In a recent interview with Alternative Nation, former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson shared a revealing story about the late PANTERA guitarist Dimebag Darrell, recalling the moment Darrell told him that a MEGADETH album had profoundly impacted his life.
Ellefson recounted meeting the young PANTERA lineup during a visit to Texas in 1988. “I was introduced to them by a girlfriend of mine from Texas,” he explained. “I met the guys, we went out, drank hard, a good time, and Dimebag—who was known as Diamond Darrell at that time—after we had been drinking all night, he comes up to me, and he looks me dead in the eye, and he goes, ‘David, I just want to tell you the Peace Sells album changed my life.’”
Ellefson recalled being initially casual about the comment, but Darrell’s sincerity left a lasting impression. “I remember he put his hand on my shoulder. He goes, ‘No, it changed my life.’ It was like a sobering moment, right there when he said that.
Ellefson also highlighted what made PANTERA unique at the time. “My PANTERA is still the Power Metal album,” he said, referring to the band’s pre-Cowboys from Hell era. “It still had some ZZ Top, some VAN HALEN, and a little bit of MEGADETH, METALLICA, right? They were transitioning to what would become Cowboys from Hell and Vulgar Display. Basically, the ’90s version of PANTERA.”
He recalled jamming with PANTERA the following night on stage in Dallas, playing “Peace Sells” with the band in a sold-out venue. Ellefson was impressed by their skill and stamina: “These guys could drink a lot and still play really well. Whereas MEGADETH, when we drank a lot, we didn’t sound so good. [Laughs] I was very impressed on how they did that. They were just a powerhouse of a band.”
Released in 1986, Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying? was Megadeth’s second album and their first under Capitol Records. Considered a landmark in thrash metal, tracks like “Peace Sells,” “Wake Up Dead,” and “Devil’s Island” not only helped define the genre but also inspired a generation of musicians.
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