David Ellefson has reflected on the Countdown to Extinction era and what struck him most about Metallica’s success at the time, speaking with Eonmusic. The former Megadeth bassist explained that while some have said Metallica’s approach influenced the album, the real eye-opener was attending one of their arena shows.
Ellefson was asked whether Metallica’s simpler, slower sound and the success of the Black album shaped Countdown to Extinction during its creation. He addressed the claim that Metallica had a direct musical influence on the record.
Question: “You’re playing ‘Countdown to Extinction’ in full on your forthcoming Bass Warrior tour, so let’s talk about that album. It’s been said that Metallica’s more simplistic, slowed down approach and subsequent success of the Black album influenced Megadeth when you were making it. Is this true?”
“I don’t think that is as true of a statement that the Black Album directly influenced it,” Ellefson said. “Obviously you hear what’s around you. While we were making ‘Countdown’, I actually went down to see Metallica. They played three or five nights at the Los Angeles Forum, and that’s when they had the Snake Pit and the two drum kits coming out of the stage. It was super huge. I looked around the arena and went, ‘Wait a minute, these are the same fans that come to our show. It’s just that for some reason they have five times as many of them. Why do they see Metallica and not us?’ Not that I was complaining – we were successful – but it was interesting how much bigger they were. Again, they were the first ones. They were the leader. They got to break through the doors first before everybody.”
These comments came as Ellefson prepares to perform Countdown to Extinction in full during the Bass Warrior tour.
Ellefson’s observations about Metallica’s reach came at a pivotal moment for both bands. Countdown to Extinction arrived on July 14, 1992, and became Megadeth’s commercial breakthrough, entering the Billboard 200 at number 2 and eventually achieving double platinum certification. The album struck a middle ground between commercial metal and thrash, presenting a simpler and more radio-friendly sound than Megadeth’s earlier work.
Metallica had released their self-titled fifth album, commonly known as The Black Album, on August 12, 1991. The record became Metallica’s first album to reach the top of the Billboard 200 and went on to receive 2x Diamond certification from the RIAA. The band’s shift toward a more melodic direction helped them gain a mainstream following that extended far beyond their original thrash metal audience.
The Los Angeles Forum shows that Ellefson attended took place during Metallica’s Wherever We May Roam Tour in January and February 1992. The band’s stage production at these shows, which included the Snakepit attraction, demonstrated the scale of their live operation. By the time Ellefson saw these performances, Metallica had already established themselves as the commercial leaders of heavy metal.
Ellefson launched his Bass Warrior Tour in 2024 as a way to perform songs from his more than 40 years as a recording artist. The tour includes performances of the full Countdown to Extinction album, allowing fans to experience the record that brought Megadeth to new commercial heights three decades earlier.
