David Ellefson
David Ellefson is an American bass player and musician best known for his long-time work with Megadeth. Born in Jackson, Minnesota, he built his career in Midwest clubs before moving to Los Angeles. He was Megadeth’s bassist from 1983 to 2002, and again from 2010 to 2021, appearing on every album and tour during those periods.
In addition to Megadeth, Ellefson has pursued many side projects. He co-founded The Lucid in 2021 with Vinnie Dombroski, Drew Fortier, and Mike Heller, releasing a self-titled album in 2021 and an EP in 2023. He formed the death metal band Dieth in 2022, with their first album To Hell and Back arriving in 2023. He also plays with Kings of Thrash, a band that performs early Megadeth material, and has filled in with Overkill on tour. In 2025, it was announced that he joined Metal Church as their new bassist, with a new album planned for 2026.
Ellefson runs EMP Label Group, a record label started in 2015, and has launched other ventures such as Ellefson Coffee Co. (2017) and Ellefson Films (2019). He has written books, including My Life with Deth (2013) and More Life with Deth (2019), co-authored with Joel McIver and Thom Hazaert, respectively.
On the personal front, Ellefson is of Norwegian descent, a Christian, and has been married to Julie since 1993. They live in Scottsdale, Arizona, and have a son and a daughter.
In 2021, sexual misconduct allegations led to Ellefson being dismissed from Megadeth, though he denied the accusations. The matter was later addressed publicly, and he continued his musical career with new projects while Megadeth moved forward with other bassists.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 13:56 (CET).