Megadeth founder and frontman Dave Mustaine has announced the return of original bassist David Ellefson (1983-2002) to the iconic multi-platinum group.  This reunion is appropriately timed to Megadeth’s upcoming historic month-long Rust In Peace 20th anniversary tour which launches March 1 in Spokane, WA.  At these incredibly special shows, Megadeth will play their landmark, genre-defining 1990 album Rust In Peace in its entirety, in addition to other Megadeth favorites.

"This shows the power of brotherly love and forgiveness,” Mustaine says.  “David Ellefson belongs in Megadeth. Next we are going to show you the power of getting your asses kicked...HARD!"
David Ellefson concurs: "This is a huge moment for all of us, band and fans alike. It is a great celebration of the music from one of the biggest landmark albums of our career."

Ellefson will join Mustaine and Megadeth band members Shawn Drover (drums) and Chris Broderick (guitar) on tour in support of the group’s current CD Endgame, which has received some of the highest critical accolades of the band’s career.

"We'd like to thank James LoMenzo for several years of loyal service on the bass, and wish him the very best," Mustaine adds.

For more information on Megadeth, go to: www.megadeth.com.

I have no idea what to think...

Wow. That's something I didn't think I'd see.

What happened to Ellefson's demand that Mustaine bring back The World Needs a Hero's lineup?

On a more positive note, I really enjoyed Ellefson's playing in Hail! He's still an excellent musician, and it reminded me how laughable Mustaine's quips were about him being inept and needing "too many takes" when they recorded Megadeth albums.

God, what a passive-aggressive dick.

Excremental clichés so thick,
you would need a lunar rover
to explore the cold depths
until the jumping cows freeze over
-Rush: Countdown [demo version]

Hopefully this will be a long lasting 'reunion' and Mustaine doesn't turn to Dr Dick again.  It's good to see that people can toss water under the bridge and move on.  I loved seeing Dave in those Hail! clips.  This should make MP a happy man.

ya gotta do what it takes to pay the bills.

WTF? Didn't see that one coming ...

I find it very hard to take Megadeth serious anymore.

mmm ... Lomenzo is a great player. Anyway, Dave Ellefson is part of Megadeth and he belongs there, no doubt.

romdrums

There are no lesbians in the world, only women who haven't heard the Hollow Years LAB solo.

I've never seen anyone contradict himself more than Mustaine. 

I hate Metallica.  I love Metallica.  I hate Metallica.  Hey! Let's do a tour together!

I hate Marty.  I love Marty.  I hate Marty.

I hate Ellefson.  I love Ellefson.  I'll never play with Ellefson ever again.  Hey! Let's do a reunion tour!

Drugs have truly messed with his brain.

I bet that was a hard phone call to make for Mustaine.



AWKWARD.

wow! I'm very shocked! I didn't think this would ever happen

Flickr| |Deviantart

3DeadCanadians


I've never seen anyone contradict himself more than Mustaine. 

I hate Metallica.  I love Metallica.  I hate Metallica.  Hey! Let's do a tour together!

I hate Marty.  I love Marty.  I hate Marty.

I hate Ellefson.  I love Ellefson.  I'll never play with Ellefson ever again.  Hey! Let's do a reunion tour!

Drugs have truly messed with his brain.

It could be that.

Or it could be the years of physical and emotional abuse from his parents.

Or the man could just be naturally crazy.

Excremental clichés so thick,
you would need a lunar rover
to explore the cold depths
until the jumping cows freeze over
-Rush: Countdown [demo version]

buying tickets for the hollywood show!

http://www.myspace.com/maidenbaja

WOW

If I can't dazzle you with brilliance, I can baffle you with bullshit.

This is a fuckin' publicity stunt, imo.

But is this reunion only for this tour or he's in the band for good?

Now known as João "John" Piruças

They'll have another new line up in a couple years.  You only have to look at how many different members that band has gone through to know that Dave's an asshole.

my prog rock band

got my ticket last friday. the news that ellefson is back in the fold makes it all that much sweeter. i am going to the orange peel gig which sold out oover the weekend and as far i have seen is the only sold gig so far...

RUST IN PEACE 2OTH ANNIVERSARY TOUR
MEGADETH ~ TESTAMENT ~ EXODUS Date
Location Venue Ages Support Tickets March 1 Spokane, WA Knitting Factory All Testament / Exodus Buy Tickets
2 Boise, ID Knitting Factory All Testament / Exodus Buy Tickets
3 Medford, OR Medford Armory All Testament / Exodus Buy Tickets
6 Calgary, AB Big Four All Testament / Exodus Buy Tickets
7 Edmonton, AB Shaw Conference Centre All Testament / Exodus Buy Tickets
8 Saskatoon, SK Prairieland Exhibition Hall All Testament / Exodus Buy Tickets
11 Indianapolis, IN Murat Theater All Testament / Exodus Buy Tickets
12 Greensburg, PA Palace Theater All Testament / Exodus Buy Tickets
13 Buffalo, NY Town Ballroom All Testament / Exodus Buy Tickets
15 Washington, DC 9:30 Club All Testament / Exodus Buy Tickets
16 Baltimore, MD Rams Head Live All Testament / Exodus Buy Tickets
18 Scranton, PA Scranton Cultural Center All Testament / Exodus Buy Tickets
19 Norfolk, VA The NorVa All Testament / Exodus Buy Tickets
21 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle All Testament / Exodus Buy Tickets
22 Asheville, NC Orange Peel 18+ Testament / Exodus SOLD OUT
23 Memphis, TN Minglewood Hall 18+ Testament / Exodus Buy Tickets
25 Houston, TX Verizon Wireless Theater All Testament / Exodus Buy Tickets
26 Austin, TX Stubb's Amphitheater All Testament / Exodus Buy Tickets
27 Lubbock, TX The Pavillion All Testament / Exodus Buy Tickets
28 El Paso, TX Club 101 All Testament / Exodus Buy Tickets
30 Tucson, AZ Rialto Theater All Testament / Exodus Buy Tickets
31 Hollywood, CA Hollywood Palladium All Testament / Exodus Buy Tickets  

Nice to see as I consider Megadeth to be BOTH Daves. I loved Marty but this band has rotated a lot of lead axemen, so I can deal with that.

