David Ellefson
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| David Ellefson | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | David Warren Ellefson |
| Also known as | Junior |
| Born | November 12, 1964 |
| Origin | Jackson, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Genre(s) | Thrash metal Heavy metal Speed metal |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, Songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Bass, Guitar, Backing Vocals |
| Years active | 1983 - present |
| Associated acts | Megadeth, Soulfly, Avian, Temple of Brutality, F5, Killing Machine, Ministry |
| Website | David Ellefson's Web Site F5's official site F5 My Space page |
David Warren Ellefson (born November 12, 1964 in Jackson, Minnesota) is a bass guitar player who is best known as a former member of the thrash metal band Megadeth. He is currently a member of Avian, Temple of Brutality, F5 and Killing Machine.
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[edit] Early life
With formal training on keyboard instruments and saxophone as a kid, Ellefson was drawn to the bass guitar because of its presence in heavy rock music. He then became an accomplished rhythm guitarist and honed his songwriting skills while leading several of his own bands through the club scene of North America’s Midwest region.
Throughout his teen years he played bass and rhythm guitar in several bands before moving to Los Angeles in the spring of 1983 at the age of 18 after graduating high school in hopes of attending the Musician's Institute. According to a VH1 segment, Ellefson was influenced "to pick up the instrument (guitar)" by Kiss records.
[edit] Megadeth years
Ellefson was the only constant member of Megadeth along with Mustaine. To differentiate between the two Davids, Mustaine referred to Ellefson as "Dave Junior", which was often shortened to "Junior". He appeared on every album and tour from 1985's thrash record Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good! up until 2002's Rude Awakening. Ellefson's original playing style involved using his fingers, however, as Megadeth progressed and the music became more complex, he tended to prefer playing with a pick/plectrum. Towards the end of his Megadeth career, Ellefson was not getting some of his material played for the band, which angered him. Ellefson was credited with some Megadeth songs, including "Family Tree" from 1994's Youthanasia (in the 2004 remastered collection of the CD however, the track is credited to Mustaine, Ellefson, Friedman, Menza, but Dave Mustaine credited the Rust in Peace-era line-up with the entire Youthanasia album as a tribute to the band's success at the time of the record's initial release).
[edit] Split with Megadeth
After a disagreement with Mustaine, Ellefson filed an unsuccessful lawsuit. When Megadeth reformed in 2004, Ellefson declined an offer from Mustaine to rejoin the band for its subsequent tour in support of the latest Megadeth album. After leaving Megadeth, it was rumored that he would fill the then-vacant bass position for Metallica, Mustaine's former band. It was a rumor, however, and the bass position was eventually filled by Robert Trujillo.
On Ellefson's website, Megadeth is not mentioned in his biography, only in the discography. In a mid-2005 podcast, Ellefson does not mention his past with Megadeth at all, instead concentrating on discussing his current projects. Mustaine felt Ellefson was unfairly using the Megadeth name when advertising for an amplifier for Peavey. It should also be noted that as of late, Ellefson has stated (on blabbermouth.com) that if Mustaine were to call him tomorrow and ask him to rejoin the band, he would say yes.
Ellefson played five tracks for the Soulfly album Prophecy and also played on one track on Dark Ages. Ellefson is currently in a hard rock band called F5.
[edit] Post Megadeth Career
Ellefson formed F5 after his departure from Megadeth. The band features Ellefson on bass, Dale Steele on vocals, Steve Conley on lead guitar, John Davis on rhythm guitar and Jimmy DeGrasso on drums. Their first album, "A Drug for all Seasons" was released in 2005. F5 appeared in support for Disturbed in February 2006 and toured the American Mid-West in the summer of 2006. Ellefson also appeared on the new Killing Machine record "Metalmorphosis" in 2006 alongside former Megadeth drummer Jimmy DeGrasso and has also been working with Temple of Brutality. Ellefson is currently a member of the melodic power metal band Avian which features singer Lance King.
David currently works for Peavey Electronics Corporation as an artist relations representative.
He has recently worked with underground emcee/Record producer Necro for his album entitled Death Rap.
