Grammy Award winning Megadeth bassist David Ellefson was inducted into the IOWA ROCK N’ ROLL HALL OF FAME over the weekend, in a ceremony Sunday in Okoboji, IA, presented by the Iowa Rock N’ Roll Music Association. David, a native of nearby Jackson, MN, spent his formative years, pre-Megadeth, performing on the club circuit in Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota. Ellefson was inducted in the “individual artist” category, for his achievements both as a recording artist and performer, and as a producer, writer, and entrepreneur, including his work with EMP LABEL GROUP, ELLEFSON COFFEE CO, ETA – Ellefson Touring Agency, and the recently relaunched COMBAT RECORDS.
“Growing up in Jackson, which is right on the border with Iowa, I spent as much time in Iowa, as I did in Minnesota. My mom was from Iowa, and really, so much of my life growing up was here. The Iowa circuit is where I really cut my teeth as a musician, before moving to LA and joining Megadeth, and it’s such an amazing honor to be recognized with the Iowa RNRHOF Class of 2018. After the Grammy win for Dystopia, it was really a cherry on top, to be recognized by my peers, and the great people back home, and to get to come back and participate in this amazing weekend” says David.
The induction came with a permanent Ellefson exhibit on display in the Iowa Rock N’ Roll Hall Of Fame Museum, in Arnold’s Park, IA, featuring one of Ellefson’s personal Jackson KELLY BIRD signature basses, which kicked off the weekend with Ellefson performing an intimate BASSTORY masterclass on Saturday morning, and, with partner Thom Hazaert, judging the finals of the statewide IOWA ROCKS Battle of the Bands competition.
The induction weekend closed out with an All-Star Jam Sunday night, with Ellefson participating along with the rest of the 2018 inductees.
Earlier this month, Ellefson was honored at the Independent Entertainment Summit (IES) in Los Angeles, where he was presented (by former Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland) the ‘TRAILBLAZER OF THE YEAR’ Award (along with Warped Tour Founder Kevin Lyman), for “starting his successful Indie Label EMP, re-activating COMBAT (who originally released Megadeth’s Killing Is My Business), starting his Management company, indie Booking Agency and coffee company, in addition to touring the world and headlining festivals and arenas with the mighty MEGADETH!”
Ellefson kicks off his BASSTORY tour 9/20 in Spokane, WA.
BASSTORY DATES:
9/20 Portland, OR – Dante’s
9/21 Spokane Valley, WA – The Roadhouse
9/22 Fife, WA – Louie G’s
9/28 San Antonio, TX – Fitzgerald’s
9/29 Houston, TX – BFE Rock Club
10/3 Bradley, IL – The Looney Bin
10/4 Lombard, IL – Brauer House
10/5 Sturtevant, WI – Route 20 Outhouse
10/6 Ringle, WI – Q and Z Expo Center
10/7 Mankato, MN – What’s Up Lounge
* With Green Death
With Green Death and WRATH
BASSTORY Europe (Presented by METAL CASINO):
10/15 : Bristol, U.K. – BIMM|
10/16 : Guildford, U.K. – ACM
10/17 : ESCH SUR ALZETTE, LUXEMBURG – RockHal
10/18 : Tilburg, Netherlands – O13
10/21 : LES BIOUX, SWITZERLAND – LE RELAIS DES ARTISTES
10/22 : Warsaw, Poland – RIFF MEGASTORE
10/23 : Berlin, Germany – Private Club
More info – davidellefsonbasstory.com
