The debate over who reigns supreme as the greatest heavy metal band of all time has sparked countless discussions among fans and will likely continue for generations. While everyone has their own favorite, a few iconic bands consistently make their way into these conversations.
In a recent chat with WSOU 89.5 FM (transcribed by Ultimate Guitar), former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson shared his pick for the top spot. His choice is a band he has long admired.
“Judas Priest are just, to me, the ultimate, greatest heavy metal band ever. And when I hear anything new from “Judas Priest, I immediately buy it. I deep dive it, I listen to it, and I see them whenever they come around,” Ellefson stated.
Despite his current friendships with many of his musical idols, Ellefson strives to maintain the enthusiasm he felt as a young fan when attending their shows. “As much as I’m friends now with my heroes and my icons, when I go to their shows, I try to just remember being that young rock and roller, what it meant to me when I was still living in Minnesota, sitting in the concert hall, as the next up and comer,” he reflected. “I try not to lose that feeling because that just makes everything that I do so much more fun, to get in the room with my friends and remember that we were fans first, and then we became professional second.”
Ellefson, who currently plays in multiple bands such as Kings of Thrash alongside ex-Megadeth guitarist Jeff Young and Metal Allegiance with other prominent metal musicians, also touched on his early musical influences. He emphasized how another legendary band from the ’70s profoundly shaped his passion for music.
“I never got into this as a job,” Ellefson explained. “I never got into it to make money. I never got into it for anything other than just like, opening up Kiss: ‘Alive,’ and just going, ‘God, that looks like fun. I want to do that.’ And that’s how I am today, whether I’m waking up in whatever city on the planet, and just going, ‘Man, I get to go do this today. How cool is this?’”
