Dave Lombardo Talks Past, Present and Future of Slayer

More than Metal, it's an Attitude! Metalholic.co

May 8, 2010 by Rustyn Rose

For more than a quarter century the members of Slayer have reigned as Southern California’s most respected thrash metal band. Founding members and guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, along bassist/vocalist Tom Araya and drummer Dave Lombardo are still bringing their musical brutality to the fans almost three decades since their 1981 inception. Last year’s release of proved that the band is not only still at the top of their game, but shows they still have something to say after all this time.

Of the legendary , which also includes Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax, Slayer is arguably the most respected in terms of remaining true to their origins, and keeping the thrash flag flying high. Their place in the history of metal is firmly established. “Well, we’re definitely acknowledged. Which is a plus,” says Dave Lombardo, Slayer’s Godfather of the double-bass drum. “I think it’s great. It’s great that we’ve been around for so long. I think I see us as hopefully a standard of music, at least thrash metal.”

As the band prepares for a massive summer of touring in support of their new record, World Painted Blood, Dave Lombardo took a few minutes to talk past, present, and future with Metalholic.

Metalholic: Looking back, if you could change any one thing along the way, what would it be?

Dave Lombardo: Everything happens for a reason and I think that even when I left, let’s say, I don’t regret that because that has helped me as a musician. So as far as Slayer goes I have no regrets, no.”

MH: What are you most proud of in the history of Slayer?

DL: Not only our longevity, but some of the records we’ve put out. Of course followed by and , and now with , this record, it’s another thing to be proud of.

MH: 2010 is a huge year for you guys and thrash metal in general. You have the crushing new album, and you’ve got some huge shows this summer including the , , etc… How you guys are feeling at this point?

DL: You know, I don’t know about the other guys, but as for me I feel youthful, I feel like I’m ready to destroy and just pummel those drums. Just absolutely crush them. At least, that’s how I feel personally. The other guys, I feel there’s some enthusiasm especially with Kerry. I saw Kerry at and he said that he was excited to just get on a plane and go to like the European version of the Namm show. So I think both he and I are anxious to play, and we were discussing some of the songs that we might be playing and we have to rehearse and re-learn because we’ve probably never played them since we recorded them which is a challenge. So, yeah we’re excited.

Read the full interview at: http://metalholic.co/dave-lombardo-talks-past-present-and-future-of-slayer/