DAVID ELLEFSON
The Megadeth bassist explains his high regard for his Yes counterpart Chris Squire, who became a friend shortly before his death in 2015.
“I had this couple of stoner buddies at high school, who got me into smoking pot, and they were the ones who were into exploratory music. I didn’t start smoking pot or drinking until I was about 16, so Yes didn’t come into my life until I was about 16! Before that, probably Rush were my first entrance into prog – although I never considered Rush to be prog, more of a hard rock band.
“When I first heard the live album Yesshows, that was huge. I often discover bands through live albums for some reason.
“The first thing that caught me was Chris Squire’s bass tone, then the parts, which were very advanced. They were clever; the bass really stood out – and Yes didn’t really have that annoying prog sound about them. A rock’n’roller could follow it. I didn’t like school, I didn’t like math class. I didn’t want my music to be a math lesson!
“I went to see No Doubt on their reunion tour and I was in the promoter’s box with Chris. We went to lunch after that and he told me how he’d invented the Rick-OSound sound on the Rickenbacker bass. He still used the original
Marshall half-stack from all his records. It was a fun conversation – bass players geeking out! It confirmed to me that our aggressive approach to bass guitar in our respective bands was very similar.
“Roundabout is a classic song, but when
90125 came out, It Can Happen was a perfect song with a wonderful melodic bassline. It was a subtle entrance, but it was a statement. It was done with attention and it got your attention. Every song on that album is a slam-dunk.
“Chris had such an approachable presence about him and I always admired that. Sitting at concerts, being fans, picking apart shows, talking shop… just a couple of musicians hanging out. If we’d known each other in the 80s it would have been a different conversation; but being adults, family guys, it was a highlight to get to know him as a gentleman. He had such an impact on me.
“If I was making another covers album I’d probably pick Yes’ Tempus Fugit to honour Chris.” MK
Ellefson’s No Cover is on out now via Napalm. See www.davidellefson.com for more information.
“Our approach to bass guitar in our respective bands was very similar.”