Megadeth founder Dave Mustaine has ruled out bringing back former key members of the thrash metal legends during the band’s farewell touring that is expected to run for the next 3 to 5 years. According to the divisive frontman/guitarist, that decision came down as a result of what he described as the ‘behavior’ of one of the group’s former members.
Of course, while Megadeth have cycled through dozens of members over the years, it was bassist/vocalist David Ellefson who Mustaine would presumably be referring to. Ellefson was seen as a primary member of the band alongside guitarist Chris Poland, guitarist Marty Friedman and the late drummer Nick Menza, with those members having been in place for much of the defining moments of the Megadeth discography.
Ellefson however found himself fired from the band after explicit videos of him pleasuring himself leaked online back in 2021. Those private clips were found to have been the result of an extramarital online affair the then 56-year-old bassist had been conducting with a woman who was 19 at the time. While no laws were determined to have been broken, Mustaine was quick to fire Ellefson, with prickly comments having been exchanged by both parties in the press since.
Speaking recently with Eddie Trunk, Mustaine waved off the prospect of any potential former members coming back to see Megadeth off:
“I can’t really do that, because of the behavior of one of the band members in the past. I just can’t. Because, first off, it would be unfair to the other band members if I didn’t play with them as well.”
Speaking on his 2023 live reunions with Friedman, Mustaine responded:
“The thing about what we did with Marty in Japan, that was a no-brainer. That was brilliant. And I love Marty. We had our separation, and he went his way and we went our way.”
Mustaine continued:
“My relationship with Chris (Poland) was really great, but it wasn’t as good as it was with Marty. My relationship with Jeff (Young) was good, but it wasn’t as good as it was with Marty. And I probably wouldn’t have a problem playing with any of the members of those two lineups. I’m just not gonna do anything that is gonna, in any way, seem unfair to the other band members.”
Since being ousted from Megadeth, Ellefson has continued to carry the torch for Megadeth in a sense, forming the Megadeth covers band Kings Of Thrash with Young and more, with Poland also taking part on occasion. This past August also saw Ellefson admit that he’d like to be involved with Megadeth‘s farewell tour.
Mustaine‘s ‘farewell ‘endgame’ will commence next year with the band heading out on a global run in support of not only their lengthy career, but also their self-titled final studio album, which they will have out on January 23rd.
[via Blabbermouth]
