Poland’s Top Guitar conducted an interview with MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson at the fourth annual Warwick Bass Camp, which took place from August 31 to September 4 in Markneukirchen, Germany. You can now watch the first part of the chat below. A couple of excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).
On who came up with the idea to hire LAMB OF GOD drummer Chris Adler to play on the new MEGADETH album:
“It was not me. We were looking at all of our options after Shawn Drover and Chis Broderick departed to start their new group. And we were at winter NAMM convention in Anaheim, California, and Dave [Mustaine, MEGADETH leader] said that Chris Adler would do the record. So I don’t know who approached who about it, but I’m definitely glad it happened. I’ve known Chris for a long time. He’s a super-cool guy, and a great drummer, of course, and the fans love him. So it’s a great combination.”
On whether Chris Adler has had to adapt to MEGADETH’s playing style or the other way around:
“Yeah, he had to adapt to us [laughs], which was not a far stretch for him. He knows the songs well as a fan. And, you know, I think, as a musician, when you know songs because you’re a fan of them and you’ve listened to them your whole life, there’s a passion about it that’s different than when you learn it because it’s necessary for the gig. And either one is fine, but I think for Chris, it was the former; he’s a fan of the MEGADETH history, and I think it’s really like a labor of love for him.”
On whether he is a fan of LAMB OF GOD:
“I am. And, you know, it’s funny… I’m a fan of their live show. When I went to go see them, I don’t know… Seven [or] eight years ago, they came through Phoenix, Arizona, where I live, and I saw their show, and their live show was incredible. It was like PANTERA on steroids, which was cool to see — see someone be able to come in and stake their claim on that turf, because those are big shoes to fill. They just have such great power. And their new record is great — just really, really great. For them to have that slower track — I don’t even know what it’s called, but that ballad — it just sticks out, because that’s a dangerous road to try to go down for a really, really super-hard metal band. But yet when you do it right, and I think they’re very authentic with their lyrics… And Randy Blythe is just… What a journey he’s had, you know. And I think when you write your life, it resonates with people. So it’s cool to see them widen their scope a little bit and branch out into some other things too.”
On the upcoming MEGADETH album:
“You know, I can’t really say too much about it. [Laughs] I hate to tell you. You’re, I don’t know… a few weeks early here. But it’s incredibly good. As a bass player — I can speak to that, I guess — very , very progressive, very complex lines. It was one of those fun challenges to record, which is cool. It’s nice to have that after all these years, especially after all the records we’ve made together — to feel challenged. So it was cool. I’m excited for people to hear it.”
The first official promotional photo of MEGADETH’s new lineup — featuring Mustaine and Ellefson alongside Adler and Brazilian guitarist Kiko Loureiro, best known for his work with ANGRA — can be seen below.
Adler and Loureiro were recruited earlier this year following the departures of drummer Shawn Drover and Chris Broderick, who have since launched a new project called ACT OF DEFIANCE.
MEGADETH recently finished recording its fifteenth album in a Nashville studio for a tentative late 2015 or early 2016 release. The production duties on the follow-up to 2013’s “Super Collider” were handled by Mustaine and Toby Wright (ALICE IN CHAINS, KORN). The CD is currently being mixed by Josh Wilbur, who has previously worked with LAMB OF GOD, ALL THAT REMAINS and GOJIRA.
Source: Blabbermouth
