Trouble in the Slayer Camp
Discussion
SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo has released the following statement:
"I want to personally apologize to all of our fans in Australia who have bought tickets for the tour expecting to see me in my usual place on the drums.
"So that you all know the truth, as of the end of the business day on February 14th, I was notified that I would not be drumming for the tour in Australia. I'm saddened, and to be honest I am shocked by the situation.
"Last year, I discovered 90% of SLAYER's tour income was being deducted as expenses, including the professional fees paid to management, costing the band millions of dollars and leaving 10% or less to split amongst the four of us. In my opinion, this is not the way a band's business should operate. I tried rectifying it by letting my bandmates know, and Tom [Araya, bass/vocals] and I hired auditors to figure out what happened, but I was denied access to detailed information and the necessary backup documents.
"I spent the Christmas and New Year holidays realizing I had toured all over the world in 2012, but yet had not been paid (except a small advance) or provided a proper accounting for a full year's sweat and blood. On top of this, I was told that I would not be paid until I signed a longform contract which gave me no written assurance of how much or on what basis management would deduct commissions, nor did it provide me access to the financial budgets or records for review. It also forbade me to do interviews or make statements having to do with the band, in effect a gagging order.
"Last Monday, I sat down with Kerry [King, guitar] and Tom to rehearse for Australia and to propose a new business model that I felt was the best way forward for SLAYER to confidently protect itself so we could do what we do best . . . play for the fans. Kerry made it clear he wasn't interested in making changes and said if I wanted to argue the point, he would find another drummer. On Thursday, I arrived at rehearsals at 1 p.m. as scheduled, but Kerry did not show. Rather, at 6:24 p.m. I received an email from the lawyers saying I was being replaced for the Australian dates.
"I remain hopeful that we can resolve our issues. But once again, I sincerely apologize to all of our fans in Australia who spent their money expecting to see the three of us original SLAYER members. I look forward to seeing you in the future."
Ouch, that's harsh. Dave always comes across as a great guy too, not the way you want to be treated as an original member of a band.
"I want to personally apologize to all of our fans in Australia who have bought tickets for the tour expecting to see me in my usual place on the drums.
"So that you all know the truth, as of the end of the business day on February 14th, I was notified that I would not be drumming for the tour in Australia. I'm saddened, and to be honest I am shocked by the situation.
"Last year, I discovered 90% of SLAYER's tour income was being deducted as expenses, including the professional fees paid to management, costing the band millions of dollars and leaving 10% or less to split amongst the four of us. In my opinion, this is not the way a band's business should operate. I tried rectifying it by letting my bandmates know, and Tom [Araya, bass/vocals] and I hired auditors to figure out what happened, but I was denied access to detailed information and the necessary backup documents.
"I spent the Christmas and New Year holidays realizing I had toured all over the world in 2012, but yet had not been paid (except a small advance) or provided a proper accounting for a full year's sweat and blood. On top of this, I was told that I would not be paid until I signed a longform contract which gave me no written assurance of how much or on what basis management would deduct commissions, nor did it provide me access to the financial budgets or records for review. It also forbade me to do interviews or make statements having to do with the band, in effect a gagging order.
"Last Monday, I sat down with Kerry [King, guitar] and Tom to rehearse for Australia and to propose a new business model that I felt was the best way forward for SLAYER to confidently protect itself so we could do what we do best . . . play for the fans. Kerry made it clear he wasn't interested in making changes and said if I wanted to argue the point, he would find another drummer. On Thursday, I arrived at rehearsals at 1 p.m. as scheduled, but Kerry did not show. Rather, at 6:24 p.m. I received an email from the lawyers saying I was being replaced for the Australian dates.
"I remain hopeful that we can resolve our issues. But once again, I sincerely apologize to all of our fans in Australia who spent their money expecting to see the three of us original SLAYER members. I look forward to seeing you in the future."
Ouch, that's harsh. Dave always comes across as a great guy too, not the way you want to be treated as an original member of a band.
Mastodon2 said:
Paul Bostaph was a better drummer anyway, but Slayer are done I think. Jeff aint coming back from his spider bite, and having Pat O'brien from Cannibal Corpse showed up how loose they are live these day, as he is super tight in his riffing.
He drummed on my favourite album ,divine intervention.wongthecorrupter said:
He drummed on my favourite album ,divine intervention.
I saw him live with Exodus in a tiny venue (crowd no more than 100) in 2009 or 2010, he was absolutely awesome to watch, he is one of my favourite drummers, much more inventive and technical than Lombardo, which tends to split opinion on him, as some Slayer fans can be pretty old school.Saw this via FB - Kerry King strikes again.........weapons grade cock for sure.
