarter"...
.
He has recently worked with underground
Underground music
Underground music comprises a range of different musical genres that operate outside of mainstream culture. Such music can typically share common values, such as the valuing of sincerity and intimacy; an emphasis on freedom of creative expression; an appreciation of artistic creativity...
emcee/Record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Necro for his album entitled Death Rap
Death Rap
Death Rap is the fifth studio album by American hip hop musician Necro, released on September 11, 2007 by Psycho+Logical-Records through Koch Distribution. It was the first studio album Necro released since signing with Koch in July 2007. As the title suggests, the album is Necro's return to...
.
Ellefson is also a member of a tribute band called "HAIL". Ellefson, Jimmy DeGrasso (Mike Portnoy for 2010), Tim "Ripper" Owens and Andreas Kisser
Andreas Kisser
Andreas Rudolf Kisser is the lead guitarist for the metal band Sepultura as well as the rock supergroup HAIL!-Biography:...
formed the band in late 2008. The band, as of April 2009, is touring Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
Ellefson participated in the Christmas Rock project Northern Light Orchestra, he performed bass on many of the 17 cuts produced by rock drummer Ken Mary and also at the live show Christmas in April Orpheum Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona.
On February 8, 2010, Dave Ellefson got a text message from now Megadeth drummer Shawn Drover, saying "if ever there was a time for you and Dave to talk, now is it.". Dave Ellefson called Dave Mustaine and the two talked out everything and decided they missed being friends. After the phone call, the news was released that David Ellefson would return to the Megadeth lineup. Ellefson was quoted saying "it felt like I never left" after their first rehearsal together.
Christianity
Ellefson told HM MagazineHM Magazine
HM: The Hard Music Magazine is an American bimonthly publication focusing on both Christianity and hard rock. Articles include news, album and festival reviews, posters, artists to watch, indie artist reviews, devotionals and interviews with Christian artists...
that he, like Dave Mustaine
Dave Mustaine
David Scott "Dave" Mustaine is the founder, main songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Prior to Megadeth, Mustaine was the first lead guitarist and a co-songwriter of the heavy metal band Metallica until he was fired from the band in 1983. In 2009, he...
is a committed Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
. "Well, I was actually brought up in a Christian household, so I have, you know, a pretty broad knowledge of it; and strayed from it for quite a while. And, now that I have children, I actually do go to church, so I’ve kinda sorta returned to it, you know?"
When asked about how he came to be a Christian, Ellefson came out to be surprisingly similar to Mustaine. “My faith has been with me from birth really as I was baptized in the Lutheran Church when I was an infant and raised in that setting my whole life. My family went to church on Sundays, my dad was on church committees, my mom sang in the church choir, and I was confirmed as a teenager too. In fact my mother’s Wurlitzer
Wurlitzer
The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, usually referred to simply as Wurlitzer, was an American company that produced stringed instruments, woodwinds, brass instruments, theatre organs, band organs, orchestrions, electronic organs, electric pianos and jukeboxes....
organ was my first musical experience and how I learned to play.”
He was also asked that if he was a Christian his whole life, and how he felt about being in Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
and doing the things that he did. “I will say that my adult religious beliefs were strengthened once I got cleaned up off dope and booze back in 1990 by way of 12 step programs. That really brought me back to putting God at the center of my life again and as a result I experienced the best years of my career, too. That was paramount for me because being 25 years old, and playing in a metal band, God was certainly not considered “cool” and is still not something most metal fans want to have their heroes proclaim in public! However, the reality is that even in my days of drug use, for me from age 15 to 25, my Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
upbringing always haunted me a bit because I knew I was doing the wrong thing living that lifestyle. Fortunately, getting cleaned up seemed to be in the cards for me so I’m glad I was able to get through it because so many people don’t seem to be able to make it through that. At the end of the day there is no escaping God’s will… He will always win!”
One of the things that helped him to come back to Christ was that he was having children with his wife, and he started to remember how he was brought up, and the appreciation he had for it. He wanted his kids to be brought up in the church, and after several incidents in the studio that he thought was very strange, he felt God was calling him to come back to the church. After calling his wife and telling her that, she said, “well, I’m glad this is all happening, because the worship leader was asking if you could come sit in this Sunday because their normal bass player isn’t going to be able to make it this week. That’s when he decided, “Okay God, I get it”. And then started his entrance into the Christian Music Scene.
