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DAVID ELLEFSON: ‘When I’m Not In MEGADETH, I Always Look At It Like It’s DAVE MUSTAINE’s Solo Band’
Developed over time first seen 4 months ago
In a 8 July 2026 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson was again asked whether he would join the band's farewell tour alongside other ex-members such as guitarist Marty Friedman. Ellefson said he had never ruled it out, but reiterated his long-held view that Megadeth without him is essentially frontman Dave Mustaine's solo project rather than the classic band. His comments matter because they touch on the possibility of a reunion of former members for the group's send-off, a prospect of keen interest to long-time fans.
Ellefson recalled that when Mustaine reassembled the group in 2004, he suggested bringing in surviving former members — including Jeff Young, Chris Poland, Nick Menza and Friedman — to make it "something bigger", citing the joint Asia and Yes tours of that era as a model. He drew a parallel with Kiss, noting that each line-up and album has its own devoted fanbase, and said he would favour such a reunion if he were "calling the shots". Ellefson also stressed he bears no ill will toward the current members, praising bassist James LoMenzo and noting that he and former guitarist Kiko Loureiro brought in drummer Dirk Verbeuren in 2016; he added that he still receives royalties, so the arrangement suits him fine.
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In short
- Ellefson open to joining Megadeth's farewell tour, never ruled it out.
- He views Megadeth without him as Mustaine's solo band.
- Bears no ill will towards current members; still collects royalties.
How this story developed
- 4 months ago In a 8 July 2026 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson was again asked whether he would join the band's farewell tour alongside other ex-members such as guitarist Marty Friedman.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A farewell tour presents a singular opportunity to reunite the classic lineups that created Megadeth's most iconic and commercially successful work, offering meaningful closure to the fanbase that followed the band through its peak creative period. As Kiss has demonstrated, celebrating different band eras appeals to devoted fans across generations, and including former members like Marty Friedman, Jeff Young and Chris Poland would honour the complete arc of the band's legacy rather than treating the farewell as merely the continuation of Mustaine's solo project.
The case against
Dave Mustaine, as Megadeth's founder and sole constant member, has the artistic prerogative to determine the band's composition, and his current lineup deserves proper recognition rather than being subordinated to the appeal of earlier eras. Members like James LoMenzo and Dirk Verbeuren have devoted years to Megadeth and contributed meaningfully to its body of work, and a farewell that prioritises reunion over their place in the band's narrative would discount that contribution. The band's evolution is legitimate, and the farewell should authentically reflect what Megadeth is now.
Explained simply
Megadeth are one of the biggest bands in thrash metal, formed by frontman Dave Mustaine after he was fired from Metallica in the early 1980s. Over more than four decades the line-up has changed repeatedly, with Mustaine as the only constant. David Ellefson was the band's original bassist for most of that history, playing a key role in its classic era before being fired and later rehired, while Marty Friedman was a celebrated lead guitarist during the band's most commercially successful years in the early 1990s.
The current context is that Megadeth are said to be heading towards a farewell tour, which has prompted questions about whether former members like Ellefson and Friedman might return for a send-off, alongside current members such as bassist James LoMenzo and drummer Dirk Verbeuren. This matters to fans because Megadeth's various line-ups each have strong followings, and a reunion of past and present musicians would be a significant moment for the band's legacy.
Ellefson has spoken about this before on shows such as Eddie Trunk's radio programme, where he is a regular guest, and his comments continue to shape the public conversation about what a farewell tour might look like and who could be involved.
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