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Photo: Melody Myers

Grammy Winning Megadeth bassist David Ellefson is set to release ‘Simple Truth‘, the new single from his eponymous solo band ELLEFSON in April, with all proceeds going to Italian Covid-19 relief. The track co-written by Ellefson and vocalist Thom Hazaert, with Italian guitarist and drummer Andy Martongelli and Paolo Caridi, will appear on the upcoming full length follow-up to the 2019 release ‘Sleeping Giants‘, a B-sides compilation featuring several new songs, and reworkings of previous David Ellefson instrumental solo material co-written and produced by Ellefson and Hazaert. ‘Sleeping Giants‘ was released as a companion album “soundtrack” to Ellefson’s 2019 biography ‘MORE LIFE WITH DETH‘, also co-written with Hazaert. The group have worked on the album remotely recording tracks in Italy, London, Phoenix, and Wisconsin during quarantine.
The track will be released on all digital outlets on 4/17, with a direct Bandcamp release on 4/10, via Ellefson’s Combat Records,  with all profits from downloads and streams donated to the CROCE ROSSA ITALIANA, the Italian Red Cross, who are at the front line of the war on Covid-19, coordinating  the nation’s pandemic response with Italy’s Ministry of Health.

Says Ellefson, “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.”

He adds, “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”

Adds Hazaert, “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.”

Ellefson has also given during the Covid-19 crisis to kids in need via his David Ellefson Youth Music Foundation, and their SCHOOL’S OUT initiative, partnering with the Grammy Music Education Coalition, Dolby, Cisco, Jackson Guitars, Hartke, Samson, and more, gifting displaced students with free instruments and equipment, and pairing them with lessons from Rock Star music instructors, including Ellefson and his Megadeth co-horts Dirk Verbeuren and Kiko Loureiro, Nita Strauss (Alice Cooper), Chris Kael (Five Finger Death Punch), Clint Lowery (Sevendust), Bumblefoot (Asia, Sons of Apollo, ex-Guns N’ Roses), Chad Szeliga (Black Star RIders), Chris Poland (Ohm, ex-Megadeth), Jimmy DeGrasso (ex-Alice Cooper, Megadeth), Marc Rizzo (Soulfly, Cavalera), and more.

For more information, to nominate a student, or to donate, please visit ellefsonyouthmusicfoundation.com 

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Former Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland, who recorded on the band’s groundbreaking debut album ‘Killing Is My Business… and Business is Good‘ and the iconic platinum thrash release ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying’ will be inducted into the 2020 Metal Hall of Fame.

The non-profit charity Gala takes place on Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at the Marriott Delta Garden Grove in Anaheim, CA. Proceeds go to bringing free therapy services to special needs children at specific health facilities and community centers throughout the United States.

Geoff Tate, Don Dokken, Stephen Pearcy, Graham Bonnet, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, and Metal Church will be Joining Chris Poland in person as 2020 Metal Hall of Fame Inductees. Various bands and Inductees will be performing as well.

The Gala will be hosted by iconic television and radio personality Eddie Trunk, and co-hosted by Whiskey A GOGO Ultimate Jam Night / Almost Fama Show Host Jes Fama.

Long regarded as one of the World’s most influential Metal players, Poland is also an accomplished solo artist, who released his critically-acclaimed major label solo debut ‘Return to Metalopolis‘ upon his departure from Megadeth (being reissued in January on David Ellefson’s COMBAT RECORDS).

In addition to his genre-defying bands Damn The Machine (A&M Records) and OHM, the latter of which would also feature late Megadeth drummer Nick Menza, Poland has made guest appearances on seminal releases from Lamb of God, Queensryche, and Tourniquet, as well as returning to the Megadeth fold for 2004’s ‘The System Has Failed’.

