David Ellefson says that Megadeth “has been reborn.”
The bassist reports the band’s critically acclaimed record Dystopia has given them a new lease of life – and that they must let the classic lineup “rest in peace.”
He tells Greensboro News & Record: “There was always this calling from our fans to revisit the Rust In Peace lineup, which we had all moved on from, including those former members.
“So, we all had a meeting. Had a discussion. We even did a little bit of playing together. And we realised that it would be better to remain friends and leave that legacy sit as the heroic memory that it is in the minds of so many of our fans.
“It was clear – the past is the past. We’re going to let that truly rest in peace, if you will. No pun intended.”
Ellefson and frontman Dave Mustaine met up with former members Marty Friedman and Nick Menza to discuss a potential reunion last year following the departure of Chris Broderick and Shawn Drover – but they recruited guitarist Kiko Loureiro and Lamb Of God drummer Chris Adler to record their 15th album instead.
Ellefson adds: “What’s really cool about Dystopia is that fans used to always clamour for things of the past. Those days seem to be over. I think we finally transitioned past that. Megadeth has been reborn.”
Megadeth have kicked off their string of festival appearances in the US and Europe, and will appear at the Download Festival in June.
Megadeth tour dates 2016
Apr 28: San Juan Coliseo de Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico
Apr 30: Ft Myers Fort Rock At Jetblue Park, FL
May 01: Jacksonville Rockville At Metropolitan Park, FL
May 07: Concord Carolina Rebellion, NC
May 20: Columbus Rock On The Range, OH
May 22: Schaghticoke Rock ‘n Derby, NY
May 26: Sioux Falls Badlands Pawn, SD
May 27: Pryor Rocklahoma, OK
May 29: San Antonio River City Rockfest, TX
Jun 02: Milan Gods Of Metal, Italy
Jun 03: Bologna Estragon, Italy
Jun 05: Nijmegen FortaRock, The Netherlands
Jun 07: Lodz Power Festival, Poland
Jun 09: Solvesborg Sweden Rock Festival, Sweden
Jun 10: Download Festival, France
Jun 11: Download Festival, UK
Jun 14: Groningen Oosterport, Netherlands
Jun 15: Pratteln Z7 Konzertfabrik, Switzerland
Jun 16: Luxembourg Rockhal, Luxembourg
Jun 17: Dessel Graspop Metal Meeting, Belgium
Jun 17-19: Clisson Hellfest, France
Jun 22: Berlin Huxleys Neue Welt, Germany
Jun 23: Hamburg Docks, Germany
Jun 24: Copenhagen Copenhall, Denmark
Jun 25: Halden Tons Of Rock, Norway
Jun 28: Cologne Live Music Hall, Germany
Jun 29: Frankfurt Batschkapp, Germany
Jun 30: Munich Backstage, Germany
Jul 02: Rishon LeZion Live Park Amphitheatre, Israel
Jul 07: Sofia Universiada Hall, Bulgaria
Aug 02: Santiago Teatro Caupolican, Chile
Aug 07: Sao Paulo Espaco Das Americas, Brazil
Aug 12: Brasilia Net Live, Brazil
Aug 13: Fortaleza Siara Hall, Brazil
Aug 20: Ascuncion Independiente, Paraguay
Aug 22: Buenos Aires Luna Park, Argentina
