Mike Doyle at Hampton Roads recently caught up with MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson. An excerpt from the story is available below.

In the summer of 1990, the Clash of the Titans tour roared across America featuring three masters of thrash metal: Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax.

Twenty years later, the bands remain at the top of their genre, and they have joined forces again for the Jagermeister Music Tour. It makes a stop at Hampton Coliseum on Tuesday.

Bassist Dave Ellefson, who co-founded Megadeth with guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine in 1983, recently returned to the band after spending eight years at odds with Mustaine. “You know, we have the same first name, but we have two very different lives, but that’s what’s cool,” Ellefson said. “That’s what the dynamic is in Megadeth. We all come together from different worlds, but when we all play the same song, it’s magic.”

Megadeth’s brand of metal resonates with fans both young and old. “Video games like 'Guitar Hero’ and 'Rock Band’ have made wanting to be a rock star, or a guitar player, cool again,” said Ellefson. “As a result, a lot of our music has been included in those games, and a lot of kids are now hearing some ferocious guitar playing and going, 'Wow! I wanna do that!’”

For longtime fans of thrash metal, the lineup of Megadeth, SLAYER and ANTHRAX is something of a Holy Grail. “The fans love that it’s popular again, and they love that these bands are out touring together, because it makes for a fun night out,” said Ellefson. “We learned 20 years ago that when we collectively pull together, it’s the coolest show in town that night.”

Click here for the complete story.

Remaining dates on Megadeth's current tour with SLAYER and ANTHRAX are as follows:

October

9 - Toyota Pavilion @ Montage Mountain - Scranton, PA
10 - LC Pavilion - Columbus, OH
12 - Freedom Hall - Louisville, KY
14 - War Memorial Coliseum - Ft. Wayne, IN
15 - DeltaPlex - Grand Rapids, MI
16 - Eagles Ballroom - Milwaukee, WI
19 - Maverik Center - Salt Lake City, UT
20 - The Pearl - Las Vegas, NV
21 - Gibson Amphitheatre - Hollywood, CA