Poland will also be performing Megadeth classics live at the Gala with special guests Thöm Häzäert, vocalist for Megadeth bassist David Ellefson‘s eponyous solo project, who performed vocals and co-produced Ellefson’s recently released debut release ‘Sleeping Giants‘, (including the hit Metal radio track ‘Hammer (Comes Down)‘, which also features a guest appearance from Poland, along with Mark Tremonti), and guitarist Dave Sharpe and drummer Opus Lawrence of Dead By Wednesday, who also recently toured with, and performed on the Megacruise, as part of Ellefson’s ‘Sleeping Giants‘ backing band, and appear on the ‘Sleeping Giants‘ track ‘Vultures‘.

Tickets: 45.00 at the Door / 35.00 in Advance.

Pre-Order Here:
www.thehallofheavymetalhistory.org

For more information, or for 2020 Metal Hall of Fame Tickets, please visit:
 www.thehallofheavymetalhistory.org

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Grammy Award Winning Megadeth bassist David Ellefson has announced a European solo tour, featuring a full band playing songs from his recent solo release ‘Sleeping Giants‘, and other Metal classics. Featuring vocals by his More Life With Deth co-author Thom Hazaert, plus guitarist Andy Martongelli, who toured with Ellefson and Frank Bello’s Altitudes and Attitude, and appears on the ‘Sleeping Giants‘ track ‘Hammer (Comes Down)’ (featuring vocals by Hazaert and Eric AK (Flotsam and Jetsam) with Chris Poland, Mark Tremonti, Dave McClain (Sacred Reich, Ex-Machine Head), Joey Radziwill (Sacred Reich), and more).

Ellefson published his new memoir More Life With Deth in July via Jawbone Press, which was an Amazon #1 bestseller, along with a companion solo release ‘Sleeping Giants‘, which features collaborations with Hazaert, DMC, John Bush, Mark Tremonti, Chris Poland, Bumblefoot, Dave McClain (Sacred Reich, Ex-Machine Head), Joey Radziwill (Sacred Reich), Eric Ak and Steve Conley (Flotsam and Jetsam), David Glen Eisley, and more, and which debuted on 13 US Billboard Charts on release.

The tour kicks off November 3rd in Wolverhampton with a live one-off show at K.K.’s Steel Mill featuring a full band set from Ellefson’s Sleeping Giants band, followed by a full-length set of Priest Classics with legendary former Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing, former Judas Priest drummer Les Binks, and former Judas Priest vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens. Former Iron Maiden vocalist, Blaze Bayley will be the evening’s opening support act.

Additionally, the Steel Mill will also host a special pre-show VIP event whereby attendees will be treated to a More Life With Deth book signing event and one on one Q&A session with Ellefson, Downing & Hazaert, moderated by Mark Eglinton who co-authored K.K. Downing’s recent memoir “Heavy Duty Days and Nights in Judas Priest”.

Says Downing, “I am very pleased to havebeen asked to perform a unique and special concert with Megadeth’s David Ellefson to celebratethe release of his new book “More Life With Deth”. The concert will also bring about the opportunity to play again with some very dear and talented metal legends from the past, the combination of these Icons will for sure enable us to deliver up one of the most exciting concerts this year, so much so that it would not be out of place to call this the ultimate ass kicking “MegaPriest” fest, and is one that is not to be missed.”

Adds Ellefson, “I speak very candidly in my new book “More Life with Deth” aboutthesignificanceJudas Priestplayed in my early musical trajectory, specifically the ‘Unleashed in the East’live album with its picture-perfect image of what heavy metal should look and sound like.  To me that album, along with its powerful cover image, capturedthe excitement I felt for anew era of music, one that would transition me from my roots in AmericanHard Rock over to that of British Heavy Metal.Over the years K.K and I became fast friends while we toured together with Priest & Megadeth, and I’m beyond thrilled to perform together onstagewith him andhis former Priest band mates, as we light up theSteel Mill together for a night of molten metal classics!”He continues, “Thom (Hazaert) and I have been touring all summer across the USA supporting the new book and our SLEEPING GIANTSrelease. Plus“Ripper” and I have shared stages all around the world in the last decade or so, and now to add Les Binks in the mix, who to my generation was the ultimate metal double bass drummer, this has become theultimate ‘metal’ family reunion!”