I guess technically it's still "MegaDave"

If I can't dazzle you with brilliance, I can baffle you with bullshit.

Watched the new That Metal Show with him Saturday- he's looking rough......and still a complete ass, and as already stated- contradicts himself on a hourly basis.

That being said, RIP is for sure in my top 5 albums.

Everyone who has criticized Mustaine in this thread will be banned for life. 

I wish Ellefson and Friedman would form their own band.

Come visit my shop at http://www.cafepress.com/arkhayne

Moved my Slayer/Megadeth/Testament tickets (got cancelled and my money back) for the Megadeth/Testament/Exodus date in Houston. And for some reason there is no American Carnage date in Houston... The lineup is still awesome (would take Exodus for Slayer anytime).

"Popular taste is cyclical, not to say fecal." - Neil Peart

3DeadCanadians


I've never seen anyone contradict himself more than Mustaine. 

I hate Metallica.  I love Metallica.  I hate Metallica.  Hey! Let's do a tour together!

I hate Marty.  I love Marty.  I hate Marty.

I hate Ellefson.  I love Ellefson.  I'll never play with Ellefson ever again.  Hey! Let's do a reunion tour!

Drugs have truly messed with his brain.

This....but I love Dave, what can I say?

RG7CSTodd


Watched the new That Metal Show with him Saturday- he's looking rough......and still a complete ass, and as already stated- contradicts himself on a hourly basis.

That being said, RIP is for sure in my top 5 albums.

I watched TMS too and although I'm a big fan of Megadeth, Dave Mustaine just comes off as childish. He seems the type that was picked on in school, and is getting revenge today by being famous. The funniest part of the show was when he leaned over to Eddie Trunk and remarked that the audience member asking the trivia question looked like a q-tip (the guy had some pretty bad "hathead" going on). He said it in a low voice so the guy didn't hear it, but the editor decided to include it in the airing. Comical, but very immature.

I got a chance to speak with Dave Ellefson after the Hail! show in Ma. He seems like an incredibly cool guy - I'm not sure why he gets a bad wrap... anyone care to shed light?

Wow, I never would have expected this to happen.

It sucks that Hail and F5 have to be put on the back burner but it's good that Ellefson is back making the money he deserves.

For latest videos from my Metal band, Shattered:
http://www.youtube.com/user/ShatteredMetal1
"Real men don't dance. They sit, sweat, and curse." Bill Hicks  (R.I.P.)

DTman2112


I got a chance to speak with Dave Ellefson after the Hail! show in Ma. He seems like an incredibly cool guy - I'm not sure why he gets a bad wrap... anyone care to shed light?

I think the ragging in this thread is mainly about Dave Mustaine, not David Ellefson.


In fact, I can't think of anyone other than Mustaine ever saying anything negative about Ellefson. He's the embodiment of the term "Minnesota nice."

Excremental clichés so thick,
you would need a lunar rover
to explore the cold depths
until the jumping cows freeze over
-Rush: Countdown [demo version]

Now if only he'd sack that horrible hack drummer he's got these days..

PincheJoto


Now if only he'd sack that horrible hack drummer he's got these days..

Jeremy Smirnoff
drums, percussion
http://www.facebook.com/jeremy.smirnoff
http://www.myspace.com/jeremysmirnoff

Awesome news, I'll be at the Baltimore show.

"Squeeze my lemon til the juice runs down my leg, squeeze it so hard I fall right outta bed."

Might want to take Lomenzo's pic/info off the main pages of the megadeth official site then. What's the over/under on how long it takes them to make the change? My guess is 7-10 days.

Is there anybody listening?
Is there anyone that sees what's going on?
Read between the lines, criticize the words they're selling
Think for yourself and feel the walls...become sand beneath your feet

20 year old celebration?? album played in full?? former member coming back?? megadeth is yet another band who rips off DT

Guess MP likes the news as well. ;)

Pretty big change in the Metal scene. Hope it goes well?

This is some great news for sure. I love Ellefson. Fingers crossed for a return of Freidman at some point.

Rust in Peace the album: roughly an hour
Rust in Peace live: roughly half an hour.

I'm still disappointed at the lack of UK dates.

"I woke up with a clown's hand in my pocket. That's what i did today..."

Megadeth should't attract any attention at this point. 

Joe Lynn Turner doing an album with some dude from the 3rd phase of Alcatraz is as important.

The Fish


Megadeth should't attract any attention at this point. 

Joe Lynn Turner doing an album with some dude from the 3rd phase of Alcatraz is as important.

This.

Jeremy Smirnoff
drums, percussion
http://www.facebook.com/jeremy.smirnoff
http://www.myspace.com/jeremysmirnoff

Megadeth = Sham.

Dave Mustaine is clutching at straws. He'll be trying to get Marty back in next!

BrickGlass


This is some great news for sure. I love Ellefson. Fingers crossed for a return of Freidman at some point.

GIGANTIC +1 to the return of Freidman.  Easily my favorite era of Megadeth.