In a latest dialogue on the X5 Podcast, former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson shared his insights on the seismic shift within the music trade through the early Nineties, when grunge music emerged and dramatically modified the panorama for arduous rock and metallic bands. Reflecting on his experiences, Ellefson vividly recounted the impression of this period on Megadeth and their contemporaries.
Ellefson recalled the pivotal second in 1991 when, amidst engaged on Megadeth‘s one materials, he heard Nirvana on the radio for the primary time.
“I lived in L.A. So, coming off Rust In Peace — that is in 1991; we’re beginning to write Countdown To Extinction, and I bear in mind driving down the freeway, and KNAC was the large rock station. And I bear in mind listening to — is it a tune known as ‘Breed’? And I used to be, like, ‘That’s fucking badass. What an incredible tune.’ After which it seems it was Nirvana. And I appreciated Nirvana. I assumed they had been cool. I beloved their sound. I completely acquired it. And it was principally unlawful for a metallic man to say you appreciated Nirvana. I imply, you may be principally crucified and shot execution-style when you mentioned that. So it was not allowed for any of us to say that,” he remembered (as transcribed by Blabbermouth)
The rise of grunge, spearheaded by bands from Seattle, led to a fast decline within the recognition of hair bands and conventional metallic on media platforms like MTV. Ellefson famous: “I assume we acquired caught a little bit bit in it. Once we put out the Youthanasia document, our first single ‘Prepare Of Penalties’ was properly acquired. ‘À Tout Le Monde’ was not. After which they only principally turned the channel. In fact, Metallica lower their hair. They began altering their sound a little bit bit — principally their picture. They remained a metallic band for probably the most half. Metallica and Megadeth, for certain, survived it. We tailored and survived it. A few of our contemporaries simply stayed the course and, consequently, their enterprise acquired smaller for one more 10 years, till the 2000s got here round.”
Ellefson additionally recounted the cultural shift throughout Ozzfest ’98, the place Megadeth was sandwiched between acts like Limp Bizkit and Tool. He noticed the stark distinction between the rising nü metallic model and their very own, conventional metallic picture.
“Dude, I bear in mind doing fuckin’ Ozzfest ’98. And this was the second for me. So that you discuss Seattle second. However for me, the second was Ozzfest ’98. So our showtime was often 6 p.m. each evening. And headliners, clearly, was Ozzy , then it was Tool, then Megadeth, after which proper earlier than us was Limp Bizkit, and I forgot who else earlier than us, however positively the tides had been turning. And so, Limp Bizkit was up there flushing cardboard cutouts of Spice Ladies down their massive bathroom that that they had as a stage prop, everyone’s acquired dishevelled garments and so they’re form of doing, form of the Korn… The physique language moved, it modified massive time — form of extra gangster, hip-hop form of factor. After which we come out in our skinny denims and we’re headbanging, and it is, like, ‘This simply feels very bizarre.’ We’re sandwiched between Limp Bizkit and Tool. And I bear in mind, me and Marty Friedman, we might exit and watch Tool. I beloved them. I assumed they had been nice. It was mesmerizing. To me, they had been just like the modern-day Rush 2112 form of vibe. It was very non-mainstream, form of nearly Pink Floyd-ish. I used to be mesmerized by it, simply how fricking cool it was. So, I acquired it. I’ve at all times tailored to new stuff that was popping out. So I assumed it was actually cool. Then, in fact, Ozzy would come out. But it surely was simply this bizarre cultural shift that was occurring throughout that point.”
Ellefson expressed a selected fondness for bands that bridged the hole between metallic and grunge, notably Alice In Chains. He additionally appreciated different acts from the period, together with Soundgarden, Temple Of The Dog, and Pearl Jam, specifically their debut album.
“I believe going again to the grunge factor, the band that we will all agree on, I believe anyone, however particularly metalheads and guitar-player form of bands, was Alice In Chains. They had been simply cool it doesn’t matter what. They type of gained everybody over, whereas Soundgarden, I appreciated them. I did not love them. I really like Temple Of The Dog. Cornell, him, and Eddie Vedder dueting on that observe. And likewise, earlier than Pearl Jam, Mom Love Bone. What a cool band that was. And, in fact, they solely had that second, after which it was over as soon as the singer died. However I assumed Pearl Jam Ten was nice. I imply, that was a kind of nice, nice albums. High to backside, it is only a nice document. I believe in all probability for our style, it’s a must to type of take your metallic hat off and simply take heed to it as music.”
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