“It literally happened over the weekend,” says the delighted bassist. “And I can hardly believe it myself. There was clearly gonna be a change in the line-up, because James Lomenzo was leaving. Dave (Mustaine) and I talked on the phone, and all the feuds, all the arguments we’ve been having over the years just melted away. It just goes to show what direct contact can achieve!”

According to Ellefson, it was drummer Shawn Drover who instigated the whole thing.

“If you ever need a guy in a band to watch your back, then this is the man. Obviously, I have no clue what happened within the band. But I got a text from Shawn and it just said: ‘If ever there was a time for you and Dave to talk, now is it.’ It’s one of those messages you act on immediately. Typically of Megadeth, things then happened big and fast.

“In all honesty, talking to Dave again was wonderful. It was the right thing at the right time, done in the right spirit.”

Ellefson rejoins the band in time for their March tour of America, where they will play the whole of the 1990 album Rust In Peace.

“I have one big advantage – I think I know those songs already! Seriously though, I was in New York with one of my other bands, Hail!, when I found out that Megadeth were doing this, and I did feel a little upset that I wasn’t at that point gonna be part of it. But, hey, now it’s all changed.

“So far, the reaction I’ve had from everyone has been overwhelmingly positive. I cannot wait to get back out there with Megadeth.”

Mustaine is reported as saying: “David Ellefson belongs in Megadeth. Next we are going to show you the power of getting your asses kicked… HARD!”

For further info, go to www.megadeth.com

Blabbermouth reports that, during an interview on radio show Metal On KLQ, the Megadeth leader responded to a question about constant Megadeth line-up changes with the following outburst:

“I can remember the day I was in Tokyo and Marty Friedman [guitar] and David Ellefson [bass] and Nick Menza [drums] were all sitting down at lunch with me and they said they wanted money to just be in the room with me when I played guitar from my music because I wouldn’t be able to write the songs if they weren’t playing in the background. And I thought: ‘OK, that’s the last straw. The musical relationship with all of us is over. Just because you guys can’t write songs doesn’t mean that I should be punished for it.’

“And it killed our relationship. And… what have they done since? I love those guys – well, I don’t love Ellefson – I care a lot about those guys and I respect them for what they’ve done for the franchise and for the legacy that’s Megadeth and they all have a place in my heart. But there’s a difference. When you lose your vision, and you start to be in it for the wrong reasons. ‘Cause if you’re playing music for money, you’re playing for the wrong reason. I play music because I love it.”