Shawn Drover’s Text Message Brought David Ellefson Back to Megadeth
Shawn Drover served as Megadeth's drummer from 2004 through 2014. One of his biggest contributions extends beyond his skills behind the kit: he helped reunite bassist David Ellefson with the group after an eight-year absence.
"Yes, it was me," Drover told The Metal Voice (video below) when asked about Ellefson's 2010 reinstatement. "Megadeth [were] in a situation where we were going to go on the 20th anniversary of Rust in Peace and we were without a bass player," the drummer revealed. "I said if we were going to do that tour it would be smart for the band to get David Ellefson back even if it was just for that tour."
"[Ellefson] was open to it," said the drummer, who added, "I presented that to Dave Mustaine and they haggled out all the stuff they had in the past and a day later he was down the street rehearsing."
Since his return, Ellefson has played on three Megadeth records, the latest being 2016's Dystopia. Megadeth appear to be targeting a 2019 release and Mustaine revealed that drummer Drik Verbeuren has been adding blast beats to some parts of the demo material and if they remain come recording time, it would mark the first time the rapid drumming technique will appear in Megadeth's music.
Meanwhile, Drover has carried on with thrash unit Act of Defiance. The band's sophomore effort, Old Scars, New Wounds, was released last year.
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