David Ellefson recently opened up about his thoughts on potential Megadeth reunions and the support he received from former bandmates. He shared his perspective in an interview with Beardo and Weirdo.
When asked about whether watching Black Sabbath’s farewell tour made him consider the possibility of reuniting with Dave Mustaine for a healthy sendoff, Ellefson reflected on his past efforts to bring the band back together.
“For sure. I mean, look, I proposed that back in 2004 when Dave was coming out of his, you know, hand injury, again, they put out this, oh, retirement hand injury, and next two years later, he’s back playing guitar,” Ellefson said.
“I’m like, ‘All right, look, if we’re going to do this, why don’t we call everybody and put it back together?’ Like, I saw Asia and Yes do that. I thought it was so cool.”
Ellefson also revealed the supportive message he received from former Megadeth drummer Shawn Drover regarding his representation of the band’s legacy.
“And look, it’s in my nature to do that. So, again, that’s why I do with Kings of Trash. I invite everybody like, ‘Hey, come on. Let’s f*cking jam.’ Shawn Drover sent me a really nice text,” he continued. “He said, ‘You know, brother, I hope you this doesn’t fall short on you at all. You were there representing every single one of us from Megadeth.’ And I said, ‘Thank you for that.’ And I said, ‘I know I was.'”
The bassist emphasized his continued connection to Megadeth’s legacy despite no longer being in the band.
“Even I may not be performing in the band right now, but it’s like, look, that legacy, I wear it out here on my sleeve. And because it’s my legacy, too,” Ellefson said. “It’s interesting when there are personal conflicts, you sort of have to maneuver around, but the legacy and it’s those songs will outlive us. And that will be there forever.”
Ellefson’s comments come amid ongoing reflections about his relationship with Mustaine and his departure from the band that defined much of his career.
Consequence reported that despite not talking to Dave Mustaine since being fired from Megadeth in May 2021, Ellefson recently stated his feelings about their lost friendship. The bassist has been open about missing his former bandmate and the experiences they shared together over the decades.
“I miss Dave too. Look, some of the best stories of my life begin with ‘the time me and Dave’—fill in the blank. You know what I mean? Because we lived such an interesting life together with that band,” Ellefson said in a separate interview. “We haven’t talked in a few years, but I miss the guy, of course. We had a lot of fun.”
Q945 All Rock documented how Ellefson has also reflected on how the band’s dynamic changed in his final years with Megadeth. The bassist acknowledged that the collaborative spirit that once defined the group had shifted significantly by the time of his departure.
“It was no longer a group. It was the Dave show. The friendship was over in 2018. I just didn’t know it yet,” Ellefson revealed. This provides insight into the deteriorating relationship that ultimately led to his exit from the band he helped build into one of metal’s most influential acts.
