David Ellefson

Best known for anchoring the rhythm section of iconic Bay Area thrash outfit Megadeth, David Warren Ellefson has built parallel careers as an educator, writer, business owner, independent recording artist, and frequent guest musician. The longest-serving Megadeth member after founder Dave Mustaine, he first joined the lineup in 1983 and contributed to nearly every studio album the group has issued. In 2015 Ellefson established his own imprint and production outfit, EMP Label Group, and four years later delivered his first solo album, Sleeping Giants. Additional ventures include the projects Temple of Brutality, F5, Killing Machine, Altitudes & Attitude, and Metal Allegiance.

A native of Jackson, Minnesota, Ellefson cut his teeth in several regional groups before relocating to Los Angeles. There he crossed paths with guitarist Dave Mustaine, recently ousted from Metallica under contentious circumstances. To distinguish the two Daves, Ellefson adopted the nickname “Junior” and became part of Mustaine’s fledgling band Megadeth, which, alongside Slayer, Anthrax, and Metallica, formed the celebrated Big Four of thrash metal. From the 1985 debut Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good! onward, the quartet forged a path that produced era-defining extreme-metal statements such as 1986’s Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying? and 1992’s Countdown to Extinction, records noted for both their aggressive impact and pointed social commentary. Ellefson remained with the band through the 2002 live release Rude Awakening.

Following the subsequent disbandment of Megadeth, a protracted dispute over royalties and ownership of the band’s name and catalog culminated in an unsuccessful legal action by Ellefson. During the ensuing period of estrangement he formed F5 with ex-Megadeth drummer Jimmy DeGrasso, performed with power-metal act Avian and the tribute outfit Hail!, and appeared on recordings by Soulfly, Necro, and Tim “Ripper” Owens. In 2010 Mustaine invited Ellefson to a rehearsal—Megadeth having regrouped the previous year and issued Endgame—leading to a reconciliation between the longtime associates. Ellefson’s reinstatement was documented on the 2011 release Th1rt3en, which earned a Grammy nomination. Two years later he published the memoir My Life with Deth, detailing his experiences inside Megadeth along with his battles against addiction and renewed embrace of Christianity; that same year the band delivered its fourteenth studio album, Super Collider. Ellefson founded the independent label Ellefson Music Productions (EMP) in 2015 and, two years afterward, launched The Ellefson Coffee Co. in his hometown of Jackson, Minnesota. In 2019 he partnered with Thom Hazaert to create Ellefson Films and simultaneously issued his debut solo LP, Sleeping Giants.