#ThrowbackThursday | 1988 – So Far, So Good… So What! Tour #tbt
This was a massive moment for us. Our second full-scale North American arena tour, following the 1987 run with Alice Cooper, and the official launch of the So Far, So Good… So What! album and tour cycle.
Sharing the stage with Dio and Savatage was nothing short of legendary.
I was already a huge Savatage fan at the time—they were riding serious momentum after releasing Hall of the Mountain King, produced by Paul O’Neill. That era was essentially the genesis of what would later become Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Paul’s grand vision behind it. You could feel something special was happening.
And touring with Ronnie James Dio… that was a lifelong dream fulfilled. Ronnie influenced all of us. His post–Black Sabbath solo career was monumental—something very few artists ever achieve—and getting to share a tour with him was an honor I’ll never forget.
At that point, Megadeth was gaining real traction. So Far, So Good… So What! had the highest chart positions of the three bands on the tour, and that momentum carried us straight into the Iron Maiden tour and ultimately to Monsters of Rock at Castle Donington in August 1988. An unforgettable run.
Fun fact: At this Montreal Forum show, I was sitting in catering backstage where they had filet mignon on the menu. Being a Midwest farm boy used to ribeye and New York strip, I ordered mine well done. The local crew snickered in French behind my back about the American ruining a perfectly good filet. 😂
Ah… the early days of world travel. 🧳
Different time. Different world. Same fire. Same metal. 🎸
⭐️ Stay tuned each week for throwbacks expanding over 40 years of Ellefson 🎶
⚔️ METAL ALLEGIANCE – LIVE AT HOUSE OF BLUES ⚔️
January 22, 2026 | Anaheim,
Reverb Presents Metal Allegiance — an all-star metal summit you do not want to miss.
Featuring David Ellefson , @markmenghi , Mike Portnoy & Alex Skolnick
With special guests including @chuckfcknbilly , @officialjohnbush , Doc Coyle , @williamduvallofficial , @jackgibson614 , @garyholt_official , Andreas Kisser , Troy Sanders + more.
🔥 PLUS SUPPORT FROM:
Chained Saint
Red Reign
Lost Legacy
One night. One stage. Legends. Power. Pure metal unity.
This is going to be massive.
🎟️ Tickets on sale now: metalallegiance.com
📍 House of Blues
📅 January 22, 2026
#MetalAllegiance #HouseOfBlues #ReverbPresents #MetalFamily #AllStarMetal #LiveMusic #MetalShow #DavidEllefson #MikePortnoy #AlexSkolnick #MarkMenghi
On this episode of The David Ellefson Show, David Ellefson and co-host Joshua Toomey are joined by Metal Hall of Fame founder Pat Gesualdo and Jimmy Kay to discuss this year’s Metal Hall of Fame inductees and the festivities surrounding the annual event. Pat dives into the history of the Metal Hall of Fame, the voting process, and how the board of committees works, while also sharing a great behind-the-scenes story involving the late Lee Kerslake and the Osbournes. The conversation also explores the lasting impact and historical importance of the Sunset Strip on heavy metal and hard rock. It’s an inside look at preserving metal’s legacy and celebrating the artists who built the genre.
Tickets: here
YouTube:
Inside the Metal Hall of Fame: Pat Gesualdo & Jimmy Kay Tell All
Spotify:
🎉 Please join me in wishing my dear friend and phenomenal drummer jasonbittner a very Happy Birthday today! Here’s to many more loud, fast, and unforgettable moments ahead! 🥁 🎂
🎁 🎸 Happy Birthday today to Metal Allegiance’s Mark Menghi!
We bring the thrash back to House of Blues Anaheim
On Thursday, January 22, 2026, the “core 4” members will share the stage with Chuck Billy (Testament), John Bush (ex-Anthrax, Armored Saint), Doc Coyle (Bad Wolves & God Forbid), William DuVall (Alice in Chains), Jack Gibson (Exodus), Gary Holt (Slayer / Exodus), Andreas Kisser (Sepultura), and Troy Sanders (Mastodon).
In typical MA fashion, the show will feature surprise special guests and support from Chained Saint, Red Reign, and Lost Legacy NY
This special event is sponsored by reverb.com and Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM).
Tickets , VIP M&G and VIP M&G Soundcheck packages can be purchased at
🎙️LIVE Q&A | 4:00 PM PST / 7:00 PM EST
Today, “This Was My Life: Nick Menza’s Metal Memories with Megadeth and Beyond” (Screaming Butterfly Entertainment) officially premieres on Thunderflix in HD with 10 subtitles and no advertising.
To mark the release, I’ll be doing a live Q&A on IG @thunderflix to share the behind-the-scenes stories, the journey of making the film, and why telling Nick’s story the right way meant so much to me.
