David Ellefson Praises Dave Mustaine's Ability To Sell Ideas

JAKARTA - When interviewed for the latest episode of "The Garza Podcast", performed by Suicide Silence guitarist Chris Garza, a former member of Megadeth, David Ellefson (bass) was asked what it was like to be in the same band as Dave Mustaine.

According to Ellefson, musically speaking, Mustaine is a great musician. He is also good at selling ideas.

"Obviously there is a beautiful side to the musicality, the musicality, the ability to sell ideas. You know what I learned from him? Maybe there are four other people in that room, [and] their ideas are just as good or better than Dave's idea, but Dave has a way to convince you that his idea is the best," said ellefosn.

"And I think that's what it takes. And Yngwie [ Malmsteen] has the same thing. Yngwie has a way, of course, in addition to his extraordinary skills, and unique skills that at that time no one else had - we've never heard of his sound before. And maybe with Dave - it's a new sound, Metallica [Mustaine's pre-Megadeth band] and so on, it's new," he continued.

"It feels like, 'Wow, I've never heard of this before.' That's what I felt when I met Dave. It felt like, 'I've never heard of this before. It's really new. It's a cool sound.' However, he has confidence in how he can make you agree with his idea, and he's a good salesman in that way so you trust him."

And that, continued the bassist, was a big part of Mustaine's idea where when she was on stage, there was faith.

"Ted Nugent is like this. When Ted is in the room, you feel he is in control. And I always feel him standing on stage with Dave. I always say, like, 'I'm happy I'm standing behind him,' because he has control," said Ellefson.

"If anyone denounces him, friend, he's going to close the hell out of him. 60,000 people will say, 'just.' He has the ability to do it. So, I mean, look, that's why he became a rock star."

Ellefson was fired from Megadeth a few days after a sexual message and an explicit video recording involving the bassist was posted on Twitter.