Former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson recently shared his perspective on how his departure from the band has affected his relationships within the music industry. He discussed his experiences backstage at Black Sabbath’s “Back to the Beginning” concert in a video posted on YouTube.
Ellefson reflected on his interactions with prominent musicians. He particularly focused on his encounter with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and how his former band status has changed these dynamics.
“And Steven Tyler, same with him,” Ellefson said. “You know, it was great to see him and it’s interesting because there’s been a Megadeth history around some of this stuff, right? Obviously (Megadeth being) thrown off the Ultimate Tour.”
He continued describing his conversation with the Aerosmith frontman.
“So, I went up to see Steven, I said, ‘Hey, it’s David,’” he explained. “And he knew who I was, of course, and he goes, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah.’ I said, ‘And now former Megadeth.’ And he just rolled his eyes like whatever.”
Ellefson then elaborated on how his departure from Megadeth has unexpectedly improved his relationships with other musicians.
“It’s almost like it endures me more to people, you know, now being not in the band, you know what I mean?” he said. “It’s like now I can hang out with Metallica. I can hang out with Aerosmith. Everything’s cool because there’s always some hostility there, you know, or some history.”
The bassist’s comments highlight how band rivalries and industry politics can affect personal relationships between musicians across different groups.
Ellefson has been actively rebuilding his career since leaving Megadeth. He has been exploring new musical ventures that demonstrate his continued relevance in the metal scene.
Blabbermouth reported that Ellefson has been actively touring with his solo “Bass Warrior” band. He performs a mix of Megadeth classics and his solo work on a 2025 European tour. This intimate setting allows him to share both music and stories from his 40-year career in metal. It provides fans with a more personal experience than traditional large-scale concerts.
The veteran bassist has also expanded his post-Megadeth activities through collaborative projects. Blabbermouth noted that Ellefson is involved in the “Kings of Thrash” project with Jeff Young. The project focuses on touring with thrash classics while planning new material under a possible new name. This collaboration signals his musical evolution beyond Megadeth’s shadow and his commitment to continuing his thrash metal legacy.
These new ventures reflect Ellefson’s ability to maintain his position in the metal community despite the circumstances surrounding his departure from one of thrash metal’s most influential bands. His current projects demonstrate that his decades of experience and musical expertise continue to resonate with both fans and fellow musicians.
The bassist’s renewed freedom to collaborate with former rivals and his active touring schedule suggest that his departure from Megadeth has opened new creative and professional opportunities. His departure was initially challenging, but these opportunities might not have been possible while still bound by the band’s internal dynamics and industry relationships.
