Megadeth famously recruited Testament's Steve DiGiorgio to re-record the bass parts on their latest record The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead after now-former bassist David Ellefson was fired from the band. Ultimately DiGiorgio was just part of Megadeth in the studio, but Testament was still a little worried he might not come back.
In an interview with SiriusXM's Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk, Testament vocalist Chuck Billy said the band was definitely concerned about losing the bassist to Megadeth. "We're definitely always concerned that… We've had so many lineup changes, it wouldn't faze us," he said as transcribed by Blabbermouth. "But Steve's an important part of the band; he was a great addition when he came back. And we went through a lot together personally. So, of course, when you get the opportunity to play on it, and I'm sure they were courting him to join the band. I'm glad he made the decision to stay with us."
"I think his intentions always were just, 'I'll go record the record,' 'cause that's what Steve does — he plays on a lot of people's albums. So we kind of took it as that at first. And I thought, 'That's what he does.' 'Go for it, Steve. Just don't leave.' [Laughs] And I'm sure they asked him to join the band. And he decided, 'You know, I've been with my bros here for a long time. I'm gonna stick with my bros.'"
Billy then voiced his doubts about DiGiorgio ever being a longtime member of Megadeth anyway, saying with a laugh "I know Steve very well, and I know Dave [Mustaine] very well, and I'm sure the two worlds would have collided."
Megadeth eventually recruited James LoMenzo as their new bassist. LoMenzo originally played with Megadeth between 2006 and 2010, and filled in for Ellefson prior to joining full time once again in 2022.
