Scott James at IndependentRockstar.com recently caught up with F5 / HAIL! / ex-MEGADETH bassist david Ellefson. An excerpt from the interview is available below:

Q: What do you think is the most important principle for musicians to understand in order to grow their audience?

Ellefson: "At the end of the day people don’t buy ‘ordinary,’ they buy ‘extra-ordinary’. In order to be great you have to be different and it has to be something people really want, too. In other words, you can be ‘good’ and survive but to really excel you need to be outstanding. That is not something most of us every get to taste in this lifetime but for those who really get ahead in the entertainment business, they have to have something unique for their audience."

Q: What would be your best advice for young musicians in terms of people skills, and why is that important for long term success?

Ellefson: "One thing I’ve learned is that being connected is what ALL of life is about. People make things happen, not things, instruments or computers. Too many musicians think their skills and their music is all that matters so they spend all of their time practicing that part of their life but fail to get the bigger picture, which is being able to build relationships both with your own team and even your audience.

Same goes for making connections in the business. Having a rolodex of contacts is what gets us ‘in the game’ and is something all successful people have compiled in their respective industries. We all need other people to help make our wheels turn. It’s a process of ‘give and get’ and the door swings both ways."

Go to this location for the complete interview.

As previously reported, the all-star band HAIL! - comprised of Ellefson, guitarist Andreas Kisser (SEPULTURA), vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens (ex-JUDAS PRIEST, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ICED EARTH) and newly appointed drummer Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER) - have announced their first ever shows in The United States. Dates are as follows:

January

26 - BB Kings - New York City, NY
27 - Showcase Live - Foxborough, MA

A third date is rumored but unconfirmed at this time.

While Hail! has played all over the globe in the past year, they have yet to grace a North American stage and now the much anticipated event is here. “We can’t hold all the rabid fans off any longer,” said singer Tim “Ripper” Owens. “We only have a few days together on the east coast so we’re bringing it to you!”

“We’re really excited! Although it’s only a few shows, and obviously we’d love to play a full tour of the entire US, New York and Boston are two great cities to start with and the fans there are tremendous. Between Mike Portnoy playing drums with us and all the friends we know in this area (hint, hint) I’d ask Santa for a tent and start camping out now for my tickets!” advised Andreas Kisser, “these shows are going to be sick!"