David Ellefson

David Ellefson
Dave Ellefson playing with Megadeth at Arena Joondalup (2010)
Background information
Birth name	David Warren Ellefson
Also known as	Junior
Born	(1964-11-12) November 12, 1964 (age 52) Jackson, Minnesota, U.S.
Genres	Heavy metal, thrash metal, speed metal, power metal, hard rock
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Bass, guitar, vocals, piano, organ
Years active	1982–present
Labels	EMP Label Group
Associated acts	Megadeth, Soulfly, Avian, Temple of Brutality, F5, Killing Machine, Ministry, Hail!, Altitudes & Attitude, Metal Allegiance
Website	davidellefson.com
Notable instruments
Signature Jackson basses

David Warren Ellefson (born November 12, 1964) is an American bassist and 2nd longest serving member of the American thrash metal band Megadeth from 1983 to 2002 and again from 2010. He has also been referred to as "Junior" to differentiate him from his bandmate Dave Mustaine, but does not go by this name professionally. Ellefson currently resides in Scottsdale, Arizona. In addition to playing bass guitar in Megadeth, Ellefson also has various side projects which include Temple of Brutality, F5, and Killing Machine.

Ellefson was born November 12, 1964 in Jackson, Minnesota. He is of Norwegian, German and English descent. He became an accomplished bassist and honed his songwriting skills while leading several of his own bands through the club scene of North America's Midwest region before relocating to Los Angeles.

Other than guitarist, vocalist, and primary lyricist Dave Mustaine, Ellefson was the only constant member of Megadeth from the time of their establishment in 1983 to the group's dissolution in 2002 (Mustaine subsequently reformed Megadeth without Ellefson in 2004). To differentiate between the two Daves, Mustaine referred to Ellefson as "Dave Junior", which was often shortened to "Junior". He appeared on every album and tour from 1985's record Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good! up until 2002's Rude Awakening. Ellefson's original playing style involved using his fingers; however, as Megadeth progressed and the music became more complex, he tended to prefer playing with a pick/plectrum. Ellefson was credited with some Megadeth songs, including "Family Tree" from 1994's Youthanasia (in the 2004 remastered collection of the CD however, the track is credited to Mustaine, Ellefson, Friedman, Menza, but Dave Mustaine credited the Rust in Peace-era line-up with the entire Youthanasia album as a tribute to the band's success at the time of the record's initial release).