Commenting on Megadeth‘s announced farewell, former bassist David Ellefson has issued a pointed warning to his estranged co-founder, Dave Mustaine. He urged him to “put it away with dignity and grace” and not use the farewell tour as a cynical “attempt to boost ticket sales.” He also held up the recent Black Sabbath reunion of original members as the “100% on point the right way to say goodbye.”
Speaking in a new interview with Alternative Nation, the co-founding bassist expressed skepticism about the “farewell” concept in rock music, which has often been used as a marketing tool.
“If it really is a farewell, if it really is, and it’s not just an attempt to boost ticket sales, ’cause we’ve seen this movie before,” Ellefson said. “But, look, if Dave needs to shut it down and call it quits because he is just had enough and he’s been through it all, then hey, you know what? As a still friend to him, even though we haven’t spoken almost five years — you know what? God bless you, brother. Put it away with grace and go enjoy the rest of your life. So if he really is shutting it down and he’s really gonna put it away, then please do so with dignity and grace and do what you say and mean what you say.”
Ellefson then pointed to the recent “Back To The Beginning” farewell for Ozzy Osbourne, which featured the original Black Sabbath lineup, as the perfect blueprint for how a legendary band should end its career.
“What we saw in Birmingham, in my opinion, was 100% on point the right way to say goodbye,” he stated. “You bring back the O.G.s — Geezer [Butler], Tony [Iommi], Bill [Ward] and Ozzy [Osbourne]… The four guys that started it all get to say goodbye together, to each other, to the fans, the fans say goodbye to them. So, to me, that is the model of how it’s done. I mean, that is a hundred percent the right way to do it.”
Regarding his own feelings, Ellefson, who was fired from the band in 2021, said he has “moved on” but remains open to participating. “I’ve already offered, if it should come my way, I’d be happy to participate on some level,” he said.
