Ellefson, the eponymous solo band of Grammy-Winning Megadeth bassist and co-founder David Ellefson, has announced signing to earMUSIC for the Europe release of their upcoming full-length covers release “NO COVER”, which will be released worldwide on the 20^th of November in conjunction with Ellefson’s revived Combat Records.  The band has also announced a digital release for their cover of the Cheap Trick classic “Auf Wiedersehen” on the 9^th of October, featuring guest appearances from Ministry’s Al Jourgensen,  Anthrax’s Charlie Benante, and Crobot’s Brandon Yeagley, alongside bassist Ellefson, vocalist Thom Hazaert, and guitarist Andy Martongelli.

“Auf Wiedersehen” is available on all digital outlets today via Combat Records/earMUSIC, and the video edited by Melody Myers can be viewed at the link below:

Also today, October 9th, proclaimed “David Ellefson Day” by the Mayor of David’s hometown of Jackson, MN, the band has announced a handful of upcoming tour dates, including late October Texas dates with SALIVA, The Crowned, and A Killer’s Confession, and a week of November CD release shows for “No Cover”, with The Crowned. The shows will be limited capacity club dates, following all state and local safety protocols, social distancing, and capacity guidelines.

Says Ellefson:

“We’re all trying to make sense of everything right now. We got offered the shows in Texas with Saliva several months ago, and as things opened back up, we thought if they could be done as safely as possible, for us and our fans, it might be possible to do them. So we decided to try. And with NO COVER coming out in November, we wanted to try and play a few intimate, limited capacity shows around the release, just to get out briefly and say hello to the fans.

We have safety plans and protocols in place for capacity, limited interaction meet and greets, etc, and we think we can still have fun, play great shows, and keep everyone safe. These aren’t massive shows, they are very intimate club events, some with extremely low capacity, which we are hoping will make it possible for us all to stay as safe as possible and have some fun and semi-normalcy for a night. And as you can imagine, we are as excited to go out and play, as fans seem to be to see us.”

Also earlier this week, Ellefson anounced an updated release schedule for “No Cover”, chalked up to unexpected medical situations for vocalist/co-producer Thom Hazaert.

Hazaert explains: “There’s no easy way to say it, but in July, right in the middle of recording the album, I had massive heart failure, and went into cardiac arrest. My heart literally stopped for several minutes, and I was revived at the hospital. There was a long recovery, but we managed to finish the record, and secure amazing deals with our friends at EARMusic, and Ward, but obviously we had to revisit our timeline a bit. And literally, maybe a month and a half later we were in Los Angeles, at Al’s house, shooting the video for “Auf Wiedersehen”. I’m just extremely humbled and thankful to be here to not only be able to finish this incredible record, but be able to see it released Worldwide with incredible labels, which really almost wasn’t the case.”

Produced by Ellefson and Hazaert, with additional production by guitarist Andy Martongelli and Matt LaPlant (Nonpoint, Skindred, Lil’ Jon), mixed by Alessio Garavello, and mastered by Maor Appelbaum (Faith No More), “No Cover” includes Ellefson-ized versions of 19 classic tracks from Motörhead, WASP, Def Leppard, Cheap Trick, Queen, Judas Priest, Twisted Sister, Fastway, Fight, Dead Kennedys, and more. Featuring cover art by Melody Myers (Ellefson, Altitudes and Attitude, Escape The Fate), an homage to the legendary Def Leppard debut “On Through The Night”, “No Cover” is the second release under the Ellefson banner, the follow-up to 2019’s “Sleeping Giants”, a double-disc compilation combining new tracks, with unreleased Ellefson solo, and F5 material.

Ellefson, featuring David Ellefson on bass,  Vocalist Thom Hazaert, Guitarists Andy Martongelli and Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (Sons of Apollo, Yes, Ex-Guns N’ Roses), and drummer Paolo Caridi, are joined on the album by a who’s who of legendary guests including Charlie Benante (Anthrax), Eddie Ojeda (Twisted Sister), Brandon Yeagley (Crobot), Dirk Verbeuren (Megadeth), Frank Hannon and Troy Lucketta (Tesla), Mark Slaughter, Jason McMaster (Dangerous Toys, ex-Watchtower, Evil United), Greg Handevidt (Kublai Khan, Ex-Megadeth), Chuck Behler (Ex-Megadeth), Gus G, John Aquilino (Icon), Doro Pesch, Dave McClain (Sacred Reich, Ex-Machine Head), Dave Alvin (White Trash), Todd Kerns (Slash & The Conspirators),  Andrew Freeman (Last In Line), Jacob Bunton (Mick Mars), Al Jourgensen (Ministry), Russ Parrish (Fight), Dead By Wednesday, and more.

                                               ELLEFSON – NO COVER – 20^th of November

Tracklist

CD1

1. Freewheel Burning (Judas Priest) ft. Jason McMaster, Gus G, Andy James, Dave McCLain
   2. Tear It Loose (Twisted Sister) ft. Eddie Ojeda, Dave McClain
   3. Love Me Like A Reptile (Motorhead) ft. Doro Pesch, Greg Handevidt, Chuck Behler
   4. Holiday in Cambodia (Dead Kennedys) ft. Charlie Benante, Bumblefoot
   5. Rebel Yell (Billy Idol) ft. Paolo Caridi
   6. Wasted (Def Leppard) ft. Frank Hannon, Jacob Bunton, Dave McClain
   7. Riff Raff (AC/DC) ft. Jason McMaster (Lead Vocals), Dave Lombardo, Bumblefoot
   8. Nailed To The Gun (Fight) ft. Andrew Freeman, Russ Parrish, Jimmy DeGrasso
   9. Not Fragile (Bachman-Turner Overdrive) ft. John Aquilino, Paolo Caridi, Bumblefoot
   10. Auf Wiedersehen (Cheap Trick) ft. Al Jourgensen, Brandon Yeagley, Charlie Benante

CD2

11. LOVE Machine (W.A.S.P.) ft. Dirk Verbeuren, Dave Alvin, Bumblefoot
    12. Love Hurts (Nazareth) ft. Brandon Yeagley, Chuck Behler, Tyson Leslie
    13. Eat The Rich (Krokus) ft. Jason McMaster, Dave Sharpe and Opus of Dead By Wednesday
    14. Sheer Heart Attack (Queen) ft. Bumblefoot, Doro Pesch, Charlie Benante
    15. Over The Mountain (Ozzy Osbourne) ft. Andrew Freeman (Lead Vocals), Bumblefoot, Jimmy DeGrasso
    16. Sweet FA (Sweet) ft. Todd Kerns (Lead Vocals), Bumblefoot, Shani Kimelman
    17. Beth (KISS) ft. Tyson Leslie, Bumblefoot
    18. Say What You Will (Fastway) ft. Mark Slaughter, Troy Lucketta