In a new conversation with Switzerland-based videographer and photographer Alexandra Hernandez, David Ellefson said heavy metal won’t be mainstream.
“I think that’s one thing about metal music for sure — metal, jazz. There’s certain eclectic kind of subcultures, and metal is not a mainstream music; it’s a subculture,” the bassist said. “And it’s not meant to be mainstream.”
He went on to say, “It’s had its mainstream moments, but for the most part, it’s a subculture, and people come because they’re into it and they know the songs, they know the people involved in it, they know the words, some of them are musicians.”
“I feel like maybe there’s a bit more of an intrinsic connection between us. Even if it’s rowdy and it’s fist in the air and it’s stage diving and it’s rocking, it’s a very interactive community. And for me, it always has been,” Ellefson further shared.
Then, the musician talked about Megadeth’s early period, “From the very early days of Megadeth, when we started that band, the fans, it was as entertaining for us to watch them as it was probably for them to watch us because of how engaged and how rowdy they were, with pits and stage diving and all that stuff. So it brought out this very primal thing in people.”
“That’s been a fun thing to be a part of my whole career. And even we see it every night after night with [Ellefson’s] Kings of Thrash [project]. It’s fun to see that hasn’t gone away. That’s still part of who we are and what we do,” Ellefson explained.
“Rock is dead in America — it really is,” the bassist also told Ernest Skinner of Canada’s Border City Rock Talk. “And I know people will lambaste me for saying that, but it is. When [KISS’s] Gene Simmons said it, everybody hated him for it, but he’s right.”
He continued, “Unless you’re an established band, unless you’re Linkin Park and Metallica and KISS and Slayer, whatever, to start a new rock band — kids aren’t into that sh*t.”
Recently, Ellefson released a new version of the 1980s hit ‘Ah! Leah!’ by Donnie Iris. The track features Chip Z’nuff, Stephen Shareaux, Drew Fortier, and Paolo Caridi. It’s available on all digital platforms now.
