Megadeth announce James LoMenzo as new live bassist
LoMenzo previously handled low-end duties for the thrash titans from 2006-2010
Back in May, Megadeth parted ways with longtime bassist David Ellefson after a series of intimate videos and conversations featuring Ellefson and a teenaged fan were leaked on Twitter.
Aside from later announcing that they would re-record Ellefson's parts on their upcoming album, The Sick, the Dying and the Dead, Megadeth also revealed that their plans to hit the road with Lamb of God this summer would be unaffected by the personnel change, and that a new bassist would be hired to fill Ellefson's place onstage.
That bassist – after much speculation – has finally been revealed to be James LoMenzo, a bass guitar veteran who previously served as the thrash titans' bassist from 2006-2010.
“I’m super stoked to be rejoining Megadeth for the upcoming Metal Tour of the Year," LoMenzo said in a statement. "There are no better fans than Megadeth fans, I can’t wait to get out there and shred some Megadeth music with you all.”
“I’m happy to announce that former bassist and Megadeth alumni James LoMenzo has graciously stepped in on the Metal Tour of The Year," added frontman Dave Mustaine. "Tour rehearsals just began, and we cannot wait to start crushing North America.”
The announcement didn't make clear whether or not LoMenzo is, in fact, the “stellar bass player” who Mustaine said would be re-recording Ellefson's contributions to The Sick, the Dying and the Dead.
Given, however, that LoMenzo has already been trusted to hold down the low-end on two previous Megadeth albums – 2007's United Abominations and 2009's Endgame – we'd say he's about as likely a candidate as any for the job.
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Jackson is an Associate Editor at GuitarWorld.com. He’s been writing and editing stories about new gear, technique and guitar-driven music both old and new since 2014, and has also written extensively on the same topics for Guitar Player. Elsewhere, his album reviews and essays have appeared in Louder and Unrecorded. Though open to music of all kinds, his greatest love has always been indie, and everything that falls under its massive umbrella. To that end, you can find him on Twitter crowing about whatever great new guitar band you need to drop everything to hear right now.
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