Former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson has discussed his approach to writing about Dave Mustaine in an interview with The Metal Voice.
“I think it’s very fair, and I went to great lengths to make sure that Dave is viewed very fairly,” Ellefson said. “He’s held in high esteem.”
“I read Nick’s book ‘Megalife: The Autobiography Of Nick Menza,'” he continued. “I was the first guy interviewed for his book. I was nervous about it because I was in Megadeth at the time. I didn’t want this to be any kind of sh*t talking.”
“There’s absolutely nothing slanderous toward Dave at all in it,” Ellefson emphasized. “I made sure of that, because Dave was my partner during that time.”
This careful approach to discussing Mustaine reflects their complex history spanning nearly four decades of collaboration and conflicts.
Reports from Consequence detail their relationship challenges. A significant conflict arose in 2004 when Ellefson sued Mustaine for $18.5 million over unpaid royalties. The case was later dismissed.
Their partnership began in 1983. Insights from Loudwire reveal that Ellefson was immediately drawn to Mustaine’s innovative vision for a new type of thrash metal. “He was such a good salesman with it that you believed it. That was a big part of it. You read it in his interviews. When he’s onstage, there’s a conviction,” Ellefson remarked about Mustaine’s leadership.
Documentation from Blabbermouth captures Ellefson’s early insight: “I knew three things when I met Dave: one, our band was gonna be successful; two, it was gonna be a lot of work; three, one day this is gonna end really badly.”
Their professional relationship ended in May 2021. Ellefson was dismissed from Megadeth due to an online controversy. Their previously strained relationship contributed to the final decision.
