David Ellefson

Infobox musical artist
Name = David Ellefson


Img_capt =
Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name = David Warren Ellefson
Alias = Junior
Born = birth date and age|1964|11|12
Jackson, Minnesota, US
Instrument = Bass
Genre = Thrash metal, Heavy metal, Speed metal
Occupation = Musician, Songwriter
Years_active = 1983 - present
Label =
Associated_acts = Megadeth, Soulfly, Avian, Temple of Brutality, F5, Killing Machine, Ministry
URL = [http://www.davidellefson.com/home.aspx David Ellefson's Web Site]
[http://www.f5theband.com F5's official site]
[http://www.myspace.com/f5thebandaz F5 My Space page]

David Warren Ellefson (born November 12, 1964 in Jackson, Minnesota) is a bass guitar player who is best known as a former member of the thrash metal band Megadeth. He is currently a member of Avian, Temple of Brutality, F5 and Killing Machine.

Early life

With formal training on keyboard instruments and saxophone as a kid, Ellefson was drawn to the bass guitar because of its presence in heavy rock music. He then became an accomplished rhythm guitarist and honed his songwriting skills while leading several of his own bands through the club scene of North America’s Midwest region.

Throughout his teen years he played bass and rhythm guitar in several bands before moving to Los Angeles in the spring of 1983 at the age of 18 after graduating high school in hopes of attending the Musician's Institute. According to a VH1 segment, Ellefson was influenced "to pick up the instrument (guitar)" by Kiss records.

Megadeth years

Ellefson was the only constant member of Megadeth along with Mustaine. To differentiate between the two Davids, Mustaine referred to Ellefson as "Dave Junior", which was often shortened to "Junior". He appeared on every album and tour from 1985's thrash record "Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!" up until 2002's "Rude Awakening." Ellefson's original playing style involved using his fingers, however, as Megadeth progressed and the music became more complex, he tended to prefer playing with a pick/plectrum. Towards the end of his Megadeth career, Ellefson was not getting some of his material played for the band, which angered him. Ellefson was credited with some Megadeth songs, including "Family Tree" from 1994's "Youthanasia" (in the 2004 remastered collection of the CD however, the track is credited to Mustaine, Ellefson, Friedman, Menza, but Dave Mustaine credited the Rust in Peace-era line-up with the entire Youthanasia album as a tribute to the band's success at the time of the record's initial release).

Split with Megadeth

After a disagreement with Mustaine, Ellefson filed an unsuccessful lawsuit. When Megadeth reformed in 2004, Ellefson declined an offer from Mustaine to rejoin the band for its subsequent tour in support of the latest Megadeth album.

On Ellefson's website, Megadeth is not mentioned in his biography, only in the discography. In a mid-2005 podcast, Ellefson does not mention his past with Megadeth at all, instead concentrating on discussing his current projects. Mustaine felt Ellefson was unfairly using the Megadeth name when advertising for an amplifier for Peavey. On Blabbermouth.net, Mustaine claims to have had dinner with Ellefson at Christmas in 2005 to talk things through; they are on good terms today as Mustaine states they have spoken on the phone numerous times. [ [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=47885 Blabbermouth.Net - Megadeth'S Dave Mustaine: 'I Am Over The Feuds With Metallica And David Ellefson' ] ] It should also be noted that as of late, Ellefson has stated (also on Blabbermouth.net) that if Mustaine were to call him tomorrow and ask him to rejoin the band, he would say yes. [ [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=43897 David Ellefson: I Would Rejoin Megadeth Tomorrow] ]

Ellefson played five tracks for the Soulfly album "Prophecy" and also played on one track on "Dark Ages". Ellefson is currently in a hard rock band called F5.

Post Megadeth Career

Ellefson formed F5 after his departure from Megadeth. The band features Ellefson on bass, Dale Steele on vocals, Steve Conley on lead guitar, John Davis on rhythm guitar and Jimmy DeGrasso on drums. Their first album, "A Drug for all Seasons" was released in 2005. F5 appeared in support for Disturbed in February 2006 and toured the American Mid-West in the summer of 2006. Ellefson also appeared on the new Killing Machine record "Metalmorphosis" in 2006 alongside former Megadeth drummer Jimmy DeGrasso and has also been working with Temple of Brutality. Ellefson is currently a member of the melodic power metal band Avian which features singer Lance King.

David currently works for Peavey Electronics Corporation as an artist relations representative.

He has recently worked with underground emcee/Record producer Necro for his album entitled "Death Rap".

Religious views

Ellefson told HM Magazine that he, like Dave Mustaine is a committed Christian. "Well, I was actually brought up in a Christian household, so I have, you know, a pretty broad knowledge of it; and strayed from it for quite a while. And, now that I have children, I actually do go to church, so I’ve kinda sorta returned to it, you know?" [ [http://www.hmmagazine.com/soandsosays/archives/000406.php?page=1 HM Magazine ] ]

Equipment

During Megadeth's early days, he first used BC Rich Basses primarily the Mockingbird series in black for the albums Peace Sells and Killing Is My Business. Ellefson secondarily used Jackson Concert 4 and 5-string basses. He later started to play Modulus Quantum and Flea 5-strings and two Fender Precision Basses, a rosewood neck '78 with a DiMarzio split-coil humbucking pickup and a maple neck '76. David switched to the American Deluxe Series P-Basses around 2000/01. His current bass arsenal includes a pair of maple-neck American Deluxe Precisions in 4 and 5-string versions, his '78 and '76 P-Basses, an Epiphone El Capitan 5-string acoustic bass, an Ovation 4-string, a Hamer Chaparral 12-string bass and an assortment of Peavey and Modulus 5-string basses. In addition to his bass gear, Ellefson's guitar rig included an Ibanez Destroyer, a pair of Peaveys as well as Alvarez and Briarwood acoustics. David uses Peavey amps/cabinets and Mackie power amps for amplification. His effects setup includes Digitech Genesis 3 and BP-2000 pedals, Korg and Peterson tuners, BBE and Tech 21 Sansamp DIs, Digidesign Pro Tools MBox LE and Peavey Pro Comm U1002 Wireless systems. Ellefson uses D'Addario Nickel Electric Guitar Strings for his guitars, Prism and Pro Steel Medium Gauge Bass Strings (45-130) for his basses, Jim Dunlop Medium Tortex picks and Planet Waves cables.

References

External links

* [http://www.rockhousemethod.com/products/bass.aspx?i=378/ David Ellefson's Instructional DVDs, METAL BASS 1 & METAL BASS 2, produced by The Rock House Method]
* [http://www.davidellefson.com/home.aspx David Ellefson's Official Site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/davidellefson1 David Ellefson's Official Myspace]
* [http://www.F5TheBand.com/?friend=2260 F5's Official Site]
* [http://www.F5fanclub.com F5's Fan Club]
* [http://www.megadeth.com Official Megadeth Website]
* [http://www.templeofbrutality.com Temple of Brutality Site]
* [http://www.symphonyinred.com/ Symphony In Red Site]
* [http://podcast.maximumthreshold.net/podcast/?p=46 Interview on Maximum Threshold Radio Show]
* [http://www.bannedpromotions.com/dellefsoninterview Interview on BannedPromotions.com]
* [http://www.hardradio.com/shockwaves/f51.php3 HardRadio.com Ellefson interview on Megadeth history, F5, Temple of Brutality]
* [http://megadethworld.com/new/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=455&Itemid=69 Ellefson interview for Megadeth World.com]
* [http://www.ragerockradio.com 2008 Interview with David Ellefson and Fran Strine about Iron Steel at RAGEROCKRADIO.COM]