Marko Syrjala from Metal Rules recently conducted an interview with MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson. Excerpts from the interview are below:

Metal Rules: Did the idea of your return come originally from your side or from Dave (Mustaine's) side?

David Ellefson: “It’s funny: Dave had reached out to me a few times over the years and we had talked, you know. So it wasn’t like we had been totally estranged and didn’t say a word to each other for eight years, you know. We have, you know, seen each other, we’ve hung out, we’ve talked, and it was kind of like, “Hey, what do you think about...?” and “What if one day...?” and “How would you feel if...?” and you know what I mean? And we were kind of just checking each other out a little bit, going “Would you be cool with this?” and “How’s things?” and, you know. Dave, he knows this is, you know, my home. You know what I mean? And he wanted me to be here, you know. And there was obviously in the late '90s, the early 2000s- it was a very difficult time. We had some different management and there was the Risk album, which was a very difficult album. Creatively, it was not fun. It wasn’t fun for Dave either. Even though I think there are some great songs on there. It was a very difficult time, you know, creatively. Marty Friedman left the group during that time. So [there were] a lot of transitions – and those transitions really take a big toll on band members and that was really the beginning of our foundation really starting to crumble, you know. So it’s almost like the band needed to end like it did in 2002 and, you know, I think to some degree it was good that Dave had a few years by himself to creatively re-establish where he wanted it to go because, you know, I don’t like to fight Dave creatively on things. I kind of trust if he thinks it should go somewhere, I kind of wind up behind him. He seems to know where things should go creatively. If he likes a riff, usually our fans like the riff, you know what I mean? If he writes a song that he feels passionate about, usually our fans like it. So I kind of always, sort of just kind of line up behind him on that. So it was nice, I think, these last few years for him to not have, you know, managers, and producers, and people pushing him into places he didn’t want to go. So I think that kind of was a big hurdle for him to get over and I’m glad for him that he was able to get over that. I think the Endgame was – out of the trilogy of the last three records – probably a real great way to really seal that with the fans. I think fans are very happy; they’re glad Megadeth is back – song writing-wise, creatively…”

Metal Rules: How was your time with Hail! and other things you did while you were away from Megadeth?

David Ellefson: “You know, it’s cool because I think by all the other things I did creatively through the years away from the band, I came back a much better player – much more excited, probably brought a more exciting element back into the band, you know? Because all those experiences groomed me in a different way – it was great to play with a lot of different people. I think it’s good for musicians to play with other musicians, you know – step outside your band. It can be either solo projects or even just jamming; you know, taking time. Like I came over here and I did the thing with Hail! Just going out and just playing some tunes with your buddies. You know, those experiences are good for you. They help you kind of blow off some steam, you the experience of playing with some other people, it also then kind of makes you appreciate - 'Wow, I have a home to come back to.'”

Metal Rules: So what about the future? Have you been talking to Dave about a new album? Have you got some new material written already?

David Ellefson: “Yeah, of course. We do have some riffs; we’ve got some ideas. And it’s cool because there are sections of stuff we started recording at sound checks, just little bits of ideas – which is usually where some of the best songs come from. We’re out on the road, we’re already in that mode, we’re plugged in, it sounds great, we’re already ramped up, you know. We’ve got the crew there, so if we need to tweak anything they can help us with it. Otherwise, you go back home and you’re like every other little garage band: you’ve got to pull amps out and set ‘em up or have the crew there – there’s effort involved. Whereas now we’re really in a groove and it’s rolling along good and so- Yeah, we’ve all got some ideas we’re starting to throw out there and just talking about some stuff for the next record. I mean, we’re a long ways off from it, but at least the discussion’s there. The tour’s up and running, we’re groovin’, we’re doing well, so that part’s rolling good, so now it’s kind of about getting the creative hat on."

Metal Rules: Last question: Of course, I have to ask about the Big Four... how was it from your point of view?

David Ellefson: “It was fantastic! I gotta tell you, that it was so cool that METALLICA did that. And I put a lot of the kudos to them, quite honestly, because, obviously, look: ANTHRAX, Megadeth, SLAYER, we all get along, we’ve done Clash Of The Titans, we place nice with each other already. And we’ve all played with Metallica, we’ve all played with each other, we’ve just never all four done it on one stage before. And, obviously, Metallica has gone on to success beyond what is almost humanly possible. And they’ve done so much for heavy metal. Their success has broken down so many barriers and helped recreate what metal music is, you know? So we owe a lot to them. It’s not like they went back it time, it’s almost like the past came up in the front view. And I always said that about Megadeth. People would say, 'would you ever go back to Megadeth?' and I’d say, 'I’ll never go back to Megadeth, but if Megadeth comes up in my front, then I’ll definitely take a look at it,' and that’s exactly what happened. Twenty years after, Rust in Peace all of a sudden was in front of me and it wasn’t behind me anymore. Because you can’t look back, you can’t go back, you can’t go back and try to recreate. You can’t recreate, you always have to create, which means you’re doing something forward, moving forward. And even Megadeth now is a new creation with Shawn (Drover), with Chris (Broderick) – this is a new Megadeth. It’s a new day."

To read the entire interview go here.