Happy birthday, David Ellefson

Posted on November 12 2015 by Candy Rock

Categories: #Heavy Metal, #Thrash Metal, #Speed Metal, #Power Metal, #Hard Rock, #1964, #November

David Ellefson, bassist and founding member of the American thrash metal band Megadeth (Kiev, 2007)

Happy birthday, David Ellefson...
Born David Warren Ellefson on November 12 1964 in Jackson, Minnesota, U.S., David Ellefson is a musician and songwriter mostly known as the bassist and a founding member of Megadeth.
Leading several local bands through his teen years allowed David to shape his songwriting and bass playing skills.
He moved to Los Angeles, where he met Dave Mustaine, before turning 20.
Dave Mustaine and David formed Megadeth two months after Dave Mustaine had been fired from Metallica in 1983. Yet it took them about a year and plenty of auditions, they even had Kerry King from Slayer filling in on lead guitar for a few months, before having a consistent lineup.
They released their debut album, Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!, in 1985 (lineup: Dave Mustaine (lead vocals, rhythm and lead guitar), Chris Poland (lead guitar), David Ellefson (bass guitar, backing vocals), Gar Samuelson (drums, percussion)).
Later the same year, alongside Canadian band Exciter, Megadeth performed its first North American tour.
Despite their issues with drugs and alcohol, the band still managed to record and release their second album, Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?, in 1986. Much more successful than their previous album, Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? is now seen as a classic of thrash metal.
Not long after the release of the album, Megadeth went on tour supporting Motörhead, and, in 1987, they toured as the opening act of Alice Cooper's Constrictor tour. After touring with Alice Cooper, the band went on its first headlining world tour, a 72-week tour beginning in the United Kingdom.
By the end of 1987, Chris Poland and Gar Samuelson were fired from the band for drug abuse and respectively replaced by Jeff Young and Chuck Behler.
After the release of So Far, So Good... So What! in 1988, Megadeth toured in Europe with Dio and with Iron Maiden in the U.S.. They later played at the Monsters of Rock festival at Castle Donington, England, where they performed in front of more than 100,000 people. They were supposed to join the Monsters of Rock European tour but David's drug problems made them have to leave after the first show.
Even if David got treated quickly, the band's problems didn't stop there; indeed, not long after Megadeth's performance at the Monsters of Rock festival, tensions between the band members made Dave Mustaine fire Chuck Behler and Jeff Young.
The band got the attention of more mainstream metal audience after the release of Rust in Peace in 1990 (lineup: Dave Mustaine (lead vocals, rhythm and lead guitar), Marty Friedman (lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals), David Ellefson (bass guitar, backing vocals), Nick Menza (drums, percussion, backing vocals)).
The same year, they went on tour in Europe alongside Slayer, Testament, and Suicidal Tendencies for the Clash of the Titans tour. The Clash of the Titans tour continued in America with Testament and Suicidal Tendencies replaced by Anthrax and Alice in Chains.
Megadeth reached the top of their popularity with what would become their most successful album; Countdown to Extinction (1992).
The band released four other studio albums: Youthanasia (1994), Cryptic Writings (1997), Risk (1999), and The World Needs a Hero (2001), before breaking up in 2002. The band broke up because Dave Mustaine, suffering a serious arm injury, was unable to the play the guitar unless he had physical therapy (lineup in 2002: Dave Mustaine (lead vocals, rhythm and lead guitar), Al Pitrelli (lead guitar, backing vocals), David Ellefson (bass guitar, backing vocals), Jimmy DeGrasso (drums, percussion, backing vocals)).
After the disbandment of Megadeth, David formed his own band, F5. The band's debut album, A Drug For All Seasons, was released in 2005 (lineup: Dale Steele (vocals), Steve Conley (guitars), John Davis (guitars), David Ellefson (bass guitar), Dave Small (drums)).
In 2002, he also joined Avian. David stayed in the band for four years and performed on their debut album, From the Depths of Time, released in 2005 (lineup: Lance King (lead vocals), Roger Moore (lead guitar), Yan Leviathan (guitars), David Ellefson (bass guitar), David Small (drums), Jonah Weingarten (keyboards)).
In 2004, Dave Mustaine began working on a solo album, The System Has Failed, which ended up being released as a Megadeth album due to contractual obligations. After the release of the album, David had harsh legal disagreement with Dave Mustaine over royalties and the rights to Megadeth's name. David later filed an unsuccessful lawsuit. At that point, his rancor against Dave Mustaine was so strong that he decided not to speak about Megadeth at all anymore.
F5 released their second, and last to date, album, The Reckoning, in 2008 (lineup: Dale Steele (vocals), Steve Conley (guitars), John Davis (guitars), David Ellefson (bass guitar), Jimmy DeGrasso (drums)).
David rejoined Megadeth in 2010, after an 8-year absence (lineup: Dave Mustaine (lead vocals, guitar), Chris Broderick (guitar, backing vocals), David Ellefson (bass guitar, backing vocals), Shawn Drover (drums, percussion)).
In July 2010, Megadeth embarked on the American Carnage Tour with Slayer, and with Testament and Anthrax as opening acts. On the American Carnage Tour, Megadeth performed Rust in Peace entirely.
In 2011, Megadeth released Thirteen, their firt album after David's come back.
In 2012, to celebrate Countdown to Extinction's 20th anniversary, Megadeth went on tour and performed live all the songs of the album. The performance at the Pomona Fox Theater, California, on December 7 2012 was filmed and released as the live album Countdown to Extinction: Live the following year.
After Shawn Drover's and Chris Broderick's departure in 2014, rumors were that Megadeth would disband but David denied these rumors.
In 2015, Dave Mustaine and David began recording Megadeth's fifteenth studio album with guitarist Kiko Loureiro and drummer Chris Adler. The album, titled Dystopia, will be released on January 22 2016.
To conclude, we wish a happy birthday and years of rock to David Ellefson!

