In a conversation with 518Scene.com, bassist James LoMenzo reflected on the legacy of Megadeth’s sound and credited David Ellefson as a pivotal force in shaping the band’s identity.
“As far as rock and roll and metal bands go, I’m an originalist; I love the original band,” LoMenzo shared. “So as much as it’s an honor and how great it is to be part of this, I still have that little fan guy thing going for the real band.”
He praised Ellefson’s influence on Megadeth’s sound:
“In my estimation, David Ellefson has defined the sound of this band with his bass playing as much as everybody else who’s been in the band, so I try to be very respectful and reverent to that.”
LoMenzo, who initially joined Megadeth in 2006, contributed to two albums—United Abominations and Endgame—before departing in 2010. He rejoined the band in 2021, becoming a permanent member in 2022, and performed alongside Marty Friedman during special shows in 2023.
In a November 2022 interview with Ashdown Engineering, LoMenzo discussed his initial departure from Megadeth when Ellefson returned to the fold:
“After three or four years in Megadeth, David Ellefson returned. And I, like you, was pretty excited about that, because I had always been a fan of Megadeth anyway. I’m one of those crazy guys that’s, like, I want it to be the original band.”
Reflecting on his time in the band and subsequent endeavors, LoMenzo said:
“I had to take charge of the bass spot when [Ellefson] couldn’t be there. So when he came back, I was fine with it. I’d done two great albums—United Abominations and Endgame—and two world tours. At that point, I was kind of excited to try something new.”
LoMenzo transitioned to running a video production company and jamming locally with fellow musicians. Eventually, he joined John Fogerty’s band, expanding his already impressive résumé, which includes work with Ozzy Osbourne, Zakk Wylde, and White Lion.
Despite the changes over the years, LoMenzo remains a devoted admirer of Megadeth’s roots while contributing his own mark to their enduring legacy.
