Former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson recently spoke with “The Cassius Morris Show” and touched on his dismissal from the iconic thrash band.
Ellefson was fired from MEGADETH after messages and explicit video footage involving him and a young female fan were posted to Twitter. At the time, Ellefson released a statement denying allegations that he had “groomed” the young woman and also filed a report with the police department in Scottsdale, Arizona alleging unlawful distribution of sexually explicit images of him by unknown offenders.
Ellefson admitted that he had developed a virtual, sexual relationship with a Dutch teenager, who recorded video of several of their online meetings without his consent and shared them with her friends.
When asked if he still maintains a personal relationship MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine, Ellefson said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “My view on that is, look, relationships are never really fully done — especially one where you’ve had sort of a brotherhood and a professional [relationship] and friendship and all these other things. If you’re in a band, it’s not like, ‘Dude, it’s just business.’ You’re creative, you’re friendly, there’s business — all those things are intertwined; it’s all part of that. So, if we’re not hanging right now…
“I don’t wish anybody any ill will; I wish everybody the best,” he continued. “I think that’s one of the ways to sort of bless it — you give it your best and you give it your best energy and not harbor grudges on anything. Instead of being sad that it’s over, be glad that it ever even happened. We got to live a dream. We got to do something most people will never get to do, and we got to do it. So, if this is the sort of exit from that, or a timeout from it, whatever it is, let it be what it is.
“I just love that analogy: there’s a reason the rearview mirror is very small in the car — ’cause you’re not supposed to spend all your time looking at it. Look through the big windshield up front. That’s where your head is, that’s where your hope is, that’s where your future is, where everything is.
“It’s easy to micromanage stuff in the rearview mirror, but that’s all meant to be behind you,” he added. “The good news is, look, our songs still get played everywhere. They get played on the radio. I hear ’em around. I see people wearing our t-shirts. And it’s kind of, like, cool. That’s awesome. I’m proud to have been a part of all that.”
You can listen to the full interview at this location.