David Ellefson, Megadeth (2015)

David Ellefson, Megadeth (1991)

[french version :
Joyeux anniversaire, David Ellefson ...
Né David Warren Ellefson le 12 novembre 1964 à Jackson, Minnesota, U.S., David Ellefson est un misicien et auteur-compositeur mieux connu en tant que bassiste et membre fondateur de Megadeth.
Faire partie de nombreux groupes durant son adolescence permet à David de forger son style à la basse et ses talents d'auteur-compositeur.
Il déménage à Los Angeles, où il rencontre Dave Mustaine, avant d'avoir 20 ans.
Dave Mustaine et David forment Megadeth deux mois après que Dave Mustaine ait été renvoyé de Metallica en 1983. Cependant, il leur faut à peu près un an et beaucoup d'auditions, Kerry King de Slayer a même été leur guitariste pour quelques mois, pour avoir un lineup fixe.
Ils sortent leur premier album, Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!, en 1985 (lineup : Dave Mustaine (chant, guitare rythmique et lead guitare), Chris Poland (lead guitare), David Ellefson (basse, choeur), Gar Samuelson (batterie, percussions)).
Plus tard la même année, aux côtés du groupe canadien Exciter, Megadeth fait sa première tournée nord américaine.
Malgré leurs problèmes avec la drogue et l'alcool, le groupe parvient quand même à enregistrer et à sortir son deuxième album, Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?, en 1986. Connaissant bien plus de succès que l'album précédant, Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?, st maintenant vu comme un classique du thrash metal.
Peu après la sortie de l'album, Megadeth part en tournée avec Motörhead, et, en 1987, fait la première partie de la tournée Constrictor d'Alice Cooper. Après avoir tourné avec Alice Cooper, le groupe fait sa première tournée mondiale en tant que groupe principal, une tournée de 72 semaines qui commence au Royaume-uni.
A la fin de l'année 1987, Chris Poland et Gar Samuelson sont renvoyés du groupe pour abus de drogue et sont respectivement remplacés par Jeff Young et Chuck Behler.
Après la sortie de So Far, So Good... So What!, en 1988, Megadeth tourne en Europe avec Dio et aux Etats-Unis avec Iron Maiden. Après, ils jouent au festival Monsters of Rock à Castle Donington, Angleterre, où ils jouent davant plus de 100 000 personnes. Ils sont censés se joindre à la tournée européenne Monsters of Rock mais les problèmes de drogue de David les forcent à quitter la tournée après le premier concert.
Même si David est traité rapidement, les problèmes du groupe ne s'arrêtent pas là : en effet, peu après le concert de Megadeth au festival Monsters of Rock, des tensions entre les membres du groupe font que Dave Mustaine renvoie Chuck Behler et Jeff Young.
Le groupe reçoit l'attention d'un public metal plus mainstream après la sortie de Rust in Peace en 1990 (lineup : Dave Mustaine (chant, guitare rythmique et lead guitare), Marty Friedman (lead guitare, guitare rythmique, choeur), David Ellefson (basse, choeur), Nick Menza (batterie, percussions, choeur)).
La même année, ils partent en tournée en Europe aux côtés de Slayer, Testament, et Suicidal Tendencies pour le Clash of the Titans tour. Le Clash of the Titans tour continue en Amérique mais avec Testament et Suicidal Tendencies remplacés par Anthrax et Alice in Chains.
