Former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson was recently interviewed by Ernest Skinner of Canada's Border City Rock Talk. During their chat, which can be seen below, Ellefson talked about his recent Basstory and Bass Warrior tours, which saw the 60 year old musician performing classic tracks as well as deep cuts, in addition to sharing insightful stories from his remarkable career.
According to Ellefson: "Rock is dead in America — it really is. And I know people will lambaste me for saying that, but it is. When Gene Simmons (of KISS) said it, everybody hated him for it, but he's right. Unless you're an established band, unless you're Linkin Park and Metallica and KISS and Slayer, whatever, to start a new rock band — kids aren't into that shit. They're into Facebook and Tesla (the car, not the band). Yeah, their lives are on their phones. Being a rock star is not cool anymore, like it was for us growing up. So, if you've got it established, you can keep it working. So, for me, I enjoy South America, Latin America, they love rock and roll. Asia, Australia. So you leave America and, man, rock and roll is very much alive and well. They champion the legacy stuff, they like new stuff."
Grammy Award winning bassist, David Ellefson has announced his Bass Warrior Tour across Europe for spring 2025. The tour will feature Ellefson and his solo band performing select cuts from his well-known catalog of Mega hits, solo material and other hard rock & metal favorites which inspired him during his 40-year music career.
To coincide with the announcement, Ellefson teamed up with American Idol contestant, James Durbin to release a powerhouse version of the Judas Priest classic, "Metal Gods". The song also features Ellefson’s solo band of musicians including his long-time friend & musical director, Andy Martongelli.
The song is now available across all digital platforms and can be heard below.
Ellefson states, “As we’re announcing the next round of Bass Warrior tour dates for 2025 it seemed fitting to push out a new track which so clearly identifies heavy metal music, that of our favorite Judas Priest! And, to do it with our friend James Durbin on vocals. He has such a fantastic voice and he even performed with the mighty Priest on American Idol so this story pretty much wrote itself.”
Durbin continues, “When David Ellefson & Andrea Martongelli DM you and want you to cover Judas Priest with them, the answer is ‘YES’! Aside from the late great Ronnie James Dio, the mighty Priest are the top of the heavy metal mountain for me and covering their music is a request I’ll never turn down, especially considering who that request come from.”
James Durbin was a contestant on the 10th season of American Idol and performed alongside Judas Priest during the show’s finale that year. The track is produced by Ellefson and his solo band guitarist Andy Martongelli and mixed by Alessio Garavello at Rogue Recording Studios in Wembley, UK.
Musicians featured on the "Metal Gods" track are:
James Durbin - Lead Vocals
David Ellefson - Bass Guitar
Andy Martongelli - Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Walter Cianciusi - Lead Guitars
Paolo Caridi - Drums
- Produced by David Ellefson & Andy Martongelli
- Mixing and backing vocals by Alessio Garavello for Rogue Studios , Wembley, UK
Ellefson's Bass Warrior European tour dates are listed on the poster below:
