Former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson has formed a new band called F5. "The music is heavy, melodic, has a bit of old school in it at times as there are two guitar players who both rip, Steve Conley and John Davis," Ellefson told BLABBERMOUTH.NET. "The drummer is David Small (web site), vocalist Dale Steele (ex-SICK SPEED) and myself on bass. Everyone is a kick-ass player even though they are unknown to most of the metal world.

"I founded the group, with Conley and Small, in 2002 and we've been writing all year and recording diligently with producer Ryan Greene, working toward a full-length release," David continued. " F5 is a kick-ass band that I get to finally lay out my creative ideas with players who work great together. When I started it, MEGADETH was over so I moved on with my life, thus this new band was born. It's a great relief for me, something I'm very proud of and can work with or without MEGADETH in my life, as many metal musicians do with other projects at this point in their career. I'm looking forward to everyone hearing and seeing the group soon."

Ellefson also addressed the recent Internet reports suggesting that he was asked by Dave Mustaine to join the newly revamped MEGADETH but turned down the offer for reasons that were never clarified.

"I am currently not involved in any new recordings at this point, even though I was ready, willing and able to do so when Dave approached me about it last year," Ellefson said. "It's unfortunate for all the fans that things did not work out with us on this go 'round. Not sure yet if this is a bump in the road or a permanent closure for me with MEGADETH."

For more information on F5, visit the band's official web site at www.f5theband.com (currently under construction).

Taken From Blabblermouth.net

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Former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman recently spoke to Australia's Guitar magazine about the possibility of him collaborating with Dave Mustaine again in the not-too-distant future. Asked what the latest word is on a potential MEGADETH reunion with him on guitar, Marty said, "There really is no word on that. I don't have any interest in that now. But I never say never. Who knows? The guys are all my buds. There is no debating the great chemistry between us." With regards to whether that means that he has changed his mind about the issues that originally influenced him to leave the band, he said, " great question, but you are thinking too deep into it. I would just need to see something musically exciting happening to even consider it. Something even greater than it was before. I am not at all interested in just picking up where the band left off. There would have to be some kind of interesting twist to it." Read the rest of the interview

Taken from Blabblermouth.net

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MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine has once again addressed the possibility of a reunion of the "Rust In Peace" lineup. Writing to the band's official forum, Mustaine said, "One question that keeps coming up that I have already answered, but still remains, is the reunion.

"People, it is not going to happen. Especially after seeing claims that I am unfair and inconsiderate. Who gives a fuck about why it isn't happening, it just isn't. And to tell people personal shit about 'what' happened or to say things like this about each other (note - I didn't say shit) only solidifies my decision. 'What happens on the mile, stays on the mile.'

"It just makes me nauseous to see someone pouring out their guts over something that is as unlikely to happen as that.

"Remember, Menza was ready to go, and like I said, I was unable to accommodate the others. The reasons don't matter. And as respectfully as I can say this, it is not anyone else's business but the people I talked to. And . . . they know the number to my management if they reconsider.

"Now, please drop it.

"I have found some players that I believe in, and am assembling a group to play with me. No one questioned my choices when I picked anyone else in the past. I think I know what I'm doing. And if ya don't like it, well there's always that big super-group that all the ex-members were trying to form. Hahahahahaha!"

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Former MEGADETH guitarist Chris Poland recently spoke to Ricky Garcia of Jemfest Radio about his guest appearance on the new MEGADETH album, tentatively due later in the year through Sanctuary Records. The following are some of the highlights of that interview:

On how he came to be involved with the new MEGADETH album:

Chris Poland: "Dave gave me a call and asked me if I would be interested in coming down and doing the solos on his latest MEGADETH record, and I was more than happy to do it. So we drove down to Tempe, Arizona and went to Phase Four studios and I think I recorded nine solos ? eight of them were electric distortion ? heavy, heavy guitar ? and then one was a nylon-string, acoustic kind of solo section. But it was all really fun. They had the best gear there ? they had a 50-watt Plexi Marshall head with vintage speakers, there was like 50 different vintage guitar pedals to pick from. So I was very excited about the whole thing. And working with Dave, I swear, it was just like I had never left the band. We worked a certain way when I was in the band ? he described what he needed here and there. Some of the solos, he let me just do exactly what I wanted, which I had a lot of fun doing, other solos, he basically directed me ? like with his finger. While I was soloing, he would move his hand up and down the neck, and I would just follow his hand. It was like a Ouija board or something. I would just follow him and try to emulate where he was going with his hand. We've done solos like that before when I was with MEGADETH. It was like I had never left the band as far as our working situation in the studio. It was great working with him. We're both sober, so it's like, all that added baggage and baloney that was going on with us before wasn't there ? it was just the music ? and he's actually a really pretty funny guy."

On whether he had kept in contact with Dave Mustaine during his time away from the band:

Chris Poland: " on and off, between doing the remixes and the 'Behind the Music' stuff, we'd talk once in a while. It's not like we're gonna start the band up again, but it's great being friends with Dave. He's a good guy."

On whether Dave Mustaine is able to play guitar again in light of the hand injury that caused MEGADETH's split in early 2002:

Chris Poland: "Oh, he's gotten over that. He went for physical therapy, and his guitar playing is as good as it's ever been, if not better. Probably because he's been practicing trying to get it back and didn't realize where he left off and he's probably a better player than he's ever been right now."

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Dave Mustaine is scheduled to begin mixing the new MEGADETH album "somewhere around the middle of March/beginning of April," the guitarist/vocalist revealed in an online posting. "The time factor is based on Jeff Balding squeezing this session into his previously booked schedule. This worked out great for me because I always wanted to get some perspective in-between and away from the sessions but never had the opportunity." A late summer release through Sanctuary Records is expected.

In other news, Mustaine recently addressed the reasons for MEGADETH's numerous lineup changes over the years and explained his decision to release a new "MEGADETH" album with a virtually entirely new band.

"I am aware of everyone's curiosity about my decisions as of late, and how things may never be as good as back when such and such was in the band," Mustaine began. "Also, that you read this guy said this, and that guy said that, in this magazine or another. It is time to address these things.

"Fortunately, I don't believe what I read from band members when they are being interviewed, because I too have been caught up in the moment when the tape is rolling, and the little 'shit stirrers' are trying to goad me into going off on someone.

"Every story ever written why people got fired, quit, or pouted about something I did had to do with either 'my keeping all the money' (which isn't true) or 'my not using their music' (which in most cases was true due to the quality).

"I have laughed over the years at the bullshit stories from former members about how they were asked to leave or quit, how the idiots from the labels back then said they were wrestling with me and what not, and I can't help but think, what fucking planet were they all on?

"If you were around when Gar Samuelson and Chris Poland were in the band, you probably felt a little uneasy when they were asked to leave. What was to become of the MEGADETH that you know and love?

"Gar and Chris were great, true, but drugs and an enormous gap in musical differences, let alone dedication to other things, left me wanting. I did have the grace of seeing Gar a few times before his untimely death, and Chris and I are friends now.

"However, when a person does an interview, something strange happens. I dunno you just become a smart-ass. So, whatever was said before this session when Chris was out here doesn't, I repeat, doesn't matter to me.

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Megadeth.com is currently hosting a clip of "new MEGADETH music" along with an audio message from Dave Mustaine. Check it out here: http://www.megadeth.com/btu/pop.html

As previously reported, Mustaine is currently collaborating with one-time MEGADETH guitarist Chris Poland on new MEGADETH material which he plans to release later in the year through the Sanctuary label. Bassist Jimmy Sloas and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta have also contributed to the album, which Mustaine expects to have done by the end of March.

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Megadeth

Former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman has revealed that he was asked to participate in MEGADETH mastermind Dave Mustaine's upcoming solo project but declined the offer, citing the possibility of a future MEGADETH reunion as the reason for his decision.

In a brand-new interview posted at MartyFriedman.com, Marty was asked to clear up the MEGADETH reunion rumors which have been brewing ever since Mustaine announced his plans to record an album of new solo material. "What reunion?" he responded. "I'm sure I answered this somewhere , but I don't know anything about any plans for that. I am on good terms with both of them and I hope only the best in whatever they want to do. I was flattered to be asked by Mustaine to participate in a solo project that he's working on, but as much as I'd like to, I decided not to mainly because I wouldn't want to take away any thunder from a full-fledged possible MEGADETH reunion, if that were to ever come to pass in the future. I hear through the grapevine that his new music is gonna be killer." Read the rest of the interview here: http://www.martyfriedman.com/archivedetail.php?id=90

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Megadeth