In an article titled CODA - Ready for a MEGA Life, Ellefson indicated that in the fall of 2007 he began the new MEGA Life Ministries worship service in Scottsdale, AZ. "Oddly, the service has become one of my most rewarding and musically invigorating gigs I’ve ever had…a gig that literally landed in my lap and not something I had to chase down either. Not only are the parishioners respectful (no bar fights, spilled drinks and foul mouthed hecklers in the crowd like many secular gigs full of rational people) but it’s a musical event my whole family participates in. Plus, I’d finally had been given the venue to put into practical application the very words I’d been trying to live by for many years which is 'Play music for God, not us'." Ellefson has recently begun studying for the ministry in the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod is a traditional, confessional Lutheran denomination in the United States. With 2.3 million members, it is both the eighth largest Protestant denomination and the second-largest Lutheran body in the U.S. after the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Synod...
through an extension program of Concordia Seminary
Concordia Seminary
Concordia Seminary is located in Clayton, Missouri, an inner-ring suburb on the western border of St. Louis, Missouri. The institution's primary mission is to train pastors, deaconesses, missionaries, chaplains, and church leaders for the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod . The current president of...
in St. Louis.
Worshiping Satan
Satan
Satan , "the opposer", is the title of various entities, both human and divine, who challenge the faith of humans in the Hebrew Bible...
, it’s like, ‘Is that the best you can do?’ He’s kind of a small fry guy. You’re kind of limiting your resources a little bit there, if you go down that road.
Equipment
During Megadeth's early days, he first used B.C. RichB.C. Rich
B.C. Rich is a manufacturer of guitars and bass guitars founded by the late Bernardo Chavez Rico in 1969. Currently, most B.C. Rich guitars are manufactured in Asia, but luthiers of the company's custom shop continue to hand-make instruments. The Hanser Music Group, based in Kentucky, operates B.C....
Basses primarily the Mockingbird series in black for the albums Peace Sells and Killing Is My Business. Ellefson secondarily used Jackson
Jackson Guitars
__FORCETOC__Jackson is a renowned brand of electric guitar that bears the name of its founder, Grover Jackson.-Early years:Grover Jackson obtained ownership in Charvel's Guitar Repair of Glendora, California in the 1970s with a promise to bolster Charvel's business...
Concert 4 and 5-string basses in a black gloss finish and also a custom blue finish, the colour inspiration was his telephone answering machine.
In 1993, looking for a deeper sound which would "sit" under the bass drums in the mix, Ellefson tried EMG
EMG, Inc.
EMG, Inc. is the current legal name of a company based in Santa Rosa, California which manufactures guitar pickups and EQ accessories. Founded in 1976, the company was originally called Dirtywork Studios. The name was changed to "Overlend" in 1978 and then to the current name in 1983...
pick ups and pre-amps in the Jackson basses- pleased with the results he tried basses from almost every manufacturer while in pre-production for the "Youthanasia" album in early 1994.
A clerk at The Bass Shop in Tempe loaned his Modulus Bass for trial, the longer scale, carbon-graphite neck and electronics offered all that was missing. That started an association with Modulus
Modulus Guitars
Modulus Guitars is an American manufacturer of musical instruments, most notably bass guitars built with carbon fiber necks. The company, originally called Modulus Graphite, was founded in part by Geoff Gould, a bassist who also worked for an aerospace company in Palo Alto, California.The name may...
- which later faltered as Modulus changed hands.
He chose to play Modulus Quantum and Flea
Flea (musician)
Michael Peter Balzary , better known by his stage name Flea, is an Australian-American musician and occasional actor. He is best known as the bassist, co-founding member, and one of the composers of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers...
5-strings and sometimes two Fender Precision Bass
Fender Precision Bass
The Fender Precision Bass is an electric bass.Designed by Leo Fender as a prototype in 1950 and brought to market in 1951, the Precision was the first electric bass to earn widespread attention and use. A revolutionary instrument for the time, the Precision Bass has made an immeasurable impact on...
es, a rosewood neck '78 with a DiMarzio
DiMarzio
DiMarzio, Inc. is an United States manufacturer best known for its revolutionary direct-replacement guitar pickups. The company also produces miscellaneous guitar accessories, such as cables, straps and hardware.DiMarzio became known for its Super Distortion model, which was the first after...
split-coil humbucking pickup and a maple neck '77 These basses were used for a "grinding" sound . David switched to the American Deluxe Series
Fender American Deluxe Series
The Fender American Deluxe Series is a line of middle-range electric guitars and basses introduced by Fender in 1998 and upgraded in 2004 and again in 2010.The American Deluxe line replaced the Plus Series models of 1987....
