Former MEGADETH Bassist David Ellefson Says Dave Mustaine Wanted to Re-Record Metallica’s ‘No Life ’Til Leather’ Amid Long-Running Dispute

Former Megadeth bassist/vocalist David Ellefson recently offered some fresh insight into Dave Mustaine’s long-standing feud with Metallica during a conversation on his own podcast, ‘The David Ellefson Show’.

While tensions between Mustaine and his former Metallica bandmates have simmered for decades, things reportedly escalated again during Metallica’s attempt to reissue their early demo No Life ’Til Leather. That reissue was quietly shelved years ago, with the ongoing dispute said to center on Mustaine’s songwriting credits.

The demo in question features early versions of songs like “Mechanix”, “Jump In The Fire”, “Phantom Lord”, and “Metal Militia”—tracks Mustaine claims he co-wrote before his 1983 firing from the band. When Metallica allegedly attempted to reissue the demo with revised songwriting credits shifting portions to Lars Ulrich, Mustaine reportedly pushed back, refusing to give up credit and royalties he believes he’s owed. Legal documents filed in 2024 between Mustaine and his former management further outlined his frustration over the situation.

One excerpt from Mustaine’s complaint reads:

“In 2017, Mustaine informed [5B] that he intended to pursue his interest in songwriting credit and royalties for songs that he wrote or co-wrote as a member of Metallica, and for which he was owed royalties… [5B] participated in discussions with Mustaine regarding these credits and royalties… they failed to do so.”

According to Ellefson, Mustaine took things a step further behind the scenes. In 2018, Mustaine allegedly approached Ellefson with the idea of re-recording No Life ’Til Leather himself, which Ellefson claims may have been the spark that ultimately fractured their working relationship for good.

Ellefson recalled:

“…There was clashes all the way down, and for me, it started in 2018 when Dave came in to—we started a tour in Oslo—and he came in and he said he wanted to re-record No Life ’Til Leather demo. I’m, like, ‘Are you kidding me? This is where we’re at? After all this time? We’re supposed to be writing a new album and new songs.’ And I was just, like, ‘I am not down with that.’

As fun as it would be to play those songs, ’cause that’s one of my favorite Metallica recordings, I was just, like, ‘Yeah, I’m fucking… I ain’t down with that.’ I’m sorry. I couldn’t kiss the ring for that one. I was, like, ‘I’m out.’ And so I think our problem started then. So as we went into the record, he knew I wasn’t willing to just fucking say, ‘Yes, Dave,’ and go along with shit. So eventually I’m out of the band. You know what I mean? So it goes. Bands are what bands are, and it is what it is.”

It’s also worth noting that Steve Di Giorgio (Testament)—who joined Ellefson for this podcast episode—was later hired by Mustaine to re-record bass parts for The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead! after Ellefson was fired from Megadeth in 2021.

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