Tour Dates:

11/03 – Wolverhampton, ENG – KK’s Steel Mill (featuring K.K. Downing, Les Binks and Tim “Ripper” Owens)

11/04 – London, ENG – Camden Underworld

11/08 – Bellinzona, CH – Pit

11/09 – Collegno, ITA – Padiglione 14

11/10 – Milano, ITA – Legend Club

11/12 – Bologna, ITA – Alchemica

11/13 – Tuoro Sul Trasimeno, ITA – Supernova

11/14 – Roma, ITA – Let It Beer

Tickets go on sale at 5pm September 18th

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Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine has revealed that he’s been diagnosed with throat cancer. The band have cancelled the majority of their upcoming commitments.

Mustaine announced the diagnosis on the band’s Official website, but said he was optimistic about his treatment plan.

“It’s clearly something to be respected and faced head on – but I’ve faced obstacles before,” he said.

“I’m working closely with my doctors, and we’ve mapped out a treatment plan which they feel has a 90% success rate. Treatment has already begun.”

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Grammy Award Winning Megadeth bassist, author, entrepreneur, and Metal Icon David Ellefson, in association with Hexagon Booking, has announced a string of European dates to his Basstory tour, a series of limited and exclusive “Storytellers” dates, starting 9/21 in Portland, OR, USA

Dubbed “Basstory: An Intimate Evening of Riffs and Repartee with David Ellefson“, the show combines solo bass performance with David’s celebrated brand of storytelling, as he recounts intimate details of his struggles and triumphs in the name of Rock N’ Roll.

Basstory will also include special VIP meet and greets, exclusive merchandise, and more.

Says Ellefson, “I have always done clinics, and a few years ago did an amazing spoken word tour in Australia to support my book My Life With ‘Deth, and have always welcomed the opportunity to be able to meet and connect with fans on a more intimate level.  These important parts of my professional life converged to create Basstory. Not only will fans get to hear some of their favorite bass riffs, but the stories behind them. It’s not often I get to get into small, intimate Rock clubs, the way this all started, and I’m excited for fans to get to experience this show.”

David Ellefson Bassstory / Europe – Presented By Metal Casino:

15 October : BIMM, Bristol, UK *
16 October : ACM, Guildford, UK *
17 October : Rockhal-Esch Sur, Alzette, LU
18 October : 013, Tilburg, NL
21 October : Le Relais des artistes-Les, Bioux, (Reservations via email valprod.management@gmail.com), CH
22 October : Riff Megastore, Warsaw, PL
23 October : Private Club, Berlin, Germany *

*Private events. No public ticketing available.

More dates coming soon!

BASSTORY US DATES:

9/20 Portland, OR – Dante’s
9/21 Spokane Valley, WA – The Roadhouse
9/22 Fife, WA – Louie G’s
9/28 San Antonio, TX – Fitzgerald’s
9/29 Houston, TX  – BFE Rock Club
10/3 Bradley, IL – The Looney Bin
10/4 Lombard, IL – Brauer House*
10/5 Sturtevant, WI – Route 20 Outhouse*
10/6 Ringle, WI – Q and Z Expo Center*
10/7 Mankato, MN – What’s Up Lounge*

*With Green Death and WRATH

Official Website

Bassstory Website

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Metal All Stars
Led by Black Label Society‘s Zakk Wylde, the inaugural Metal All Stars tour is set for a one-off stop in London at the O2 Brixton Academy in December.

The lineup (basically a who’s who of metal mastery) includes the likes of Gus G (Ozzy Osbourne), Joey Belladonna (Anthrax), James LaBrie (Dream Theater), Geoff Tate (ex-Queensryche), Chuck Billy (Testament), Ross The Boss (Manowar), David Ellefson (Megadeth), Cronos (Venom) and more.

You can expect to hear some of the greatest metal songs ever penned in ways you haven’t heard them performed by a group of musicians you wouldn’t have seen play together before. So what’s not to like?!

December 16th @ O2 Brixton Academy
Buy tickets HERE
RSVP on Last.fm HERE