Tarja Virmakari of Metal Shock Finland and Alpha Omega Management recently spoke with Megadeth bassist David Ellefson about life off of the stage, including his EMP Label Group, his new alliance with Alpha Omega Management, coffee, Christianity in metal and more. Read an excerpt below:

Q: Let’s start with the past, talking about your earlier years… what was the moment when you and music met each other? And when did you know that it was going to be a huge part of your life?

A: “I toyed with music at about age 8, with the typical piano lessons and elementary school band. Those early experiences taught me how to read music and play in an ensemble setting. But my real music interests started at about age 10 when I heard rock n roll on the radio. Things like KISS, BTO, Ted Nugent and Aerosmith were my real first real interests in hard rock and they got me excited to get a bass and really learn how to play. Those bands made me love music, but just as much showed me what real rock stardom looked like, and I wanted to be in the club from that moment on.”

Q: How did you develop your unique, hard-hitting playing style?

A: “It was born from survival. I couldn’t afford big loud amplifiers at a young age, so I learned that by hitting hard, and eventually playing with a plectrum, gave me a real bright and percussive sound. I always struggled playing in cover bands because while I could play the lines properly, I could never really sound like the original players. What I soon discovered is that I actually had my own style and sound and that became a great asset when we started Megadeth because being an original artist is all about having your own voice, style and sound as a player.”

Read the full interview at this location.

Megadeth recently released a video for "Post American World", the track from their latest album, Dystopia.

The global Dystopia tour, which is currently in full swing, will have visited five continents by the end of 2016. Current tour dates are listed below:

August
4 - Estadio Ruca Che - Neuquen, Argentina
5 - Estadio Ruca Che - Neuquen, Argentina
7 - Espaço das Américas - Sao Paulo, Brazil
9 - Expominas - Belo Horizonte, Brazil
12 - Net Live - Brasilia, Brazil
13 - Siará Hall - Fortaleza, Brazil
16 - Pepsi On Stage - Porto Alegre, Brazil
18 - Spazio Van - Curitiba, Brazil
20 - Jockey Club - Asuncion, Paraguay
22 - Luna Park - Buenos Aires, Argentina
23 - Luna Park - Buenos Aires, Argentina
26 - Estadio Jorge “El Magico” Gonzales - San Salvador, El Salvador
29 - Pepsi Center - Mexico City, Mexico

September
1 - Plaza de Toros Santa Maria - Santiago de Queretaro, Mexico
3 - Mexico Metal Fest - Monterrey, Mexico
20 - Casper Events - Center Casper, WY
22 - The Joint - Las Vegas, NV
24 - “Ozzfest” San Manuel Amphitheater - Devore, CA
27 - WaMu Theater - Seattle, WA
28 - Matthew Knight Arena - Eugene, OR
29 - City National Civic - San Jose, CA

October
1 - 1st Bank Center - Broomfield, CO
3 - Mid America Recreation & Conv. Complex - Council Bluffs, IA
4 - Roy Wilkins Auditorium - St. Paul, MN
5 - Sears Centre - Chicago, IL
7 - iWireless Center - Moline, IL
8 - UWM Panther Arena - Milwaukee, WI
9 - Joe Louis Arena - Detroit, MI
11 - Sands Event Center - Bethlehem, PA
12 - DCU Center - Worcester, MA
13 - Mohegan Sun Arena - Uncasville, CT
14 - Prudential Center - Newark, NJ
16 - BB&T Pavilion - Camden, NJ