David Ellefson

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MEGADETH Bassist DAVID ELLEFSON Announces First Dates for Basstory Tour

Posted by tarjavirmakari on June 16, 2018
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Grammy Award Winning Megadeth bassist, author, entrepreneur, and Metal Icon DAVID ELLEFSON has announced the first dates for his BASSTORY tour, a series of limited and exclusive “Storytellers” dates, starting 9/21 in Portland.

Basstory-tour-DavidEllefson

Dubbed “Basstory: An Intimate Evening of Riffs and Repartee with David Ellefson”, the show combines solo bass performance with David’s celebrated brand of storytelling, as he recounts intimate details of his struggles and triumphs in the name of Rock N’ Roll.

BASSTORY will also include special VIP meet and greets, exclusive merchandise, and more.

Says Ellefson, “I have always done clinics, and a few years ago did an amazing spoken word tour in Australia to support my book My Life With ‘Deth, and have always welcomed the opportunity to be able to meet and connect with fans on a more intimate level. These important parts of my professional life converged to create BASSTORY. Not only will fans get to hear some of their favorite bass riffs, but the stories behind them. It’s not often I get to get into small, intimate Rock clubs, the way this all started, and I’m excited for fans to get to experience this show.”

Tickets and limited VIPS are available for purchase at davidellefsonbasstory.com

BASSTORY DATES:
9/20 Portland, OR – Dante’s
9/21 Spokane Valley, WA – The Roadhouse
9/22 Fife, WA – Louie G’s Pizza
9/28 San Antonio, TX – Fitzgerald’s Bar & Live Music
9/29 Houston, TX – BFE Rock Club

BASSTORY is also the launching pad for Ellefson, and partner Thom Hazaert, to announce the formation of their new booking agency, ETA – Ellefson Touring Agency, with veteran agent Keith Rowley personally booking the trek.

Says Hazaert, “In our management and label endeavors, one of the hardest things to find is a good agent, especially for the more developing artists. So we found a few great agents ourselves, and have started to build a boutique agency to handle not only some of our internal Ellefson/EMP/Combat artists and tours, but a small roster of outside artists. Every day, Myself and David challenge ourselves to find new, underserved niches in the music business, and this one was a long time coming.”

Admat: Melody Myers
Photo: Mike Savoia

For More Information: http://www.davidellefson.net

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MEGADETH’s DAVID ELLEFSON Sets Dates For Midwest Coffee Tour, Launches Ellefson Coffee Stout With Hydra Beer Company, Combat Blood And Bullets Cabernet And Hard Cider

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 16, 2018
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Fresh off of a hugely successful NAMM SHOW exhibiting with Ellefson Coffee Co, and his labels EMP LABEL GROUP and COMBAT, MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson has announced a string of March Midwest appearances including the launch of the URBAN LEGEND COFFEE STOUT with Sioux Falls microbrewery HYDRA BEER COMPANY.

DavidEllefson-MidwestCoffeeTour

The URBAN LEGEND release comes on the heels of the successful January launch of COMBAT BLOOD AND BULLETS CABERNET, a 2015 California Cabernet, and COMBAT HARD CIDER, a Hard Cider infused with Ellefson Coffee, both cellared and bottled by Scottsdale, AZs DESERT ROCK WINERY, announced officially on Sirius XM with EDDIE TRUNK during NAMM. Currently available online from combatwines.com, both are slated to launch in multiple retail locations, including all Arizona TOTAL WINES locations this Spring.

Also appearing on several of the dates are the RON KEEL BAND, celebrating the EMP release of Keel’s debut outlaw country/Southern Rock release METAL COWBOY RELOADED, also featuring Frank Hannon of Tesla, and guest appearances from Eric Brittingham and Jeff Labar of Cinderella, Paul Shortino, Troy Lucketta of Tesla, and more, in stores 3/23 via EMP OUTLAW/EMP LABEL GROUP.

Says Ellefson, “It’s always fun to get out and meet the fans, especially when I can get back home to the Midwest. Minnesota ALWAYS shows us a great time. With my brand manager, and partner, Thom Hazaert, we’ve launched a lot of exciting new things this year, and it’s really great to get out and meet fans and spread the word and get their feedback.”

“We’re all really excited about these collaborations. DESERT ROCK and HYDRA are both amazing companies, who make an exceptional high-end product. They came to us with a strong vision for a branded collaboration, and saw it through, and we couldn’t be happier. We’ve launched so many unique and exciting brand partnerships this year, and these are no exception.

Honestly, they are all incredibly cool, with amazing artwork by our COMBAT/ECC artist MELODY MYERS, and people will buy them as much for memorabilia, to put on the shelf next to their TROOPER and MEGADETH beers. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that they are just as great inside the bottle, for those who do want to enjoy responsibly.”

Meet David at the following locations:
Friday 3/16 7 PM
HYDRA BEER COMPANY, SIOUX FALLS, SD
URBAND LEGEND COFFEE STOUT LAUNCH/
RON KEEL METAL COWBOY RELOADED CD RELEASE

Saturday 3/17 2 PM
DOWN IN THE VALLEY, MINNEAPOLIS, MN
MEET AND GREET WITH DAVID ELLEFSON
8020 OLSON MEMORIAL HWY
GOLDEN VALLEY MN 55427

SATURDAY 3/17 7 PM
WHATSUP LOUNGE – MANKATO, MN
RON KEEL METAL COWBOY RELOADED CD RELEASE
WITH MEET AND GREET WITH DAVID ELLEFSON

SUNDAY 3/18 2 PM
KNOW NAME RECORDS, MINNEAPOLIS, MN
MEET AND GREET WITH DAVID ELLEFSON
6009 PORTLAND AVE. SO. MINNEAPOLIS, MN

For More Information:
http://www.davidellefson.net
https://ellefsoncoffeeco.com
http://www.combatwines.com
http://hydrabeercompany.com

David Ellefson: “MEGADETH is going to honour 1 album per month this year, for our 35 Year Anniversary”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 30, 2018
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

TheMetalVoice-DavidEllefson

Jimmy Kay from Canada’s The Metal Voice spoke to MEGADETH’s Bassist and CEO of EMP Label Group David Ellefson at this years NAMM show January 26, 2018 at the EMP Label Group Booth.

Ellefson spoke about his branded coffee and wine lines, Megadeth’s 35 year anniversary celebrations, his faith and what stage Megadeth is at in regards to writing their next album. Furthermore, The Metal Voice also talked to Operations Director Thom Hazaert about EMP prodcut lines.

Watch the interview here:

When asked why he got into the Coffee business
“Cause I drink coffee everyday, I don’t even play music everyday and so it’s kind of a natural fit. I have been drinking Coffee pretty much my whole adult life. “

When asked about a Megadeth update on future initiatives
“Just this week we announced the 35 year anniversary of Megadeth. That is 15 studio albums. Therefore, we are going to honour an album per month throughout the year, sometimes two a month. This month is Dystopia and So Far. So good. So What? Which both came out in the month of January? We are honouring them by postings and probably in the live shows, we are going to incorporate more of those songs from those albums. There are also some merchandising for fans. Just making a whole extravaganza to thank our fans for giving us 35 years of the band.”

When asked if being public about his Christian faith if it can cause tensions in the Metal genre
“Faith is always a tough thing, quite honestly until I wrote my Autobiography I never did talk too much about it because there is so much prejudice about it. Kind of like watch what we do not what we say is the ultimate testimony of faith belief but you know we are all human. We are under satanic attack of the sinful fallen nature that the bible talks about from the beginning of time. None of us is perfect. I see people fall the hardest when they start to have a little success because human nature is we start to take credit for our success, what I did , rather then what he (God) did. I have been an atheist, Christian, Agnostic and somewhere in between. I got into as serious drug and alcohol habit and when I got sobered up, when I got clean that is when I sort of realized the reliance on a higher power thing.”

When asked what stage Megadeth is in writing a new album
It’s just getting started I’m thinking it’s going to be next year 2019 before we really get anything out but we are working on the album this year that’s the goal in the midst of the 35 year anniversary of Megadeth. We want to take our time and really make a great record. We took our time with Dystopia and that diligence paid off.”

More information at:
ELLEFSON COFFEE CO.: https://ellefsoncoffeeco.com – https://www.facebook.com/ellefsoncoffeeco
EMP LABEL GROUP: http://empmerch.com – http://emplabelgroup.com
MEGADETH: https://www.facebook.com/Megadeth – https://www.megadeth.com

David Ellefson’s ELLEFSON COFFEE CO Exhibit At NAMM, Debut Artist Signature Roasts

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 23, 2018
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Ellefson-NAMM2018

ELLEFSON COFFEE CO (aka ECC), the premium coffee brand of MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson, has announced they will be exhibiting at WINTER NAMM, January 25-28 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA, in Hall D, booth 3905, along with Ellefson’s EMP LABEL GROUP, including COMBAT RECORDS, EMP UNDERGROUND, EMP OUTLAW and THC MUSIC, and will debut new Artist Signature Roasts with SKID ROW, QUEENSRYCHE’s MICHAEL WILTON, and AUTOGRAPH. Ellefson will appear at the booth all weekend as well as meet and greets with ECC/EMP artists and partners including DOYLE, METAL ALLEGIANCE (Mike Portnoy, David Ellefson, Alex Skolnick, Mark Menghi), DAEG FAERCH (ROB ZOMBIE’S HALLOWEEN), ODIN, DC4 (Jeff Duncan of Armored Saint, and Rowan Robertson-ex-DIO), CO-OP, SYMBOLIC, MARC RIZZO (Soufly/Cavalera Conspiracy) DIRK VERBEUREN (MEGADETH), CHRONUS, and more.

EMP Label Group/Ellefson Coffee Co NAMM Meet and Greet schedule:
HALL D BOOTH 3905

THURSDAY
10 AM – Morning Coffee with DAVID ELLEFSON
3 PM – SYMBOLIC

FRIDAY
NOON – DOYLE
1 PM – DC4 – SHAWN DUNCAN, JEFF DUNCAN (ARMORED SAINT), ROWAN ROBERTSON (Ex-DIO)
2 PM – CO-OP
2:30 – DIRK VERBEUREN – MEGADETH
3:30 – METAL ALLEGIANCE – DAVID ELLEFSON, MIKE PORTNOY, ALEX SKOLNICK, MARK MENGHI
4:30 – MARC RIZZO – SOULFLY/CAVALERA CONSPIRACY

SATURDAY
10 AM – Morning Coffee with DAVID ELLEFSON
NOON – DAEG FAERCH
1 PM – METAL SANAZ
2 PM – ODIN – JEFF DUNCAN, SHAWN DUNCAN, AARON SAMSON
3 PM – DAEG FAERCH/CHRONUS
4 PM – METAL SANAZ

SUNDAY
12 PM – DAVID ELLEFSON
1 PM – METAL SANAZ

ECC has also announced the launch of a line of artist signature roast coffees, SKID ROW – SLAVE TO THE GRIND, an arabica dark roast, AUTOGRAPH – GET OFF YOUR ASS, a medium Italian roast, and a collaboration with QUEENSRYCHE’S MICHAEL WILTON, who reboots his French Roast WHIP’s PACIFIC BLEND.

