David Ellefson Reflects on Kerry King’s Brief Stint in Megadeth, Credits Metallica for Influencing Him

Kerry King, best known for his iconic role in Slayer, had a brief period as a member of Megadeth in 1984, joining forces with Dave Mustaine, David Ellefson, and drummer Lee Rausch. Although King only performed with the band live and didn’t contribute to any albums, his impact on the band’s early years was noteworthy.

In a recent interview on the Disturbing the Priest Podcast, David Ellefson shared insights into this era when Kerry King was briefly part of Megadeth. Ellefson emphasized the influence Metallica had on King during a show where Mustaine performed with Saxon, and Metallica opened for them, shaping King’s musical trajectory and guitar playing.

“When Kerry came in, he was my age, so he was kind of in the right age group. His skills were a little more polished, and he really ‘got’ Dave. He saw Dave play with Saxon at the Whisky or something with Metallica opening for them, and Kerry said it – that changed his life. It changed his musical arc, his whole career, and his guitar playing. He loved it – he loved being in a band with Dave,” Ellefson recounted.

Ellefson also highlighted King’s guitar prowess, noting his ability to quickly replicate Mustaine’s riffs. “He could just recite these riffs right back. Dave would show him something, and he’d play it right back. I was like, ‘Jesus, man.’ This was cool. Because with my bass playing, we created a sound, we created a style – as bands should. Bands create something together. You create and carve out sort of a path forward.”

Reflecting on his own growth as a bassist during this period, Ellefson mentioned his readiness and excitement to contribute to Megadeth’s evolving sound. “I came into town teed up, ready to go, my chops were good, my musical sensibilities were good, I studied, I practiced, my gear was together, I had a good head on my shoulders to do it. Getting with Dave, it was like, ‘OK, this is the direction.’ And that’s what we did. So, it was fun to be part of the ‘next thing.’ That was exciting.”

Ellefson concluded by recalling the location where they rehearsed during the Kerry King era, Curly Joe’s Studio, which remаins a landmark in his memory. This era marked a transitional phase for Megadeth, with the departure of both King and Rausch, paving the way for the arrival of guitarist Chris Poland and drummer Gar Samuelson. This lineup would go on to record Megadeth’s first two classic albums, “Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good!” (1985) and “Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?” (1986).