Megadeth Fires David Ellefson
Megadeth have fired David Ellefson amidst the bass player’s ongoing sex scandal.
The scandal began earlier this month after an Instagram user, identified only as ‘woahworst,’ started sharing accusations that Ellefson had groomed an underage girl. As proof, they offered extremely explicit video of Ellefson masturbating during a video chat, as well as screen caps of text exchanges between Ellefson and the young woman in question. The woman provided a statement indicating that while the relationship did take place, she was not underage at the time and it was consensual.
Last week, Ellefson either quit, made private, or shut off the comments on all of his major social media accounts.
Megadeth previously said they’re “watching developments closely.” They’ve now released the following statement:
“We are informing our fans that David Ellefson is no longer play with Megadeth and that we are officially parting ways with him. We do not take this decision lightly.
“While we do not know every detail of what occurred, with an already strained relationship, what has already been revealed now is enough to make working together impossible moving forward.
“We look forward to seeing our fans the road this summer, and we cannot wait to share our brand new music with the world. It is albmost complete.
“Dave Mustaine
Megadeth
May 24, 2021″
Other than Mustaine, Ellefson had been the only original member of Megadeth left in the band. Mustaine seemed to disband Megadeth in 2002; when he got the project up and running again in 2004, it was without Ellefson. Ellefson finally rejoined the band in 2010, crediting God with bringing him and Mustaine back together.
Megadeth will now have to find a new bassist before they kick off their tour with Lamb of God, Trivium, and In Flames in August. It will be interesting to see if they leave Ellefson’s parts on their new album or not, too.
Dates for that tour are below. We’ll let you know when/if Ellefson releases a statement of his own.
8/20 Austin, TX @ Germania Insurance Amphitheater [tickets]
8/21 Irving, TX @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory [tickets]
8/22 Woodlands, TX @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion [tickets]
8/24 El Paso, TX @ Don Haskins Center [tickets]
8/25 Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater [tickets]
8/27 Denver, CO @ Ball Arena [tickets]
8/29 Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Federal Theatre [tickets]
8/31 Reno, NV @ Reno Events Center [tickets]
9/1 Irvine, CA @ FivePoint Amphitheatre [tickets]
9/2 Concord, CA @ Concord Pavilion [tickets]
9/4 Portland, OR @ Moda Center [tickets]
9/5 Auburn, WA @ White River Amphitheatre [tickets]
9/9 Tinley Park, IL @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – Chicago [tickets]
9/11 Danville, VA @ Blue Ridge Festival [tickets]
9/12 Wantagh, NY @ Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater [tickets]
9/13 Boston, MA @ Leader Bank Pavilion [tickets]
9/15 Camden, NJ @ BB&T Pavilion [tickets]
9/16 Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center [tickets]
9/18 Noblesville, IN @ Ruoff Music Center [tickets]
9/19 Clarkston, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre [tickets]
9/20 Cincinnati, OH @ PNC Pavilion [tickets]
9/22 Rogers, AR @ Walmart AMP [tickets]
9/24 Mount Pleasant, MI @ Soaring Eagle Casino Amphitheatre [tickets]
9/26 St. Louis, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – St. Louis [tickets]
9/28 Minneapolis, MN @ Armory [tickets]
9/30 Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage [tickets]
10/1 Laval, QC @ Place Bell [tickets]
10/2 Quebec City, QC @ Centre Videotron [tickets]
Thanks: Ranpal C.
