Megadeth’s Dave Ellefson Says He Was up for Jason Newsted’s Job in Metallica

In a new interview with The Metal Voice, Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson says he was on Metallica’s list of possible replacements for Jason Newsted back in 2001. Other candidates, you may recall from the Some Kind of Monster documentary, included Pepper Keenan (Corrosion of Conformity, Down), Jeordie “Twiggy Ramirez” White (Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails, A Perfect Circle),  Scott Reeder (Kyuss), Eric Avery (Jane’s Addiction), Danny Lohner (Nine Inch Nails), and Chris Wyse (The Cult, Mick Jagger).

Says Ellefson in the interview:

“[Metallica] didn’t call me. I know that there was a conversation about considering me. I know Lars [Ulrich] and Dave [Mustaine] had chatted, ’cause [Metallica] were putting their short list together. And, to be honest with you…

“I mean, look, Metallica are great, and I’m a fan of theirs and friends with them, and I would be there to be of service with them in whatever way, but they, I think, made their decision right around the time when Megadeth had disbanded in 2002.”

Lars and Dave chatted about this possibility? Srsly? How did that discussion go? Is there any world in which Mustaine isn’t furious if Ellefson ends up in Metallica?

ANYWAY, you can check out the interview below. Then head to the comments section to discuss whether or not Ellefson would have been a good fit for Metallica, and whether or not it would have been fun to watch Mustaine blow his top over Ellefson joining Metallica.

[via Metal Injection]