Dave Lombardo Reflects on His Exit from Slayer: “Sh*t Happens, Man… Families Argue.”
Of all the projects that insanely influential drummer Dave Lombardo‘s ever been a part of, it’s the band that brought him to the dance in the first place that he’s most known for — Slayer. Having been in the band from 1982-1986, then 1987-1992, and then 2001-2013, he’s seen almost every form the band took over the years and was the backbone for some of thrash metal’s most important releases to date. Yet his time on the band finally came to a rough end that led to a lasting fracture between him and his former bandmates.
During a recent appearance on The New York Hardcore Chronicles Live! (as transcribed by Blabbermouth), Lombardo was asked about his time in Slayer. And though things didn’t go down in the best way, he admitted that these sorts of outcomes just happen sometimes and that it doesn’t take away from his time in the band.
“I love it. I look back in retrospect and it’s been amazing. How can you not? Shit happens, man. You have disagreements. Families argue. And so it is what it is. I’m happy to have been a part of such a legendary band, happy to have contributed to this genre that has loved me and supported me for my entire musical life.
“Like I said, shit happens, but it is what it is. I’ve been very fortunate that I’ve made a few friends along the way. And they’ve asked me to be in their bands. I’ve created several new bands or launched them, and still I feel there’s so much more in me that I don’t see it ending anytime soon. Until somebody pulls the plug, I’m still here, man. [Laughs]”
It’s really interesting take on his place within Slayer, since it wasn’t too long ago that guitarist Kerry King had a very different opinion of Lombardo in a Rolling Stone interview last year.
“[Lombardo] went on that tirade when we were on a flight to Australia, and he knew we couldn’t retort for 14 hours, and he threw me under the bus. I was the only one keeping him in the band. Tom wanted him out before that, and Jeff had just gotten the spider bite [causing him to contract a flesh-eating bacteria, forcing him off the road], so he wasn’t playing with us much. I said, ‘We need [Dave]. The fans won’t get it if we replace him right now.’
“And then the Australia thing came up. He threw me under the bus, and I’m like, ‘I’m the guy that kept you here.’ So I thought, ‘Fuck that guy.’”
Regardless of whatever beef may or may not exist between Lombardo and the rest of Slayer, it goes without saying that he’s cemented his legacy in metal thanks in large part to his time with the legendary band.