[edit] Religious views
Ellefson told HM Magazine that he, like Dave Mustaine is a committed Christian. "Well, I was actually brought up in a Christian household, so I have, you know, a pretty broad knowledge of it; and strayed from it for quite a while. And, now that I have children, I actually do go to church, so I’ve kinda sorta returned to it, you know?"[1]
[edit] Equipment
During Megadeth's early days, he first used BC Rich Basses primarily the Mockingbird series in black for the albums Peace Sells...But Who's Buying and Killing Is My Business and Business is good. Ellefson secondarily used Jackson Concert 4 and 5-string basses. He later started to play Modulus Quantum and Flea 5-strings and two Fender Precision Basses, a rosewood neck '78 with a DiMarzio split-coil humbucking pickup and a maple neck '76. David switched to the American Deluxe Series P-Basses around 2000/01. His current bass arsenal includes a pair of maple-neck American Deluxe Precisions in 4 and 5-string versions, his '78 and '76 P-Basses, an Epiphone El Capitan 5-string acoustic bass, an Ovation 4-string, a Hamer Chaparral 12-string bass and an assortment of Peavey and Modulus 5-string basses. In addition to his bass gear, Ellefson's guitar rig included an Ibanez Destroyer, a pair of Peaveys as well as Alvarez and Briarwood acoustics. David uses Peavey amps/cabinets and Mackie power amps for amplification. His effects setup includes Digitech Genesis 3 and BP-2000 pedals, Korg and Peterson tuners, BBE and Sansamp DIs, Digidesign Pro Tools MBox LE and Peavey Pro Comm U1002 Wireless systems. Ellefson uses D’Addario Nickel Electric Guitar Strings for his guitars, Prism and Pro Steel Medium Gauge Bass Strings (45-130) for his basses, Jim Dunlop Medium Tortex picks and Planet Waves cables.
[edit] Peavey David Ellefson Zodiac DE Scorpio Signature Bass
David Ellefson worked closely with Peavey for a signature bass in 2006. David chose the Zodiac bass as a basis for his signature model. The Peavey Zodiac DE bass guitars are solid rock basses featuring both staggered P-style split-coil and straight J-style single-coil pickups. "I wanted to create a bass that incorporates the best sound qualities of a traditional instrument but also has cutting-edge features designed for modern players," says Ellefson. "My technique and playing style have always demanded more from a bass guitar to really capture the power and depth of my music. The Zodiac DE brings those elements together in one powerhouse instrument." In the celebrated Peavey tradition, Zodiac basses combine sought-after features with the road-worthy durability required by serious rock players. Like other basses in the Zodiac Series, the David Ellefson signature model (named Scorpio after Ellefson's sign in the astrological zodiac) is built using a solid alder body with sculpted front and back contours and equipped with an articulating bridge with machined saddles. The Scorpio is also outfitted to his specs, including custom Seymour Duncan P/J pickups, a gloss-black finish and a mirrored pickguard. "Rock n' roll is about constant reinvention and taking things to new extremes, and the Zodiac DE reflects my passion for that lifestyle," adds Ellefson. "I like the bass to be heard as well as felt through the music, and after all, what good is a fancy bass if you can't hear it?" Zodiac DE Scorpio basses feature one staggered single split-coil and one straight single-coil pickup, with two master volume controls and one master tone control for shaping the Zodiac sound. Other features include an 8" radius maple neck so players can work into the 21-fret rosewood fingerboard in comfort, plus all-chrome hardware, Switchcraft jack and butterfly tuners.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- David Ellefson's Instructional DVDs, METAL BASS 1 & METAL BASS 2, produced by The Rock House Method
- David Ellefson's Official Site
- F5's Official Site
- F5's Fan Club
- Temple of Brutality Site
- Symphony In Red Site
- Interview on Maximum Threshold Radio Show
- Interview on BannedPromotions.com
- HardRadio.com Ellefson interview on Megadeth history, F5, Temple of Brutality
- Ellefson interview for Megadeth World.com
- 2008 Interview with David Ellefson and Fran Strine about Iron Steel at RAGEROCKRADIO.COM
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| Ministry |
| Al Jourgensen |
| Tommy Victor | John Bechdel | Tony Campos | Aaron Rossi | Mike Scaccia | Sin Quirin |
| Paul Barker | Bill Rieflin | Chris Connelly | Kevin Ogilvie | Martin Atkins | Louis Svitek | Rey Washam | William Tucker | Max Brody | John Monte | Mark Baker | Stephen George | Paul Raven | Joey Jordison | Dave Ellefson | Jimmy DeGrasso |
| Discography |
| Studio albums: With Sympathy | Twitch | The Land of Rape and Honey | The Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Taste | Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs | Filth Pig | Dark Side of the Spoon | Animositisomina | Houses of the Molé | Rio Grande Blood | The Last Sucker |
| Live, Remix and Compilation albums: Twelve Inch Singles | In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up | Greatest Fits | Sphinctour | Early Trax | Side Trax | Rantology | Rio Grande Dub Ya | Cover Up |
| Related Bands: Special Affect | Revolting Cocks | Pailhead | Lard | 1000 Homo DJs | PTP | Acid Horse | Pink Anvil | Lead Into Gold | Pigface | Skrew Society 1 |