P-Basses around 2000/01. His current bass arsenal includes a pair of maple-neck American Deluxe Precisions in 4 and 5-string versions, his '78 and '76 P-Basses, an Epiphone
Epiphone
The Epiphone Company is a musical instrument manufacturer founded in 1873 by Anastasios Stathopoulos. Epiphone was bought by Chicago Musical Instrument Company, which also owned Gibson Guitar Corporation, in 1957. Epiphone was Gibson's main rival in the archtop market...
El Capitan 5-string acoustic bass, an Ovation 4-string, a Hamer
Hamer Guitars
Hamer Guitars is an American manufacturer of electric guitars. Founded in 1973 by vintage guitar shop owners, Jol Dantzig and his business partner Paul Hamer. Early instruments featured guitar designs based on the Gibson Explorer and Flying V...
Chaparral 12-string bass and an assortment of Peavey
Peavey Electronics
Peavey Electronics Corporation is one of the largest audio equipment manufacturers in the world, headquartered in Meridian, Mississippi in the United States.- History :...
and Modulus 5-string basses. He has also recently been seen using a transparent red B.C. Rich Mockingbird and black and Silver Jackson Concert basses on the Rust In Peace Anniversary Tour. In addition to his bass gear, Ellefson's guitar rig included an Ibanez
Ibanez
is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
Destroyer, a pair of Peaveys as well as Alvarez
Alvarez Guitars
Alvarez is a guitar manufacturer based in St. Louis, Missouri and founded in 1965. Along with manufacturing acoustic and acoustic-electric guitars, Alvarez also manufactures classical guitars. Alvarez replaced Westone in 1991. Today, the brand is owned by LOUD Technologies, which also owns Mackie,...
and Briarwood acoustics.
Up to 1993 Ellefson used Gallien-Krueger 800RB amps and Hartke 4.5XL cabs, switching to Ampeg SVT
Ampeg SVT
The Ampeg SVT is a bass amplifier made by Ampeg. The SVT, which stands for "Super Valve Technology", was designed by Bill Hughes and introduced in 1969. The SVT bass head produced 300 watts at a time when most amplifiers made less than 100. The SVT has been through many design changes over the...
2 amps and SVT 8x10 cabs. In the studio, guitar amps were sometimes used for alternate tracks- notably a Peavey 5150
Peavey 5150 Amplifier
The Peavey 5150 is an all-tube guitar amplifier made by Peavey Electronics from 1991–present as a signature model for Edward Van Halen. Since Van Halen and Peavey parted ways in 2004, the name of the model was changed to 6505, with Van Halen taking the 5150 name for his company, EVH, to name his...
on Paranoid (1993).
Ellefson used Peavey amps/cabinets and Mackie
Mackie
Mackie is a brand of the United States-based company LOUD Technologies. The Mackie brand is used on professional music and recording equipment, such as mixing consoles, loudspeakers, and DAW control surfaces....
power amps for amplification. His effects setup includes DigiTech Genesis 3 and BP-2000 pedals, Korg
Korg
is a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures electronic musical instruments, audio processors and guitar pedals, recording equipment, and electronic tuners...
and Peterson tuners, BBE and Tech 21
Tech 21
Tech 21 is a New York based manufacturer of guitar and bass effect pedals, amps, and DI boxes which allow the user to emulate the tone of many popular guitar amps and record those sounds directly into a mixer....
Sansamp DIs, Digidesign
Digidesign
Avid Audio is an American digital audio technology company. It was founded in 1984 by Peter Gotcher and Evan Brooks. The company began as a project to raise money for the founders' band, selling EPROM chips for drum machines. It is a subsidiary of Avid Technology, and during 2010 the Digidesign...
Pro Tools
Pro Tools
Pro Tools is a digital audio workstation platform for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems, developed and manufactured by Avid Technology. It is widely used by professionals throughout the audio industries for recording and editing in music production, film scoring, film, and television...
