Megadeth bassist David Ellefson has released a cover of Judas Priest’s “Freewheel Burning.” This track is from his guest-filled covers album “No Cover,“ which will be released on October 2. This cover features Thom Hazaert, Jason McMaster (Dangerous Toys, etc.), Andy Martongelli, Gus G. (Firewind), Andy James, and Dave McClain (Sacred Reich).
Megadeth bassist David Ellefson has released a cover of Def Leppard‘s “Wasted.” This track is from his guest-filled covers album “No Cover,“ which will be released on October 2. This cover features drummer Dave McClain (Sacred Reich, ex-Machine Head), vocalist Jacob Bunton (Mick Mars, Lynam), guitarist Frank Hannon (Tesla), vocalist Thom Hazaert, guitarist Andy Martongelli, and guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (Sons Of Apollo, ex-Guns N’ Roses).
Megadeth bassist David Ellefson will be releasing a new covers album titled “No Cover” on October 2. The 13-track record will feature covers of tracks by Motörhead, W.A.S.P., Def Leppard, Cheap Trick, Queen, Judas Priest, Twisted Sister, and more.
Ellefson recorded the album with vocalist Thom Hazaert, guitarist Andy Martongelli, guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (Sons Of Apollo, ex-Guns N’ Roses), drummer Paolo Caridi, and the following special guests:
– Charlie Benante (Anthrax)
– Eddie Ojeda (ex-Twisted Sister)
– Brandon Yeagley (Crobot)
– Dirk Verbeuren (Megadeth)
– Frank Hannon and Troy Lucketta (Tesla)
– Mark Slaughter
– Jason McMaster (Dangerous Toys, ex-Watchtower, Evil United)
– Greg Handevidt (Kublai Khan, Ex-Megadeth)
– Chuck Behler (Ex-Megadeth)
– Gus G (Firewind)
– John Aquilino (Icon)
– Doro Pesch
– Dave McClain (Sacred Reich, ex-Machine Head)
– Dave Alvin (White Trash)
– Todd Kerns (Slash Feat. Myles Kennedy And The Conspirators)
– Andy Freeman (Last In Line)
– Jacob Bunton (Mick Mars)
– Dead By Wednesday
Ellefson said the following:
“Before any of us started writing our own songs, we all began playing cover songs by our heroes during our formative years as musicians. So, it’s fun to go back in time and revisit those songs which helped us to become the artists we are today, especially when, ironically, many of those artists have now become peers and friends.
During the process of recording some covers for B-Sides and bonus tracks for the upcoming Ellefson solo LP, Thom and I just said, ‘This is a blast, let’s just do a whole album of covers!’ Literally, within 2 weeks, we had the songs recorded, and began calling our friends to join us, many of whom we had just performed with on the MEGA-Cruise back in October. From there, the album just fell into place.”
“A lot of our buddies have been playing covers and quarantine jams on the Internet during the pandemic, so this is really just an extension of that, but we took it the next level and actually recorded a full studio album.
We’ve been working remotely anyway, as we’re all over the Globe, so it was easy to incorporate some guests jumping in with some outstanding performances of their own. It’s been a really fun nod to making great music with our friends, who are kick-ass players, and many legends in their own right, which is the whole reason we got into this in the first place!”
Hazaert added:
“It’s all songs and artists that really mutually influenced both myself and David, especially a lot of early ‘metal’ and harder classic rock. Some stuff I picked, some stuff he picked, but for the most part is was all artists that we both loved. What’s funny, as there’s a bit of an age gap, we were sometimes more influenced by different eras of the same bands. But it was really him saying, ‘Let’s do this song,’ and me saying, ‘Yes!!! And let’s do this song.’ And before we knew it, we had over 15 songs. And it’s a lot of album tracks, deep cuts, early tracks, stuff people might not expect, which was what was so fun.”
“It was also great that we were able to work in a lot of nods to David’s history, getting Chuck Behler to play with us, bringing in original Megadeth guitarist Greg Handevidt to play on ‘Love Me Like A Reptile’, a song they used to play in cover bands together before they moved to L.A. (which we wrote about in ‘More Life With Deth’), and Randy Burns is going to mix a track or two. As a singer, these are literally bands I’ve listened to, and covered all my life, and for me, getting to play with Eddie Ojeda, the Tesla guys, Charlie Benante, Jason McMaster, Mark Slaughter, etc, and sing these songs that mean so much to me. I mean, literally, the entire record is my bucket list of people I’d love to play with, and some of my favorite bands. So, it’s truly an honor to put together something so fun, and really as effortless as this was. It truly is a love letter to rock n’ roll, an homage to what made us, musically, who we are today.”