Says Ellefson, “As we grow and expand with Ellefson Coffee, I come across more and more of my friends in the business who love coffee as much as I do, and we had the idea to partner up with some of them for the SIGNATURE ARTIST ROASTS. My partner Thom (Hazaert) ran into Michael Wilton at a festival in Minnesota, they chatted about coffee for a bit, Michael had done a line of his own coffees in 2012, and the rest is history. He came home, called me, and we hatched the idea of the SIGNATURE ARTIST ROASTS.

The first three we are launching are all great, legendary artists, and guys I’ve known, and liked, for a long time, and we loved the idea of further entrenching ourselves at the crossroads of Metal and Coffee. We put a lot of time and care into our all of our coffees, and the ARTIST SIGNATURE ROASTS are no exception. Carefully selected premium roasts, chosen by the artists, with killer artwork and packaging. “

Says Skid Row’s Rachel Bolan, “We all drink a lot of coffee in the band, and it just seemed so perfect when ECC approached us with the idea, and we were like, “well yeah, why not”. And the whole name of it “SLAVE TO THE GRIND”, it was just perfect.”

Queensryche guitarist Michael “WHIP” Wilton sheds some light on his history, and love, for coffee. “5 or 6 years ago I had some promotional people that wanted to do a coffee, and we did Whips Pacific Blend. It went well for a while. I’m from Seattle, people in the Northwest are coffee connoisseurs – there’s baristas, roasters, everything up here. And because of the rain everyone up here drinks coffee. And, like Dave, we travel the World, we test different coffees. Not saying I’m a connoisseur, but I know what I like. It’s a French Roast, so it’s not too dark. It’s a good blend.”

Autograph’s STEVE LYNCH says, “Autograph loves to get up and get the day going with a great cup of coffee. Whether we’re on tour, in the studio or just taking care of business, it’s what we look forward to.”

Adds vocalist Simon Daniels, “The moment I wake up coffee is on my mind. Besides giving me the immediate feeling of connecting with nature, it’s truly the first thing I look forward to. “Get Off Your Ass”, the name speaks for itself. It’s the title track of our new album and nothing could make a better statement.”

Ellefson Coffee Co launched in 2016, with their original flagship Brazilian blend ROAST IN PEACE, and now boasts a line of offerings including KENYA THRASH, ROCK N’ ROSE, and URBAN LEGEND and is available both online, and at retailers across the US.

For more information, or to pre-order ARTIST SIGNATURE ROASTS, please visit https://ellefsoncoffeeco.com – https://www.facebook.com/ellefsoncoffeeco

David Ellefson And EMP Label Group Ressurrect COMBAT Records, New Releases From RAVEN, DEAD BY WEDNESDAY, And More

Posted by tarjavirmakari on November 29, 2017
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

EMP-logo

David Ellefson of MEGADETH, via his label EMP Label Group, has announced the relaunch of COMBAT Records, the seminal Punk/Thrash label that started MEGADETH’s career.

Most will remember Combat Records as one of the seminal thrash labels of the 1980s, their most prominent artist being, of course, Megadeth. Combat was also home to Helstar, Circle Jerks, Exodus, Nuclear Assault, and many of the most influential Metal and Punk bands of all time.

After a handful of ownership changes and attempted reboots, COMBAT went dormant in the mid-2000s, the catalog got absorbed by SONY, and the label itself ceased to exist. In 2016, David Ellefson, with his partner Thom Hazaert from EMP Label Group, did the due diligence to research and acquire the intellectual property for the COMBAT RECORDS brand, and bring it home to the EMP family.

CombatRecords

With the utmost respect to the legacy of the past, COMBAT will relaunch in 2018 as an imprint of EMP LABEL GROUP, releasing not only new releases from classic Thrash and Metal artists, but as a home for new and up and coming artists as well. The first tentative COMBAT releases in 2018 will be the North American release of the upcoming studio album from legendary NWOBHM titans RAVEN, a limited edition classic B-sides release from HELSTAR, (both original COMBAT artists) and new releases from CT Hardcore/Metal staples Dead By Wednesday and 80’s progressive thrash favorites WRATH.

