Megadeth bassist James LoMenzo officially named “permanent member”

Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

Megadeth bassist James LoMenzo is now officially a “permanent member” of the band.

LoMenzo, who’d previously played in Megadeth from 2006 to 2010, rejoined the thrash titans last summer as a live member ahead of their Metal Tour of the Year with Lamb of God and Trivium.

“I am thrilled to welcome back James to the Megadeth family,” frontman Dave Mustaine says in a statement. “James rejoined the fold as the touring bassist and it’s been a blast having him back, we thought let’s make it permanent.”

LoMenzo adds, “I’m so excited to rejoin Megadeth and move forward full steam into the next phase of this iconic band’s history!”

LoMenzo takes the place of founding bassist David Ellefson, who was let go from Megadeth in May 2021 after video of sexually explicit interactions between him and a woman leaked online. Mustaine is now the only original Megadeth member still in the band.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.