David Ellefson Explains His Megadeth Scandal That Got Him Fired
via I Ask No One® with Kevin Re LoVullo / Youtube
In 2021, Dave Mustaine, the frontman and founder of Megadeth, officially declared that David Ellefson, the former bassist, would never return to the band. Ellefson’s dismissal came amid a controversy involving online grooming allegations, ultimately leading to his removal from the iconic heavy metal group.
Initially, when the scandal surfaced, Megadeth stood by Ellefson, awaiting further evidence.
The bassist defended himself, asserting that his actions were not inappropriate and that he had been manipulated.
Later, Ellefson took legal action by filing revenge-porn charges. He claimed that he had sent explicit videos to a female fan with whom he had an online affair, and she had leaked the videos without his consent.
Reflecting on the incident, Ellefson shared with Metal Hammer,
“There’s two sides to it. One: when you bare it all, you’ve got nothing to hide. Fuck it, now you can truly be yourself!”
He continued,
“We all come into the world with our birthday suit on, so what are we ashamed of? What I feel the worst about is the embarrassment that it caused some people, like my family, who didn’t deserve it. Out of respect for them, I’m going to keep the family dynamic off the table [during interviews]. That’s at their request.”
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Despite the controversy, Ellefson has chosen to continue his musical career, embarking on a solo journey.
Speaking about his recent Bass Warrior Tour, he expressed,
“I’ve approached my career as that of a musical warrior, always accompanied by my bass guitar. I eagerly anticipate bringing these songs back to the stage while sharing introspective and entertaining anecdotes about their creation.”
Ellefson concluded:
“It’s been a wild ride of low notes and high stakes!”
As he moves forward, Ellefson acknowledges the impact of the incident on his family and expresses a commitment to respecting their wishes regarding public discussions.
