Features
David Ellefson: Bass Gear, Megadeth, Favorite Bass Lines, New Album and More…
Promo photo courtesy of David Ellefson and Manager, Pamela Parks
David Ellefson is an American musician, best known for his long tenure as the bassist and backing vocalist for the band Megadeth across two stints, from 1983 to their breakup in 2002, and again from 2010 to 2021. He and Jeff Scott Soto joined forces again on their second album together, called “Unbreakable,” which was released in August this year.
KB: Did you always want to be a musician growing up?
Yes! Since I was about 11-12 years old, I knew this was my path. I got a bass guitar at age 11, started putting together bands at age 12, and haven’t stopped since….
KB: Why did you pick the bass as a musical instrument, and who were your bass heroes?
I would say the bass picked me. I’m convinced the universe decides your instrument for you, and that becomes your path. My bass heroes were Gene Simmons, Fred Turner from BTO, and Steve Priest from Sweet. Those three bands (Kiss, BTO, Sweet) were the cornerstone of my rock n roll beginnings.
KB: Which bass guitars have you used in your career, and which are you using now?
I started with a Gibson EB-O. Then a Dan Armstrong acrylic bass, then a Rickenbacker 4001, and then I graduated to the BC Richs and finally Jackson basses in the 80s. Today, I have a vast line of signature basses with Jackson Guitars.
KB: What other equipment are you using in combination with your bass?
I have signature strings with S.I.T. Strings, signature pickups with EMG, I have signature straps with Gruv Gear and Al Bane Leather, I use Jim Dunlop plectrums, and for amps, I prefer Hartke for most applications.
KB: How did you become part of Megadeth, and what is your fondest memory during the two stints with the band?
Me & my best friend Greg Handevidt moved to LA together in 1983 after high school. It was there that we met Dave Mustaine, and together we formed Megadeth. In the first round, I think building the band was always a new challenge, but a new excitement with every turn. With round two, I would say doing the BIG 4 shows was the highlight, and winning a Grammy Award.
KB: Are there any artists out there you would love to collaborate with or wish you had?
There are always new people I perform with who inspire me. I let the opportunities come to me rather than make an all-star wish list.
KB: An EP with 7 of your favorite bass lines (not your own) but played by you: What would you pick and why?
“NIB” – Black Sabbath: Just such a clever and greasy cool bass line
“Detroit Rock City”- Kiss: The song that started it all for me on bass.
“Death on Two Legs” – Queen: This is on the new Ellefson-Soto album! Check it out!
“I Don’t Know” – Ozzy Osbourne: Bob Daisley is one of the greatest bassists (and lyricists!) there ever was in rock n roll.
“No Quarter” – Led Zeppelin: Just such a great riff and line.
“Closer To My Home” – Grand Funk Railroad: Such a great bass line and song from my youth.
“Roundabout” – Yes: Still one of the best with the greatest tone ever…a strong, aggressive, and scorching part!
KB: You have a new album out since August: What’s the title, how did the process go, and what is it about?
The brand-new Ellefson-Soto album, “Unbreakable”, marks the band’s powerful sophomore release. Writing began in 2023 and wrapped up in late 2024, with most of the record tracked at Rogue Recording Studios in London and the rest completed remotely across the globe.
Each song is deeply personal — a reflection of where we are in our lives — yet every track hits with the ferocity and spirit of pure heavy rock and metal.