MBox LE and Peavey Pro Comm U1002 Wireless systems. Ellefson uses D'Addario
D'Addario
D'Addario is a manufacturer of musical instrument strings, primarily guitar strings, currently headquartered in Farmingdale, Long Island, New York...
Nickel Electric guitar strings for his guitars, Prism and Pro Steel Medium Gauge bass strings (45-130) for his basses, Jim Dunlop Medium Tortex picks and Planet Waves
Planet Waves
Planet Waves is singer-songwriter Bob Dylan's 14th studio album, released by Asylum Records in January 1974....
cables. For effects, Ellefson uses the MXR
MXR
MXR, also known as MXR Innovations, was a manufacturer of guitar effects units, co-founded in 1973 by Keith Barr and Terry Sherwood . MXR was based in the United States in Rochester, New York. MXR Innovations, Inc. was incorporated in 1974...
M-134 Stereo Chorushttp://www.jimdunlop.com/product/m134-stereo-chorus.
After rejoining Megadeth in early 2010, Ellefson started using his old Jackson bass and Hartke amps again. He used an LH1000 with two HX810s on the Rust In Peace 20th Anniversary Tour. Recently David Ellefson's new Signature Series Powerwound Nickel Bass Strings from SIT strings were released. In early 2011, Jackson is set to release a Dave Ellefson signature model, both in 4-string and 5-string variants. As of summer 2011, David has added several new Jackson basses to his arsenal. One in a transparent red finish, which he is using in the studio to record the new Megadeth album, and another in a natural pre-painted finish which he will be using this summer on tour.
Basses
- B.C. Rich Mockingbird bass
- B.C. RichB.C. RichB.C. Rich is a manufacturer of guitars and bass guitars founded by the late Bernardo Chavez Rico in 1969. Currently, most B.C. Rich guitars are manufactured in Asia, but luthiers of the company's custom shop continue to hand-make instruments. The Hanser Music Group, based in Kentucky, operates B.C....
Ironbird bass - JacksonJackson Guitars__FORCETOC__Jackson is a renowned brand of electric guitar that bears the name of its founder, Grover Jackson.-Early years:Grover Jackson obtained ownership in Charvel's Guitar Repair of Glendora, California in the 1970s with a promise to bolster Charvel's business...
Pro Concert bass - 4 and 5 stringed model - JacksonJackson Guitars__FORCETOC__Jackson is a renowned brand of electric guitar that bears the name of its founder, Grover Jackson.-Early years:Grover Jackson obtained ownership in Charvel's Guitar Repair of Glendora, California in the 1970s with a promise to bolster Charvel's business...
CMG bass - various David Ellefson models - Fender Precision BassFender Precision BassThe Fender Precision Bass is an electric bass.Designed by Leo Fender as a prototype in 1950 and brought to market in 1951, the Precision was the first electric bass to earn widespread attention and use. A revolutionary instrument for the time, the Precision Bass has made an immeasurable impact on...
- ModulusModulus GuitarsModulus Guitars is an American manufacturer of musical instruments, most notably bass guitars built with carbon fiber necks. The company, originally called Modulus Graphite, was founded in part by Geoff Gould, a bassist who also worked for an aerospace company in Palo Alto, California.The name may...
Quantum 5 & Fleabass - 4 and 5 stringed models - PeaveyPeavey ElectronicsPeavey Electronics Corporation is one of the largest audio equipment manufacturers in the world, headquartered in Meridian, Mississippi in the United States.- History :...
Zodiac DE Dave Ellefson signature model - 4 and 5 string models
- Steinberger Q4 - Used in studio during 'Youthanasia' recordings
- Fender Jazz BassFender Jazz BassThe Jazz Bass was the second model of electric bass created by Leo Fender. The bass is distinct from the Precision Bass in that its tone is brighter and richer in the midrange and treble with less emphasis on the fundamental harmonic...
5 string - CharvelCharvelCharvel is a brand of guitar originally founded in the 1970s by Wayne Charvel in Azusa, California and then later, Glendora, California. Charvel guitars became popular in the 1980s due to their association with famous rock guitarists such as Edward Van Halen , Richie Sambora , Warren DeMartini ,...
bass - 4 stringed model - 1978 B.C. Rich Eagle - Used in recording for 'Youthanasia'
- SIT Dave Ellefson Signature bass strings
Discography
With Megadeth- Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! is the debut album by the American heavy metal band Megadeth, released in June 1985 through Combat and Relativity Records. During the beginning of 1985, the band was given $8,000 by Combat Records to record and produce their debut album, but this...
(1985) - Peace Sells... But Who's Buying (1986)
- So Far, So Good... So What!So Far, So Good... So What!- 2004 bonus tracks :† The intro makes use of a sample from The Ink Spots' 1941 song "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire"- Personnel :- Charts :-RIAA Certifications:- External links :*...
(1988) - Rust in PeaceRust in PeaceRust in Peace is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Megadeth. Released on September 24, 1990, it was the third Megadeth album distributed through Capitol Records. The album was the band's only collaboration with record producer Mike Clink who was the first producer to...
(1990) - Countdown to ExtinctionCountdown to ExtinctionCountdown to Extinction is the fifth studio album by the American heavy metal band Megadeth. It was released on July 14, 1992 through Capitol Records. Countdown to Extinction is Megadeth's best-selling album, eventually achieving double platinum status...
(1992) - YouthanasiaYouthanasiaYouthanasia is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Megadeth, released on November 1, 1994 through Capitol Records. A remixed and remastered version, featuring several bonus tracks, was released in 2004....
(1994) - Cryptic WritingsCryptic WritingsCryptic Writings is the seventh studio album by heavy metal band Megadeth. The album was released on June 17, 1997 and debuted at #10 on Billboard Top 200. This is the last Megadeth studio album to feature drummer Nick Menza. His departure would mark the end of the band's longest lasting lineup to...
(1997) - Risk (1999)
- The World Needs a HeroThe World Needs a Hero-Track listing:-Personnel:-Album:-Singles:...
(2001) - ThirteenThirteen (Megadeth album)Thirteen is the thirteenth studio album by the American heavy metal band Megadeth. The album was released on November 1, 2011 in North America, making it the second Megadeth album that was released on that date. The album was released on October 26, 2011 in Japan...
(2011)
*For full list, see Megadeth discography
Megadeth discography
The discography of Megadeth, an American heavy metal band, consists of thirteen studio albums, three live albums, five compilation albums, two extended plays, thirty-four singles, eight video albums, and thirty-two music videos...
With Others
- SoulflySoulflySoulfly is a heavy metal band formed in 1997 based in Phoenix, Arizona. The original lyrical content revolved around spirituality and religious themes, with later albums encompassing other themes including war, violence, aggression, hatred and anger. Soulfly is led by former Sepultura frontman Max...
- Prophecy (2004) - F5F5 (band)F5 is a heavy metal band which features Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson and ex-drummer Jimmy DeGrasso. F5 is based out of Phoenix, Arizona.- Former Megadeth Members:...
- A Drug For All Seasons (2005) - AvianAvian (band)Avian is a melodic power metal band founded in 2002 by guitarist Yan Leviathan. The band features singer Lance King. In 2005 they released their debut album From the Depths of Time, a concept album dealing with the end of days and a warning to mankind. Musically, Avian is influenced by bands...
- From The Depths of Time (2005) - Temple of Brutality - Lethal Agenda (2006)
- Necro - Death RapDeath RapDeath Rap is the fifth studio album by American hip hop musician Necro, released on September 11, 2007 by Psycho+Logical-Records through Koch Distribution. It was the first studio album Necro released since signing with Koch in July 2007. As the title suggests, the album is Necro's return to...
(2007) - Killing MachineKilling Machine (band)Killing Machine is an American Metal band found by Peter Scheithauer that has released three albums, the self-titled effort in 2000 via Candlelight Records , Metalmorphis in 2006, via Mausoleum Records and Chapter One in 2010, via Axe Killer....
- Metalmorphosis (2006) - F5F5 (band)F5 is a heavy metal band which features Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson and ex-drummer Jimmy DeGrasso. F5 is based out of Phoenix, Arizona.- Former Megadeth Members:...
- The Reckoning (2008) - Tim "Ripper" Owens - Play My GamePlay My GamePlay My Game is the debut solo album by vocalist Tim Owens. Many well known musicians perform on the album. Play My Game was released by Steamhammer/SPV on May 15, 2009 in Germany, May 18, 2009, in Europe and May 19, 2009 in the US and Canada....
(2009) - Angels of Babylon - Kingdom of Evil (2010)