In a recent interview with Live-Metal.net's Jeff Maki, former MEGADETH/current F5 bassist Dave Ellefson talks about the formation of his new band F5 and their new album, The Reckoning, his split with and possibility of a reunion with Megadeth. An excerpt from the interview is below:

Live-Metal.Net: Is Dave [Mustaine] as hard of a person to get along with as the media perceives? And if so, how did it work for so long for so many years with you guys?

Dave Ellefson: "Well, I think in general, I was just really happy to be there. When I was 16 years old, I had this hunch and I'll never forget it. I was standing out where I grew up at a farm. My bands would always rehearse in one of my dad's sheds on his farm. And I got this feeling at 16 years old standing there in the band room just goin', 'Man, I gotta get up to L.A.' And I don't know where that came from, but it was just a hunch I had and I continued to follow it. And over the years I watched the scene develop more and more with metal out in L.A. So at 18, right after I graduated high school, I moved out to L.A. And about three or four days after I was there I met Dave. He had just parted ways with METALLICA. He was the real deal, unlike a lot of other people in L.A. who were all just copycats and wannabes [laughs]. And he had incredible talent and great songwriting abilities. And that was real clear to me. So we worked up and moved forward and through all, the thing about it was, that was a real rock 'n roll band and with everything that went with it. If anyone needs evidence just watch the Behind the Music on VH1 [laughs]. That tells the story. Much like GUNS N' ROSES or the SEX PISTOLS or any rock n' roll band that's worth a shit in this world, we were one of them on every level. And to me it just felt like staying there was the thing to do. And I think that's how it went. Now, other people had different agendas and different things. I think some people may have even come through there and looked at it as an opportunity and a stepping stone to their solo career, which was never my deal. It was just great to be part of building something from the ground up and goin' the distance with it. And watching it rise up.

That's why I never expected it to end, but one day it did. And I think at that point in my life, honestly I think I was ready to step out from being Dave No. 2, so to speak. I had grown up a lot over those years, kinda found some new things in life. I wasn't the same guy that I was when I was 18 and just moved to California. The music scene was different. I mean, everything had changed. Keep in mind this was 2002, so almost 20 years later. So the world's a much different place not only as we know it, but just in my life. So I think making the decision to move forward and get on with some new stuff rather than just sittin' around hoping and waiting one day maybe it'll reform or whatever—You know, I got movin' on new things and in doin' that I had these new experiences and F5 came into be. And all of a sudden when the former group reformed I was already miles down a new road. And I had to make a very difficult decision at that point. 'Do you try to make this work? Do I stay the course?' Obviously, we went through some discussions and transitions, and it didn't work out. But at the same time, as much as we might of all wanted that to work or trying to be willing to make it work, I think at some point sometimes there's greater forces at work in this world, stuff that's in our desires.

So it was best to try and let it go with a good blessing and let them do their thing—allow Dave to move on so he can do what he wants to do and I move on to do what it seems like I want to do at this point in my life. And I think that is a healthy thing to do. I know it can be disappointing to fans that wish they're together and wish they would reunite. And, you know, as we've all seen, those things do happen, but they need to happen on their own time. That's why I always leave an open door for that. I never have closed that door and said, 'No way, no way,' because probably there will be some point where that all just might work out really cool. And it would be really good for everybody. In the meantime, I'm just kinda fielding the things that are coming across my path and I'm not really trying too hard. I'm not trying to chase things down, just kinda tryin' to let the river of life flow. And some really cool things have crossed

my radar screen. I've gotten involved in some things I never thought I would've."

Read the full interview here.