Testament bassist Steve DiGiorgio recently revealed details about a private conversation he had with former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson regarding his replacement in the band. He shared these details on the Scars and Guitars Podcast.
DiGiorgio described how he approached Ellefson during a European tour to discuss the sensitive topic of taking over his role on Megadeth’s album ‘The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!’ This conversation took place following Ellefson’s departure from the band.
DiGiorgio explained the circumstances of their meeting when asked about any conversations with Ellefson regarding his work on the album.
“Yeah, I did. I finally got him one-on-one,” DiGiorgio said. “His band Dieth… We were touring Europe — Testament and Voivod were touring Europe, and we picked up Ellefson’s Dieth, we picked them up for a couple shows as an opener.”
DiGiorgio went on to describe how he initiated the conversation during a quiet moment at the venue.
“And some of the soundchecks were done and people were going out for lunch or whatever, and the venue was real quiet,” he continued. “And I go, ‘Dave, come in here, man.’ I closed the door. And I said, ‘All right. Tell me, what do you think? I’m here. What’s up?'”
The Testament bassist expressed his admiration for how Ellefson handled the situation and his departure from Megadeth.
“And I could see how he made it through that whole — what would you call it? — scandal and how he made it through that as a champ and how he took his exit from the band the way he did, because the way he just told me how he viewed it all happening, he just had a smile on his face and he gave me no heavy trip at all,” DiGiorgio said. “And he’s a very supportive, super fucking positive guy. I was ready for anything, and we just had a fucking awesome conversation.”
This conversation between the two bassists highlights the professional respect that exists within the metal community, even during difficult transitions.
DiGiorgio’s involvement with Megadeth represents a significant chapter in his distinguished career. Wikipedia reports that Steve DiGiorgio is widely respected in the metal community not only for his association with Testament but also for his pioneering work on the fretless bass guitar. He has played with numerous influential bands including Death, Sadus (which he co-founded), and Control Denied. He has contributed to over 50 albums across a diverse range of metal subgenres.
His involvement in Megadeth’s ‘The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!’ began in mid-2021. He stepped in to re-record the bass parts after Ellefson’s exit. Ultimate Guitar noted that DiGiorgio used the same brand of Ibanez bass that he is known for throughout his career.
This marked a significant moment in DiGiorgio’s career. He brought his signature style and technical mastery to one of metal’s most iconic bands. Despite initially being the “mystery bassist” on the album, DiGiorgio’s contribution is now well recognized for how smoothly he integrated into the project alongside Dave Mustaine.
Blabbermouth revealed that DiGiorgio has praised Dave Mustaine’s collaborative approach during the recording process. He noted that the Megadeth leader was easy to work with throughout the project. This professional dynamic helped ensure the album’s successful completion despite the challenging circumstances surrounding the bassist change.