Says Ellefson, “Today is a really exciting day, as after over a year, it was finally announced the we will be relaunching the legendary Combat Records as a new label through EMP Label Group. So excited and honored to be able to revive such an iconic brand that was so instrumental to my history. Even though we signed to Capitol after Killing is my Business, Combat’s logo was on all the MEGADETH releases through Countdown To Extinction, and it truly was/is one of the most iconic Metal labels of all time, even being home to some of the other artists who would end up on the EMP roster, like Helstar. The same independent spirit that drove COMBAT in those early days, is truly the same spirit that drives what we do with EMP, and we are honored to launch another amazing conduit to support new and established Metal artists, with great respect to the legacy of the past.

And to clarify, we do not own any rights to the COMBAT back catalog. That is owned, and controlled by SONY, and they have done a great job of curating it through other imprints. COMBAT RECORDS will solely focus on NEW releases under the COMBAT banner. As always, thank you for your support, and stay tuned for more details!”

COMBAT will be distributed through EMP LABEL GROUP, via AMPED DISTRIBUTION in North America, and SPV in Europe.

More information at:
EMP Label Group: http://empmerch.com – http://emplabelgroup.com
COMBAT Records: https://www.facebook.com/combatrecordsofficial
ALPHA OMEGA Management: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialAlphaOmegaManagement

DAVID ELLEFSON Returns To Jackson Minnesota For End Of Year Party At New Ellefson Coffee Co Retailer And Launches New Blend

Posted by tarjavirmakari on November 2, 2017
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

Grammy-Winning MEGADETH bassist and EMP Label Group‘s President DAVID ELLEFSON will return to his hometown of Jackson, MN, Saturday, November 18th for a special end of the year/birthday celebration at Kat’s Hog Heaven, the newest Ellefson Coffee Co retail location. Located at 608 2nd St, Kat’s is the pride of Jackson, serving a full BBQ dining menu, and now serving, and a retail outlet for Ellefson Coffee Co. coffee and merchandise. Additionally, Kat’s will be displaying various memorabilia from Ellefson’s MUSEUM OF DETH, featuring memorabilia from Ellefson’s life and career.

DAVID-ELLEFSON-Returns-To-JacsonMinnesota

Also appearing will be legendary rocker RON KEEL, who with his RON KEEL BAND has signed a deal with EMP OUTLAW, the new Southern Rock/Outlaw Country imprint of Ellefson’s EMP LABEL GROUP. Keel will be performing, and taking part in a special meet and greet with Ellefson.

The event will also mark the release of ECC’s JACKSON HOUSE BLEND, a conservatively priced, entry level addition to the ECC coffee lineup.

Says Ellefson, “I am so excited to return to Jackson and welcome our newest ECC retailer Kat’s Hog Heaven, and unveil the JACKSON HOUSE BLEND! Since we started ECC we have scoured the World to find a reasonably priced coffee that will adhere to the high quality standards we have set for ECC, and we are sure we have hit the jackpot with the Jackson House Blend. I am also extremely excited to welcome my old friend Ron Keel to Jackson, and showcase the latest addition to the EMP FAMILY!”

ECC’s Thom Hazaert adds, “The last time we went to Jackson, it was an absolute blast. We’re so stoked to go back and introduce our new blend that pays homage to David’s hometown, and the great people of Minnesota! And this time we’re dragging Ron Keel along for the ride! We’ll also have tons of giveaways and surprises, so definitely get down and see us at Kat’s!!! (And try some of Donnie’s amazing BBQ.)”

More information at:
ELLEFSON COFFEE COMPANY: http://www.facebook.com/ellefsoncoffeeco – http://www.ellefsoncoffeeco.com
EMP Label Group: http://empmerch.com – http://emplabelgroup.com
ALPHA OMEGA Management: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialAlphaOmegaManagement