David Ellefson, founding member of Megadeth, has shared his thoughts on the band’s decision to retire after their final album and farewell tour. He spoke candidly about his exclusion from the farewell in The David Ellefson Show.
The bassist reflected on his decades-long journey with the band. He expressed mixed emotions about not being part of the final chapter of something he helped create.
“There’s a lot, ’cause, of course, it brings up years and years of thoughts, feelings, emotions, some great, some not so great,” Ellefson said. “I always say these gold records on the wall — which, the only reason I have ’em up is ’cause we have a podcast; it just makes for a good backdrop — but I look at ’em, ‘Countdown [To Extinction]’, ‘Peace Sells’, ‘Beavis And Butt-Head’, ‘Rust In Peace’, they all have a story in ’em.”
Ellefson contrasted the band’s successful periods with its challenges. He particularly highlighted the collaborative nature of their work in the 1990s.
“And some of the stuff in the ’90s were better stories — the band was cohesive, the management was consistent, the music, I think, was collaborative,” he continued. “We went to new heights, we explored new territory that you could only dream of doing, Grammy nominations, festivals, the world for touring was really opening up everywhere. So, really great stuff. In the middle of it, of course, and around it was addictions, rehabs, canceled tours, lost finances in the millions.”
The bassist acknowledged his disappointment about being excluded from the farewell. He maintained gratitude for his time with the band.
“And so for things to sort of flush out the way that they did with now me not being part of the final farewell of something I started, as one can imagine, [it’s] probably not something I’m super happy about,” Ellefson said. “And saying that while still being grateful for all that it was, because I think at some point you have to find a path through it because this is reality.”
Despite the circumstances, Ellefson expressed openness to participating in Megadeth’s farewell if given the opportunity.
“But, look, for Dave to call it quits or to retire, I should say… Farewell… I don’t even know if he’s retiring. He’s just basically saying Megadeth’s over… Would I like to be a part of it? Yeah, of course. Who wouldn’t?” he said. “I’m a founding member of it. I’m a 30-plus-year member of it. Is that gonna happen? Who knows? It’s too early to tell. I don’t know what they have planned. I have no idea what it is. They just made an announcement about it. Do I think there should be some sort of farewell that everybody gets to participate in? I mean, look, [the] ‘Back To The Beginning’ [concert in Birmingham] with Black Sabbath. Look, they made nice.”
Ellefson’s comments come as Megadeth prepares for what frontman Dave Mustaine has described as the band’s final chapter. This marks the end of one of thrash metal’s most influential acts.
Megadeth’s official announcement revealed that the band plans to release their final studio album in early 2025. A comprehensive global farewell tour is scheduled for 2026. The retirement announcement has sent shockwaves through the metal community, as Megadeth remains one of the “Big Four” thrash metal bands alongside Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax.
The band has begun building anticipation for their farewell with promotional materials featuring apocalyptic imagery and their iconic mascot Vic Rattlehead. Revolver Magazine reported that the teaser campaign includes a video with Vic Rattlehead speaking the ominous words “The End Is Near.” This signals to fans that this truly represents the conclusion of Megadeth’s decades-long career.
While specific tour dates and ticket information remain under wraps, early reports from Prime Timer suggested that some European dates are tentatively scheduled for late 2025. The full farewell tour will extend into 2026 across major venues worldwide. The extensive touring plan indicates that Megadeth intends to give fans across the globe one final opportunity to witness their legendary live performances.
Frontman Dave Mustaine has framed the farewell as a celebration rather than a somber ending. He encouraged fans to view this transition positively. He has emphasized the band’s lasting impact on metal music and guitar playing, urging supporters to “be happy for us all” as they commemorate their influential legacy in the genre.