As for Dave versus Paul; imo they're two very different drummers. I used to be a huge Bostaph fan and ever since I heard the intro to Killing Fields I was blown away but I've really, really grown to appreciate Dave's style and fluidity.
There are very few drummers who roll so effortlessly; Dave is just a natural drummer whereas I get the impression that Paul has had to work and work to get to where he is. Paul is the better technical drummer but Dave is a legend and rightly so.
(And ironically, neither did their best work for Slayer, instead Testament really, really got the best out of both with The Gathering and The Formation of Damnation).
As for Dave versus Paul; imo they're two very different drummers. I used to be a huge Bostaph fan and ever since I heard the intro to Killing Fields I was blown away but I've really, really grown to appreciate Dave's style and fluidity.
There are very few drummers who roll so effortlessly; Dave is just a natural drummer whereas I get the impression that Paul has had to work and work to get to where he is. Paul is the better technical drummer but Dave is a legend and rightly so.
(And ironically, neither did their best work for Slayer, instead Testament really, really got the best out of both with The Gathering and The Formation of Damnation).
drumsterphil said:
Saw this via FB - Kerry King strikes again.........weapons grade cock for sure.
As for Dave versus Paul; imo they're two very different drummers. I used to be a huge Bostaph fan and ever since I heard the intro to Killing Fields I was blown away but I've really, really grown to appreciate Dave's style and fluidity.
There are very few drummers who roll so effortlessly; Dave is just a natural drummer whereas I get the impression that Paul has had to work and work to get to where he is. Paul is the better technical drummer but Dave is a legend and rightly so.
(And ironically, neither did their best work for Slayer, instead Testament really, really got the best out of both with The Gathering and The Formation of Damnation).
I'd agree there.As for Dave versus Paul; imo they're two very different drummers. I used to be a huge Bostaph fan and ever since I heard the intro to Killing Fields I was blown away but I've really, really grown to appreciate Dave's style and fluidity.
There are very few drummers who roll so effortlessly; Dave is just a natural drummer whereas I get the impression that Paul has had to work and work to get to where he is. Paul is the better technical drummer but Dave is a legend and rightly so.
(And ironically, neither did their best work for Slayer, instead Testament really, really got the best out of both with The Gathering and The Formation of Damnation).
I don't know if it's just me being an old Slayer fan, but having seen them a number of times over the years, when I last saw them after Dave came back, it really just felt right. As you say, Dave is so natural & fluid around the kit and has such a good groove, he really is the heartbeat of Slayer, especially live.
Seems like a strange reaction from King. You'd have thought if the band were getting stiffed out of income, he'd want to sort it. I wonder? Must admit I've lost touch with Slayer since I saw them phone in a totally soulless show supporting Maiden back in 2000, so no idea if more recent stuff is any good or just more of the same. As for Bostaph, nobody mentioned Forbidden? One of the best thrash bands who never really made it IMO - Forbidden Evil and Twisted into Form are still monstrous today. Be interesting to see what happens next.
wongthecorrupter said:
Could be,he does a lot of song writing also.Its going to be a dark day if there is no more slayer
My feelings about Slayer flogging a dead horse aside, Araya and Lombardo seem to be in accord on the issue, so makes you wonder what Tom will do next? The name may well still exist, but even my jaded position accepts Slayer without Tom Araya isn't Slayer, in much the same way post-Max Sepultura isn't worthy of the name.hornet said:
My feelings about Slayer flogging a dead horse aside, Araya and Lombardo seem to be in accord on the issue, so makes you wonder what Tom will do next? The name may well still exist, but even my jaded position accepts Slayer without Tom Araya isn't Slayer, in much the same way post-Max Sepultura isn't worthy of the name.
No Tom no slayer, you just can never replace a front man like thatI reckon it's definitely about money and KK's attitude - I know I'd be pretty pee'd off about gigging at the level they do and not seeing any real return.
Kerry's always had a thing about breaking drummers - shame when Lombardo left the first time they didn't get Hoglan in (cos he'd have squashed Kerry like the little turd he is...).
Dave's got plenty of stuff going on elsewhere so he's not exactly on the scrapheap.
Kerry's always had a thing about breaking drummers - shame when Lombardo left the first time they didn't get Hoglan in (cos he'd have squashed Kerry like the little turd he is...).
Dave's got plenty of stuff going on elsewhere so he's not exactly on the scrapheap.
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