IRON STEEL EXCLUSIVE BLOG ENTRY #4: EX-MEGADETH BASSIST DAVE ELLEFSON TALKS ABOUT BAND’S TOURING PLANS
[Welcome to the fourth entry of our exclusive blog series from the new thrash supergroup Iron Steel, featuring Morgan Rose (Sevendust) on drums; Jim LaMarca (Chimaira), Dave Ellefson (ex-Megadeth) and Rachel Bolan (Skid Row) all on bass; along with vocalist and guitarist Fran Strine and guitarist Tommy Redd. Each week a different member will be posting a blog entry at MetalSucks. This week ex-Megadeth low-end king Dave Ellefson talks about the band’s upcoming tour plans. (Check out Fran Strine’s, Jim LaMarca’s and Tommy Redd’s previous entries.]
Someone told me that we have to go on tour soon. The thought of leaving the Iron Steel compound with its many amenities was less than pleasant, but I understand that mere mortals need to see us play from time to time to be reminded of what Metal is.
The people we pay to deal with these things let us know about the offers – headlining of the main and second stages on the Rockstar Mayhem Tour, Ozzfest, The Warped Tour and Sounds of the Underground (they said they would do it this year if we would headline it) and a few other little tours that I don’t recall right now.
I’m not sure any of the so-called “bigger” tours are up to snuff for us – our production is massive. Our short set lasts 4 minutes and our extended set lasts 4 hours. Fire, explosions, Chinese throwing stars bursting from the stage, dropping of actual heavy metal barbells from a helicopter, all happening simultaneously during some shows is a bit much to bring to cities near YOU. We have lost some audience members to everything from concussions to slashed jugulars, at shows like the one we did on the stage we had constructed atop the Tungurahua volcano in Ecuador but it was worth it for the affect the shows had on those who survived.
We need to hire a few more bassists, get some people to pump up the pyro, get some ninjas and bodybuilders to bring with us on the road and lastly, we need to make sure Tommy can do more than play over speakerphone this time, THEN we can talk tour. Until that is done, I am going to go back to my home studio and crank out a few more side projects!
-David Ellefson, Iron Steel
