Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson’s advice to new bands starting out is to never get into it for money

Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson’s advice to new bands starting out is to never get into it for money

Megadeth and Metal Allegiance bassist Dave Ellefson was recently interviewed by Bobby Caughron for XS Rock.

Ellefson was asked what advise that he would give to new bands starting out today to which he replied:

“You know, as much as the industry has evolved, changed and the way music fans listen to music through iPhones and streaming all these things as much as that component is changed, at the beginning of the food chain it’s still just people creating music and you should never get into it for money. If you want to get in the music business for money, go be a lawyer. But if you enjoy playing and you like creating and you like that feeling, always do it for the fun of it. Even in Metal Allegiance, we do it for the fun of it. We get together under the spirit of just enjoying our friendship and our music together. So I think that’s always at the core of it. It’s a lot of work and it’s certainly not for everybody and I think, first and foremost you need to be realistic about it and enjoy the music and enjoy the friendship.”

In terms of what Ellefson considers to be his greatest accomplishment, he advised: “Greatest accomplishments… I mean maybe having survived all these years. You know, it’s kind of funny and we laugh about it, but in the music business that’s not always easy. It can be very challenging, so that’s one. I mean certainly obviously winning a Grammy. There are those moments that are fun to get those accolades. I think just staying in the game. When it’s something you really like to do you know you never really did it for the rewards and the awards you did it for the satisfaction. So to be able to do something all these years later that still brings me satisfaction and enjoyment, to me that’s a blessed life.”

You can read the rest of the interview with Dave Ellefson at XS Rock‘s website.