Megadeth Bassist David Ellefson Departs Band Following Scandal

Posted on May 24, 2021
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 12: (L-R) Recording artists Dirk Verbeuren, David Ellefson, Dave Mustaine, and Kiko Loureiro of Megadeth, winners of Best Metal Performance for ‘Dystopia,’ pose in the press room during The 59th GRAMMY Awards at STAPLES Center on February 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Megadeth and David Ellefson have gone their separate ways following a scandal involving the bassist.

Dave Mustaine and Megadeth released a statement regarding Ellefson’s departure from the group earlier today (5/24):

A few weeks ago, videos featuring Ellefson and a woman who was not his wife surfaced on social media. At first, it was suggested that Ellefson groomed the woman, but she denied those claims and stated that she was a willing participant. Unfortunately, she shared videos with someone she trusted that she probably shouldn’t have, which led to the scandal and, ultimately, Ellefson’s exit from the band.

Ellefson co-founded Megadeth with Mustaine back in 1983 and stayed with the band through 2002. He returned to the band 2010. In total, Ellefson appeared on twelve Megadeth albums.

Megadeth is scheduled to tour this summer with Lamb of God, Trivium, and In Flames.

[Megadeth via Twitter]

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