David 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 Ministry, Avian, Temple of Brutality, F5 and Killing Machine. is the 316th day of the year (317th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... Jackson is a city located in Jackson County, Minnesota. ... Capital Saint Paul Largest city Minneapolis Area  Ranked 12th  - Total 87,014 sq mi (225,365 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 400 miles (645 km)  - % water 8. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music, one of the extreme metal subgenres that is characterised by its signature high speed and aggression. ... Heavy metal (sometimes referred to simply as metal) is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s. ... Speed metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal that spawned in the early 1980s and was the direct musical progenitor of thrash metal[1] [2]. When Speed metal first emerged as a genre, it innovatively increased the tempo of the music template set forth by Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin... “Instrumentalist” redirects here. ... Megadeth is an American Thrash Metal band led by founder, frontman, and songwriter Dave Mustaine. ... Soulfly is a heavy metal band started by Max Cavalera in 1997 after his decision to leave Sepultura. ... Avian is a melodic power metal band founded in 2002 by guitarist Yan Leviathan. ... F5 is a heavy metal band which features former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson. ... Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by front-man by Al Jourgensen in 1981. ... is the 316th day of the year (317th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... Jackson is a city located in Jackson County, Minnesota. ... Capital Saint Paul Largest city Minneapolis Area  Ranked 12th  - Total 87,014 sq mi (225,365 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 400 miles (645 km)  - % water 8. ... The electric bass guitar (or electric bass) is a bass string instrument played with the fingers by plucking, slapping, or using a pick. ... Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music, one of the extreme metal subgenres that is characterised by its signature high speed and aggression. ... In music, a band is a group of musicians, or musical ensemble, usually popular or folk, playing parts of a musical arrangement. ... Megadeth is an American Thrash Metal band led by founder, frontman, and songwriter Dave Mustaine. ... Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by front-man by Al Jourgensen in 1981. ... Avian is a melodic power metal band founded in 2002 by guitarist Yan Leviathan. ... F5 is a heavy metal band which features former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson. ...

Early life

David began his career in rock 'n' roll as a hard rock musician at age 11. After formal training on keyboard instruments and saxophone as a kid David was drawn to the bass guitar because of its growling low end and undeniable 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 (one called KILLERS, which played throughout the mid-west) 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. Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in 1973. ...

Meeting Dave Mustaine

Dave Mustaine met David Ellefson in a rather humorous way which was chronicled in the band's Behind The Music. It was early morning and Dave Mustaine was hung over, all of a sudden he hears a loud bass in the apartment below him, thumping out the intro to Van Halen's "Running With The Devil." So Dave grabbed a flower pot and dropped it out the window and onto Ellefson's air conditioner, screaming "SHUT UP!" Later that day Ellefson went to Mustaine's apartment and asked where he could purchase cigarettes and Mustaine replied "Down the street at the liquor store." then promptly slammed the door in his face. Ellefson knocked again and asked Mustaine if he was old enough to purchase beer since Ellefson was only 18 at the time. Mustaine smirked and said "Now you're talking." The two went and got a case of Heineken, and in the words of Mustaine, "That's how David got in the band." This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

Before this happened, Ellefson had full intentions of joining a hair metal band on the LA Strip. But while drinking beer with Mustaine he heard the Metallica demo "No Life Til Leather" and was immediately drawn to thrash metal.

Megadeth years

Ellefson was the only constant member of Megadeth along with Mustaine. To differeniate between the two David's, 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). Killing Is My Business. ... Rude Awakening, Megadeths last album before the band was broken up for the first time in 2002, was released by Sanctuary Records in 2002. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar). ... Youthanasia is the sixth studio album by thrash metal band Megadeth, released on November 1, 1994. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Marty Friedman (born Martin Adam Friedman December 8, 1962 in Washington, D.C., United States) is an American guitarist. ... Nick Menza (born 23 July 1968 in Munich, Germany) is a drummer best known for his work in Megadeth. ... Rust in Peace is the fourth album by American thrash metal band Megadeth. ...

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. The bass position was eventually filled by Robert Trujillo. Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Metallica is a Grammy Award-winning American heavy metal/thrash metal band formed in 1981[1] and has become one of the most commercially successful musical acts of recent decades. ... Roberto Trujillo (born on October 23, 1964) is a bassist, who has played in Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves, Black Label Society and Ozzy Osbournes band before joining Metallica in 2003. ...

Ellefson seems to show a little animosity towards Megadeth. 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. This could also be because of the court battles between Mustaine and Ellefson which resulted in Ellefson trying to sue Mustaine (but losing). 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. Peavey Electronics Corporation is one of the largest audio equipment manufacturers in the world, headquartered in Meridian, Mississippi in the United States. ...

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, a departure from his days as a Megadeth bass slinger. Soulfly is a heavy metal band started by Max Cavalera in 1997 after his decision to leave Sepultura. ... Prophecy is the fourth LP of the Metal band Soulfly and it was released in 2004 (see 2004 in music)This album is noteworthy for three features - the completely different lineup for the album apart from leader Max Cavalera, the world music influence from a stint that Cavelera spent in... Alternate Cover Re-issued Digipak cover Dark Ages is the fifth LP for the Thrash Metal band Soulfly. ...

Post Megadeth Career

David formed F5, a new "heavy, but always melodic" band with a sound that is fresh and modern. The band features Ellefson on bass, Dale Steele on vocals, Steve Conley on lead guitar, John Davis on rhythm guitar, and Dave Small 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 feautures singer Lance King. F5 is a heavy metal band which features former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson. ... Disturbed is a rock band from Chicago, Illinois. ... Jimmy DeGrasso (born March 16, 1963 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) is a American heavy metal drummer. ... Power metal is a style of heavy metal music typically with the aim of evoking an epic feel, combining characteristics of traditional metal with thrash metal or speed metal, often within symphonic context. ... Avian is a melodic power metal band founded in 2002 by guitarist Yan Leviathan. ... Lance King Lance King is an American Heavy Metal singer. ...

David currently works for Peavey Amplifiers as an artist relations representative. Peavey Electronics Corporation is one of the largest audio equipment manufacturers in the world, headquartered in Meridian, Mississippi in the United States. ...

He has recently worked with underground emcee/Record producer Necro for his upcoming album entitled Death Rap. Look up Underground in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A Master of Ceremonies or MC is the host of a staged event or other performance. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Killa C album cover Horrorcore (also known as Murder Rap, Acid Rap and Wicked Shit) is a sub-genre of hip hop music that evolved from pioneers such as Kool Keith, Insane Poetry, Ganxsta NIP, Esham, The Flatlinerz, KGP, Brotha Lynch Hung and The Gravediggaz. ...

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