Former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson recently responded to Dave Mustaine’s comments about not inviting him to the band’s farewell tour. He addressed the situation in a statement shared on Quemar Un Patrullero.
Ellefson’s response came after Mustaine stated he couldn’t invite all surviving Megadeth members due to “the behavior of one of the band members in the past.” This referenced allegations of sexual misconduct against Ellefson.
“To have it end where it did, and then [for Mustaine] even recently to say, ‘Oh, because of what one person did, I can’t bring anyone back.’ You know what? F*ck off. Just f*ck off,” Ellefson said. “Who is that one person? It wasn’t me, ’cause I didn’t do anything that would prevent me from coming back at all. At all.”
Ellefson criticized what he viewed as deflectionary tactics by Mustaine.
“And so this sort of deflectionary thing, to sort of get on some moral high ground, it’s, like, gimme a break. Really? And look, I had rock stars much bigger than Dave coming to my side and coming to my aid, standing by me, saying, ‘Man, just let me know if you need anything at all. That’s really f*cked up,'” he continued. “It’s f*cked up about how I was handled being discarded.”
The former bassist emphasized the importance of brotherhood over business interests.
“People saying, ‘I’m really disappointed that they chose business over brotherhood,’ ’cause at the end of the day, the brotherhood will always last beyond the business of owning a rock band — especially something we started and built together,” Ellefson stated.
Despite having legal options available, Ellefson indicated he chose a different approach.
“So, with that said, at one level, again, I could call a lawyer, I could go back into defamation lawsuits, and I have every right to — trust me. But at the same time, there’s two ways to win in tug of war. I either pull you over the line or I just drop the rope and let you fall on your ass,” he said. “And that’s what I’ve chosen to do — drop the rope. Drop the rock.”
This latest exchange represents another chapter in the ongoing tension between the former bandmates. The tension stems from Ellefson’s controversial departure from Megadeth in 2021.
Blabbermouth reported that Ellefson was fired from Megadeth in May 2021 following the leak of sexually tinged messages and explicit video footage involving the bassist. This led to allegations of sexual misconduct with an underage fan. Mustaine announced the firing on May 24, 2021, stating the decision was not taken lightly. He said the revealed details made working together impossible.
The dismissal marked the end of Ellefson’s second stint with the band he co-founded with Mustaine in 1983. Guitar Player noted that Ellefson had previously left the band in 2002 amid a royalty lawsuit that was later settled. This allowed his return in 2010.
In February 2026, WCSX revealed that Ellefson asserted he should participate in Megadeth’s announced farewell tour. He deemed any exclusion “unfounded, untruthful, and unfair” since “there’s nothing wrong.” He cited Black Sabbath’s reunion of original members as a model. He also noted his 30+ years as a foundational member of the band.
Despite the ongoing controversy, Ellefson has moved forward with his career. Blabbermouth indicated that he has expressed feeling a “newfound liberty” after his exit from Megadeth. He joined Metal Church in late 2025. Mustaine, who reportedly hasn’t spoken to Ellefson in over four years, recently indicated he cannot invite certain ex-members due to past behavior. He said it would be unfair to current members.
