MEGADETH's DAVID ELLEFSON Talks HAIL! On Massachusetts' WAAF; Audio Available

Mike Hsu of the Worcester/Boston, Massachusetts radio station WAAF conducted an interview with MEGADETH/HAIL! bassist David Ellefson in late January before HAIL!'s two-date U.S. East Coast mini-tour. The chat is now available for streaming using the audio player below. (Note: This interview was conducted two weeks before Ellefson officially rejoined MEGADETH as the band's new bassist.)

In a recent interview with D.X. Ferris of the Cleveland Scene, HAIL! vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens (also of YNGWIE MALMSTEEN and BEYOND FEAR, and formerly of JUDAS PRIEST and ICED EARTH) said that Ellefson's return to MEGADETH may force HAIL! — which also features SEPULTURA guitarist Andreas Kisser and DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy — to go on hiatus.

"It puts a wrench in things," said Owens, adding, "We're not sure for now" whether the planned HAIL! shows in March and April will go on. Says the singer, it's not simply a matter of finding someone who can play headbanger favorites from MOTÖRHEAD to METALLICA. "It's a matter of whether the promoter wants it. They [want] a name-all-star metal band. We could fill the position, but not with a name nobody knows. We talked to some people, like Frank Bello [from ANTHRAX and HELMET]. And anybody's who's a name is busy."

Regarding Ellefson's reunion with MEGADETH, Owens said the HAIL! members are just as surprised as the rest of the metal world.

"I gotta be honest," said Owens. "I'm over the moon that he's back in MEGADETH. I think it's a great thing for MEGADETH, for Ellefson, and for [Dave] Mustaine. Everybody's happy for David. It's just bad timing."

On January 27, photographer Jeremy Saffer did a photo shoot with HAIL! in Foxboro, Massachusetts.

Behind-the-scenes footage from the shoot can be viewed below.

For more information on the photo shoot, go to this location.

David Ellefson interviewed on WAAF (click on player below to launch audio):