Former Megadeth bassist, David Ellefson, is featured in a new interview with That Fuzzing Rock Show.
Right off the top, Ellefson is asked what got "wee David" interested in becoming a musician.
Says David: "Well, two parts of that. One, my parents bought a Wurlitzer organ and I had to take organ lessons from the church organist, that was phase one right? And then phase two is... all right, you know everyone's taking up some elective, right? You know, in fifth grade or something, so I took up the tenor sax in the orchestra band, only because it was the coolest looking instrument, that's only reason I decided to pick it up, right? Was not my love, didn't like orchestra music, you know, none of that. But you know, it's what you do because your parents want you to not be a total slacker, you know?
"But you know, the real love of music came probably about age 10, I started hearing rock and roll on the school bus radio. It was BTO, Bachman Turner Overdrive, KISS, then eventually Foreigner, but certainly Styx, and Sweet - I mean, my God, 'Ballroom Blitz' and 'Fox On The Run', all this stuff was coming out. You know around it I guess too was probably ELO, Electric Light Orchestra. And it's funny, couched around these really great heavier guitar bands that I just mentioned was also yacht rock. It was also also England Dan And John Ford Coley, probably some Doobie Brothers, you know, Hall & Oates, all that kind of stuff. So that's why I always loved yacht rock, 'cause I actually like that music, it was cool, the basslines were cool, the guitars were cool."
Watch the interview below:
Ellefson recently 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:
