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The bassist from the Heavy Metal band Megadeth is studying to become a Lutheran pastor.
David Ellefson, 47, a founding member of the Thrash metal band has spoken of his personal faith, and dual role as worship leader and hard rocker.
And he is not the only Christian in the band, as fellow thrasher Dave Mustaine is also a well known Christian.
Megadeth, which was formed in 1982 remains massively popular in the UK and around the world, as one of the pioneering groups in the punk inspired 'Thrash' metal genre.
Ellefson’s announcement has come as a surprise to some, who imagined that the musician, whose other bands have included ‘Temple of Brutality’ and ‘Killing Machine’, was unlikely to be a believer.
But the rocker has recently announced that he has enrolled as an online student in the Specific Ministry Program at Concordia Seminary in the USA.
Jon Bjorgaard, pastor of the Lutheran church in Arizona where Ellefson and his family are worshippers said: "Most people want to be a rock star, David's a rock star who wants to become a pastor." Reports rock magazine ‘Rolling Stone’.
But this move won’t surprise many Megadeth fans, who have followed the careers of Ellefson and his band mate Dave Mustaine, and know the reasons behind lyrics like ‘peace sells… but who’s buying?’
Mustaine was also an early member of Rock monsters Metallica, who along with Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax were the founders of the Thrash metal genre.
When he left Metallica and formed Megadeth, Ellefson was recruited as bassist, and fell away from his childhood faith, into the rock & roll lifestyle.
But he soon tired of the excess and at 25, he reconnected with his faith after entering a recovery program.
Now he and his fellow rockers are about to embark on a new tour with notorious ‘hell raisers’, Motorhead, who are fronted by British born singer and bassist Lemmy Kilmister.
But rather than spending his spare time smashing up hotel rooms, Elefson will be taking time to concentrate on his homework. He sees no disconnect between his day job and his faith, saying simply: “I love praise and worship music, and I love heavy metal."