Join me as we celebrate Nick’s life, legacy, and the impact he made on all of us.
#NickMenza #ThisWasMyLife #DavidEllefson #Thunderflix #MetalHistory #MetalLegacy #BehindTheScenes
#ThrashThursday
40 years ago today — January 8, 1986 — Megadeth tore up The Metro in Chicago, IL on the Wake Up Dead Tour with Zoetrope.
Setlist:
Rattlehead
Wake Up Dead
Peace Sells
Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good!
Chosen Ones
Looking Down the Cross
Bad Omen
Devil’s Island
Mechanix
This run was part of a one-month winter tour our agent booked across the Midwest and East Coast — right in the dead of winter. Brutal weather, long drives, no frills. But it became our pre-production boot camp for what would soon become the Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying? album, which we recorded for Combat Records as soon as we got home.
I remember some shady guys at this particular show who came backstage before we went on… and while we were playing, they helped themselves to our jackets and personal effects. We walked offstage to find our winter gear gone. No coats, no mercy. I ended up hitting a swap meet in New York City a few days later just to buy a proper coat to survive the rest of the tour.
Such is life on the killing road.
This is where the foundation was laid.
No shortcuts. No compromises.
Just speed, aggression, and attitude.
#WakeUpDeadTour #ThrashMetal #MetalHistory #ChicagoMetal #OldSchoolThrash #MetalLegacy
⭐️ Tune in weekly for a rad #thrashthursday expanding over 40+ years of everything Ellefson
🔥 Catch David Ellefson live during NAMM Show Week with a full lineup of must-see performances:
🎸 Tuesday, January 20th
Ultimate Jam Night – Hollywood
🎸 Thursday, January 22nd
🎸 Saturday, January 24th
Ronnie Montrose Remembered – 10 Year Anniversary Show
📍 The Grand Theater – Anaheim Events Center
If you’re in town for NAMM, don’t miss the chance to experience these powerhouse shows live and up close.
🤘 See you there
#DavidEllefson #NAMM2026 #NAMMWeek #LiveMetal #MetalAllegiance #NAMMJamm #UltimateJamNight #WhiskyAGoGo #HouseOfBlues #AnaheimEvents
On this episode of The David Ellefson Show, David Ellefson and cohost Joshua Toomey are joined by Thomas “Bones” Hewson of rising heavy metal band Tailgunner. Bones discusses working with Judas Priest legend KK Downing, who produced the band’s latest album Midnight Blitz, and what it was like collaborating with such an iconic figure in metal. The conversation dives into the formation of Tailgunner, finding like-minded younger musicians, and intentionally creating a modern throwback sound inspired by bands like Def Leppard and Judas Priest. Bones also opens up about his role as the band’s primary songwriter, writing on guitar, and stepping into the leadership role that keeps the band focused and driven.
YouTube:
Inside Tailgunner’s Rise | Working With KK Downing on Midnight Blitz
Spotify:
📢 September 17-19, 2026 Metal Church will be performing at Blades of Steel Metal Festival
Tickets at: cruciblemadison.com
The new trailer for Bunker Heights debuts EXCLUSIVELY TONIGHT at 7pm EST on JCW Lunacy. Link in comments.
Crime. Comedy. Creatures.
The upcoming crime/comedy/creature feature was written and directed by Drew Fortier, co-starring Hannah Fierman, Violent J (Insane Clown Posse), Vinnie Dombroski (Sponge), and David Ellefson — who also serves as executive producer.
#BunkerHeights #JCW Juggalo Championship Wrestling - JCW
#ThrashThursday 🎸
This photo was taken sometime between 1986–1987, right in the middle of the Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying? album and tour era with Megadeth.
The BC Rich “fighter jet” bass you see here came into my hands in 1986 through Gar Samuelson, who at the time was the General Manager of BC Rich Guitars in El Monte, California—before he was able to fully transition out of that role and into life as a full-time recording artist once we signed our new deal with Capitol Records later that same year.
I used this bass to record several tracks on the Peace Sells album. It was also used in the Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying? music video, which was filmed in Brooklyn, New York while we were on tour in 1986. Years later, during a large Megadeth auction in the late 1990s, the bass was acquired by a fan who eventually placed it in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. His passion and determination to see something Megadeth-related represented at the Hall became a cornerstone that helped spark the heavy metal exhibit that exists there today.
The jacket I’m wearing was custom-made by the infamous Ray Brown, a legendary rock ’n’ roll clothier of the era. He created custom pieces for many artists at the time, including Ratt, Mötley Crüe, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, and many others. We brought him in to step up our look as our records started gaining momentum in 1986.
Pure history from a defining era.
⭐️ Tune in weekly for a rad #thrashthursday expanding over 40+ years of everything Ellefson 🤘🏼