Megadeth’s David Ellefson is streaming his cover of Post Malone‘s “Over Now.“ The track, which is expected to appear on the bassist’s upcoming album, was recorded with Thom Hazaert (vocals), Andy Martongelli (guitars), Paolo Caridi (drums) and ex-Guns N’ Roses guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (guitars/backing vocals).
Ellefson previously commented:
“We’re all fans of Posty, and he’s also been a huge fan of Megadeth and all things Metal. Aside from being a great song for any genre, our cover of “Over Now” is our way of showing our mutual admiration and paying homage to our friend.
The old adage used to be that if you could strip a song down to just an acoustic guitar and a vocal, you probably had a great song. But times have changed now, that if you can take a song from another genre, and seamlessly transform it to a completely different genre, it just proves what a great song it really is.
And it’s a cool dynamic, as he’s a Pop, R&B and Hip-Hop guy, who dips into Rock and Metal, and we’re Rock and Metal guys who have dipped into pop, R&B and Hip-Hop, collaborating with DMC on Sleeping Giants, etc. So, I think this really just pushes that whole idea of exploration forward.
And with everything we’ve been doing with our David Ellefson Youth Music Foundation and the Grammy Music Education Coalition, we’ve been fortunate to stay productive, and continue to inspire people to grow and create in the face of an unprecedented situation. Just because we’re locked down, doesn’t mean we’re locked in.”
Megadeth bassist David Ellefson has recorded a cover of Post Malone‘s “Over Now“ with Thom Hazaert (vocals), Andy Martongelli (guitars), Paolo Caridi (drums) and ex-Guns N’ Roses guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (backing vocals). The track will be released via Bandcamp on May 9 before hitting other services on May 15. For now, a teaser can be found beow:
Ellefson commented:
“We’re all fans of Posty, and he’s also been a huge fan of Megadeth and all things Metal. Aside from being a great song for any genre, our cover of “Over Now” is our way of showing our mutual admiration and paying homage to our friend.
The old adage used to be that if you could strip a song down to just an acoustic guitar and a vocal, you probably had a great song. But times have changed now, that if you can take a song from another genre, and seamlessly transform it to a completely different genre, it just proves what a great song it really is.
And it’s a cool dynamic, as he’s a Pop, R&B and Hip-Hop guy, who dips into Rock and Metal, and we’re Rock and Metal guys who have dipped into pop, R&B and Hip-Hop, collaborating with DMC on Sleeping Giants, etc. So, I think this really just pushes that whole idea of exploration forward.
And with everything we’ve been doing with our David Ellefson Youth Music Foundation and the Grammy Music Education Coalition, we’ve been fortunate to stay productive, and continue to inspire people to grow and create in the face of an unprecedented situation. Just because we’re locked down, doesn’t mean we’re locked in.”
Megadeth’s David Ellefson has released a new single titled “Simple Truth” via Bandcamp. Ellefson wrote the track with Thom Hazaert and Italian musicians Andy Martongelli and Paolo Caridi. Proceeds from it will go towards COVID-19 relief efforts in Italy.
Ellefson commented:
“We actually wrote the song in Milan during a tour rehearsal, and a lot of it was recorded there. We’ve gone back and forth with Andy in Italy, from the Platinum Underground in Phoenix, and with our mixer and co-engineer Alessio Garavello in London. While we’re all staying positive and just keeping busy, it’s heartbreaking to see what’s going on over there with the death toll climbing every day.”
“We played several shows in Italy on our European ‘More Live With Deth’ tour last year, and I was just there with Megadeth back in February. It’s absolutely devastating to see what the country is going through right now. The people, and it’s culture, have been so welcoming to me over the years, that i’m honored to do anything I can to give something back to them during this time of need.”
“Simple Truth” is the title track of a new EP, which also includes a new mix of “Vultures,” a live version of “Vultures,” and a live version of “If You Were God.” It will also appear on Ellefson’s upcoming album.
