In a recent episode of the X5 Podcast, former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson delved into the transformative impact that grunge music had on the hard rock and metal scenes of the early 1990s. He shared his personal experiences and insights on how this musical shift affected Megadeth and their peers.
Ellefson recounted a pivotal moment in 1991 when he first heard Nirvana on the radio while working on new material with Megadeth. He vividly remembered the experience:
“I lived in L.A., and in 1991, we were starting to write Countdown to Extinction. I remember driving down the freeway, listening to KNAC, the big rock station, and hearing this song called ‘Breed.’ I thought, ‘That is badass. What a great song.’ Then I found out it was Nirvana. I liked Nirvana; I thought they were cool. Their sound made sense to me. But at the time, it was almost taboo for a metal guy to admit liking Nirvana. You could be crucified for saying that.”
The rise of grunge, spearheaded by Seattle-based bands, led to a decline in the popularity of hair bands and traditional metal on platforms like MTV. Ellefson noted:
“We got caught in that wave a bit. When we released Youthanasia, our first single ‘Train of Consequences’ was well received, but ‘À Tout Le Monde’ was not. Then the industry just shifted. Metallica cut their hair and altered their image, though they remained a metal band. Both Metallica and Megadeth survived by adapting, while some of our contemporaries struggled until the 2000s.”
Ellefson also highlighted the cultural shift during Ozzfest ’98, where Megadeth performed alongside bands like Limp Bizkit and Tool. He observed the stark contrast between their traditional metal style and the emerging nü metal trend:
“Ozzfest ’98 was a defining moment. We played around 6 p.m. each night, with Ozzy headlining, followed by Tool, then us, and Limp Bizkit before us. Limp Bizkit had this stage prop of a big toilet flushing Spice Girls cutouts, and everyone was in baggy clothes with a gangster, hip-hop vibe. Then we came out in skinny jeans, headbanging, and it felt weird. We were sandwiched between Limp Bizkit and Tool. I loved Tool; they were mesmerizing, like a modern-day Rush with a Pink Floyd vibe. It was a strange cultural shift happening then.”
Ellefson expressed a particular fondness for bands that bridged the gap between metal and grunge, especially Alice In Chains. He also appreciated other acts from the era, including Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog, and Pearl Jam, particularly their debut album:
“Alice In Chains was a band everyone could agree on, especially metalheads and guitar players. They were universally cool. I liked Soundgarden but didn’t love them. Temple of the Dog was fantastic, especially Cornell and Vedder dueting. Mother Love Bone was another cool band that had a brief moment. Pearl Jam’s Ten was a great album, top to bottom. You have to take your metal hat off and just listen to it as music.”
Ellefson’s reflections provide a nuanced perspective on how the grunge movement influenced and reshaped the metal landscape during a critical period in music history.