Megadeth atteint le sommet de sa popularité avec ce qui deviendra leur album le plus couronné de succès : Countdown to Extinction (1992).
Le groupe sort quatre autres albums studio : Youthanasia (1994), Cryptic Writings (1997), Risk (1999), et The World Needs a Hero (2001), avant de se séparer en 2002. Le groupe se sépare car Dave Mustaine, souffrant d'une grave blessure au bras, n'est plus capable de jouer de la guitare à moins de suivre une thérapie physique (lineup en 2002 : Dave Mustaine (chant, guitare rythmique et lead guitare), Al Pitrelli (lead guitare, choeur), David Ellefson (basse, choeur), Jimmy DeGrasso (batterie, percussions, choeur)).
Après la séparation de Megadeth, David forme son propre groupe, F5. Le premier album du groupe, A Drug For All Seasons, sort en 2005 (lineup : Dale Steele (chant), Steve Conley (guitares), John Davis (guitares), David Ellefson (basse), Dave Small (batterie)).
En 2002, il rejoint aussi Avian. David reste dans le groupe pendant quatre ans et joue sur leur premier album, From the Depths of Time, sorti en 2005 (lineup : Lance King (chant), Roger Moore (lead guitare), Yan Leviathan (guitares), David Ellefson (basse), David Small (batterie), Jonah Weingarten (claviers)).
En 2004, Dave Mustaine commence à travailler sur un album solo, The System Has Failed, qui au final sort en tant qu'album de Megadeth à cause d'obligations contractuelles. Après la sortie de l'album, David a des sevères désaccords légaux avec Dave Mustaine concernant les royalties et les droits du nom de Megadeth. David fait alors un procès qui restera sans succès. A ce moment, sa rancoeur envers Dave Mustaine est si forte qu'il décide de ne plus du tout parler de Megadeth.
F5 sortent leur second album, et dernier en date, The Reckoning, en 2008 (lineup : Dale Steele (chant), Steve Conley (guitares), John Davis (guitares), David Ellefson (basse), Jimmy DeGrasso (batterie)).
David retourne dans Megadeth en 2010 après une absence de 8 ans (lineup : Dave Mustaine (chant, guitare), Chris Broderick (guitare, choeur), David Ellefson (basse, choeur), Shawn Drover (batterie, percussions)).
En juillet 2010, Megadeth se joint à la tournée American Carnage Tour avec Slayer, et avec Testament et Anthrax en premières parties. Sur la tournée American Carnage Tour, Megadeth joue l'album Rust in Peace entièrement.
En 2011, Megadeth sort Thirteen, leur premier album depuis le retour de David.
En 2012, pour célébrer le 20e anniversaire de Countdown to Extinction, Megadeth part en tournée et joue live toutes les chansons de l'album. Le concert au Pomona Fox Theater, Californie, le 7 décembre 2012 est filmé et sorti en tant que le live album Countdown to Extinction: Live l'année suivante.
Après le départ de Shawn Drover et de Chris Broderick en 2014, des rumeurs concernant la séparation de Megadeth circulent mais David les démentit.
En 2015, Dave Mustaine et David commence à enregistrer le quinzième album studio de Megadeth avec le guitariste Kiko Loureiro et le batteur Chris Adler. L'album, appelé Dystopia, sortira le 22 janvier 2016.
Pour conclure, nous souhaitons un heureux anniversaire et des années de rock à David Ellefson !]