Megadeth bassist David Ellefson will be releasing a new single titled “Simple Truth” next month to raise money for the Croce Rossa Italiana in an effort to help out with COVID-19 relief efforts in Italy. The song, which Ellefson co-wrote with vocalist Thom Hazaert and Italian guitarist and drummer Andy Martongelli and Paolo Caridi, will appear on his follow-up to “Sleeping Giants.” The track will be available on Bandcamp on April 10 and all other digital outlets on April 17.
Ellefson commented:
“We actually wrote the song in Milan during a tour rehearsal, and a lot of it was recorded there. We’ve gone back and forth with Andy in Italy, from the Platinum Underground in Phoenix, and with our mixer and co-engineer Alessio Garavello in London. While we’re all staying positive and just keeping busy, it’s heartbreaking to see what’s going on over there with the death toll climbing every day.”
“We played several shows in Italy on our European ‘More Live With Deth’ tour last year, and I was just there with MEGADETH back in February. It’s absolutely devastating to see what the country is going through right now. The people, and its culture, have been so welcoming to me over the years, that i’m honored to do anything I can to give something back to them during this time of need.”
Hazaert added:
“While David has been there a million times over the years with MEGADETH, our tour last year was really my first experience with the amazing people and culture of Italy. Now half of our band, who have become dear friends, live there, which makes it hit even closer to home. Working on this record with these guys, who are just going after it 100%, while basically at ground zero for this whole crazy pseudo-apocalyptic scenario we’re all living in right now, really gives you a different perspective.”
“Lyrically, the song is really about not giving up and not taking any shit. Tuning out the noise and going after your dreams no matter what, and not letting anyone tell you can’t do something. And, I guess, living out the bizarre ‘Rock Star’-like scenario of being in a band with David, the guy from MEGADETH, who really was one of my idols, I guess it’s fairly autobiographical. But we’re all extremely proud of it, and really this whole record we’re making, it’s just a straight up, ass-kicking heavy hard rock record. There’s an amazing musical chemistry, and I know, personally, I can’t wait for people to hear it. And to be able to use it as an opportunity to give back to our friends in Italy makes it that much more special.”
Furthermore, Ellefson is also helping out kids during the coronavirus pandemic through his David Ellefson Youth Music Foundation and the School’s Out initiative, which gifts displaced students with free instruments/equipment, while also giving them lessons with members of Megadeth, Five Finger Death Punch, etc.
Megadeth’s David Ellefson has announced an Australian tour with his former bandmate Chris Poland. Here’s the dates:
05/22 Melbourne, AUS – Max Watts
05/23 Sydney, AUS – Manning Bar
05/24 Brisbane, AUS – Crowbar
05/25 Canberra, AUS – The Basement
05/26 Adelaide, AUS – Enigma Bar
Ellefson Films, the new film production company ran by Megadeth’s David Ellefson and music/film producer and industry exec Thom Hazaert, have shared a new trailer for an upcoming horror film called “Dwellers.” That movie was written and directed by musician, filmmaker, and actor Drew Fortier. Here’s a description of it:
“While shooting a documentary on the suspicious disappearances within the homeless community, a filmmaker and his crew go missing while uncovering a terrifying and vicious secret below the city’s surface.”
Megadeth’s David Ellefson has premiered a new video for “Sleeping Giants.“ The song, which features Ellefson’s business partner Thom Hazaert, MC Daryl “DMC” McDaniels (Run-DMC), Steve Conley (Flotsam And Jetsam), Ethan Brosh, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (ex-Guns N’ Roses), and Ilias Papadakis (Memorain), serves as the title track to Ellefson’s “More Life With Deth” companion album.
Hazaert commented:
“David had all these great instrumental songs laying around, and ‘Sleeping Giants’ was one of them. He suggested I write and record some vocals parts for them, so I called up DMC and asked if he’d want to collaborate with us on a track, and we got to work. I’ve always loved off the wall metal/hip-hop collaborations, ‘Judgement Night’, etc. And I think ‘Giants’ definitely draws from that. The song and video both ended up with a really cool aggressive, old-school New York hardcore/hip-hop. feel. It my book, it doesn’t get any more legendary than RUN DMC. And this was definitely one for the history books.”
Ellefson added:
“It was truly an honor to collaborate with DMC, and I think the track came out great. When Thom said DMC wanted to do a collaboration with us, I instantly thought of ‘Sleeping Giants’. And when he came out to Revolution in Amityville to perform with us, and shoot the video, it was an awesome energy. I think everyone there got a show they won’t ever forget.”
