MEGADETH founder and frontman Dave Mustaine has announced the return of original bassist David Ellefson (1983-2002) to the iconic multi-platinum group. This reunion is appropriately timed to MEGADETH's upcoming historic month-long "Rust In Peace" 20th anniversary tour which launches March 1 in Spokane, WA. At these incredibly special shows, MEGADETH will play their landmark, genre-defining 1990 album "Rust In Peace" in its entirety, in addition to other MEGADETH favorites.

"This shows the power of brotherly love and forgiveness," Mustaine says. "David Ellefson belongs in MEGADETH. Next we are going to show you the power of getting your asses kicked...HARD!"

David Ellefson concurs: "This is a huge moment for all of us, band and fans alike. It is a great celebration of the music from one of the biggest landmark albums of our career."

Ellefson will join Mustaine and MEGADETH band members Shawn Drover (drums) and Chris Broderick (guitar) on tour in support of the group's current CD, "Endgame", which has received some of the highest critical accolades of the band's career.

"We'd like to thank James Lomenzo for several years of loyal service on the bass, and wish him the very best," Mustaine adds.

In 2004, Ellefson filed suit against Mustaine claiming, among other things, breach of fiduciary obligation, libel and emotional distress.

Speaking to Guitar World for the magazine's December 2009 issue, Mustaine stated about his current relationship with Ellefson, "Dave sued me for 18-and-a-half million dollars. And he lost. That had to have hurt. And the fans — a lot of them turned on him. That had to have hurt. He lost one of his oldest friends. That had to have hurt. There probably were a lot of changes, financial and otherwise, he had to make in his life after MEGADETH. That had to have hurt, too. And I'm not the kind of guy to sit back and watch that happen to somebody who, at one point, I loved. So I met with Dave a while ago and we had dinner, and he said, 'You know, [suing you] was the stupidest thing I've ever done. I wish I never did it.' So I forgave him. Bottom line for me is there's this one little thing I'll always be curious about: I just keep thinking, if he had won the lawsuit, what would he have done? Would he have taken 18-and-a-half million dollars from me? Or would he have just said, 'You know what? I was just trying to prove a point. Let's get back together and you behave yourself.'"

Will be good to see Junior on stage again with them. Download 2009 will be good and I may even pull a trip to New York to see the RIP tour next month.

Great news, hopefully I can catch them on tour.

yea great news.mite head to ny myself.

Great news. Roll on the tour here with Slayer and Testament !

awesome news.... well done the 2 Daves, can't wait to see Megadeth with Ellefson on bass!!!

Pretty cool that Junior is back.

+1

fucking dave man, all business and fuck all pleasure with that cat