In a recent conversation with Swiss videographer and photographer Alexandra Hernandez, former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson reflected on his enduring relationship with music and the bass guitar. Ellefson delved into the evolution of his craft, the unique subculture of heavy metal, and the sheer joy he finds in connecting with fans.
Explaining what drives him as a musician, Ellefson said: "The truth of it is I'm an explorer. It's why I get on a plane, get on a bus, and just go explore the world. Music is a representation of people." This spirit of curiosity has fueled his diverse projects, including his current work with the band Dieth.
For Ellefson, the connection with fans is central to his happiness. "Nothing makes me happier than to just see people in the audience be happy to be there and to be on stage entertaining them, performing for them, 'cause it's their night; they're the ones who paid for it," he said.
Comparing live performances to a jukebox, he emphasized the responsibility artists have to deliver a memorable experience: "Us on the stage, we're the product they paid for. And so it's our job — kind of like a jukebox: you put the coin in and you select the song, and people go dance or drink and they do what they do. And it's the same thing with live music."
Ellefson also shared his observations about heavy metal's place in the broader musical landscape. "Heavy metal fans are always among music's most passionate devotees," he noted.
Recalling a moment from a 2001 Megadeth tour, he recounted an experience in which a club seamlessly transitioned from hosting metalheads to a rave crowd
"I've seen so many clubs. I remember the first time I saw it, I think it was 2001, Megadeth, we were on a tour for The World Needs A Hero album. Right after we played, they flipped the club over, and a DJ came in, with one cable plugged into his turntable, and they let a whole bunch of nicely dressed yuppies in and charged them all the same amount of money and sold them more drinks.
"So they had the metalheads and the rockers all day, and then they had the DJ. And it just happened to us on this tour. It was up in the U.K. It was kind of, like, 'Okay, let's get this heavy metal thing done so we can flip it over and turn it into a rave.' And I'd like to think that what we do is maybe a bit more artful than that. It's got a bit more injection into society and people's lives than just to sort of, as the old hippie thing."
"I think that's one thing about metal music for sure — metal, jazz. There's certain eclectic kind of subcultures, and metal is not a mainstream music; it's a subculture," Ellefson said.
While metal has had its moments of mainstream recognition, its core identity remains rooted in a passionate and interactive community. "And it's not meant to be mainstream. It's had its mainstream moments, but for the most part, it's a subculture, and people come because they're into it and they know the songs, they know the people involved in it, they know the words, some of them are musicians. I feel like maybe there's a bit more of an intrinsic connection between us," he explained.
Reflecting on the primal energy of metal shows, he added, "Even if it's rowdy and it's fist in the air and it's stage diving and it's rocking, it's a very interactive community. And for me, it always has been."
Ellefson celebrates the visceral connection between performers and fans. "From the very early days of Megadeth, when we started that band, the fans, it was as entertaining for us to watch them as it was probably for them to watch us because of how engaged and how rowdy they were, with pits and stage diving and all that stuff. So it brought out this very primal thing in people. That's been a fun thing to be a part of my whole career. And even we see it every night after night with Kings Of Thrash. It's fun to see that hasn't gone away. That's still part of who we are and what we do."
