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Watch: METAL CHURCH’s New Lineup, Featuring Bassist DAVID ELLEFSON And Singer BRIAN ALLEN, Performs In Reading
Metal Church's new lineup, featuring bassist David Ellefson (formerly of Megadeth) and vocalist Brian Allen (Vicious Rumors), performed on Saturday 25 July at Reverb in Reading, Pennsylvania, continuing the band's ongoing live rollout under founding guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof. The show is part of a broader relaunch that has seen the reshaped band build momentum since introducing its new members earlier this year, marking a significant refresh of the veteran metal act's touring line-up.
The current line-up comprises Vanderhoof, longtime guitarist Rick Van Zandt, bassist David Ellefson, drummer Ken Mary and new singer Brian Allen. The group made its overall live debut on 17 May at the San Luis Metal Fest in Mexico, alongside Armored Saint, before making its US debut on 17 July at Tupelo Music Hall in Derry, New Hampshire, ahead of the Reading date. The Reading setlist included staples such as "Fake Healer", "Badlands" and "Metal Church", and in recent interviews both Ellefson and Vanderhoof spoke positively about the band's chemistry and Allen's stage presence, while Vanderhoof also referenced ongoing medical treatment following the Mexico show.
In short
- Metal Church's new line-up played Reverb in Reading, PA, on 25 July.
- Line-up features bassist David Ellefson and singer Brian Allen.
- Follows recent debuts in Mexico and New Hampshire this year.
Explained simply
Metal Church is a veteran metal band founded in the 1980s. Founding guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof has remained with the group, and the band has recently introduced several new members in an effort to refresh its touring line-up.
One of the significant additions is David Ellefson, who was the long-serving bassist of Megadeth, a major heavy metal band. The group also brought in vocalist Brian Allen, previously from the metal band Vicious Rumors, marking a change in the band's frontman.
The band has begun touring with its new roster to test the chemistry between old and new members and gauge audience response. These performances are the first major opportunity to see how the refreshed Metal Church line-up functions on stage.
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