Band Painted in Blood: A Conversation with Slayer
14 min read
There is a saying, better the devil you know than the devil you don’t know. In the case of Slayer – what we know can be a little bit enigmatic and scary. Especially when you consider their reputation. But that’s just the devil you don’t know. If you take the time to figure them out, it’s clear that their journey has been purposeful and filled with the kind of exploration of aggression and topics that were never intended for the weak. After all, it has been a journey not without controversy. Even a simple phone call can become confrontational at times if you’re not careful. I should have realized this from the very first time I saw Slayer play and a rabid, bat-crazy, fan came storming onto the stage only to be greeted by the shoulder of lead singer/bass player, Tom Araya. The fan never saw it coming – hitting the ground hard. Even more impressive, while security dragged the poor guy off the stage, was that Tom never missed a note. It was at that moment that I should have realized that you should never mess with these guys unless you’re prepared to get knocked down. But as in all things, it’s not whether or not you get knocked down. It’s about whether or not you can hold your composure and get back up. Right?
Slayer’s current release, World Painted Blood, has been out since November, but they are only recently getting back on their feet after Tom Araya’s neck injury – an injury requiring surgery. And while Tom can no longer “head bang” the band will be hitting the road this month on their American Carnage tour with Megadeth and Testament. During their nine months away however, they have been fielding questions and addressing rumors about what will become of Slayer in the long term. I caught up with Dave Lombardo in his hotel room, all under a shroud of secret names and tricky scheduling – and then…
“Wait. Who said that we were only going to do one more record? Do you know who?” I could tell by the tone in Dave’s voice that I had either stumped him or that he was weary of fielding questions about the premature demise of Slayer. I had to admit that his aggressive stance on the topic felt very much like a Tom Araya shoulder to my chest that was sending me backwards with arms flailing.
“I…I don’t know…off the top of my head…it was just something.” It was like I was a stunned prize fighter feeling the wooziness of my own research backfiring as the ground was spinning and I was desperately looking for my bearings on a casual question on a topic that I stumbled on while surfing the internet. I had been coming across this statement so often that I never questioned its origin. Leave it to Dave to set the record straight…maybe even stab me through the chest with a drum stick while he was at it. So before I continue, let me take you back to the beginning because it’s not as bad as it sounds. Slayer fans, take heart – we actually had a great talk and Dave was happy to talk about Slayer past, present, and future (not to mention everything in between, so if you’re a Mike Patton fan you might like this too).
So let’s go back to the beginning, shall we?
C6M: The last time I saw you guys, you were playing the Mayhem Festival in 2009 with Marilyn Manson. But a lot has happened since then, most importantly, Tom’s injury that required some surgery. Is he back to full strength?
Dave: Yeah he is except he doesn’t head bang anymore, which is fine with us, just so long as is able to play and sing, that all that matters. And the fact that he’s healthy. You know, it was a little scare we had, but he’s perfectly fine now.
C6M: So let’s talk a little bit about World Painted Blood. It’s been out since last November, right?
Dave: Yes.
C6M: You guys describe it as being it as a little bit different than the stuff you’ve done in the past, just as the way that you were trying to relate, stylistically about what you guys were doing. How has that been received so far?
Dave: It’s typical Slayer formula. I think it’s just a little refined. It’s a little better. Its how the band actually sounds like when we’re in a rehearsal room when we’re just jamming, just playing. So that’s good. And it’s been received very…really positive. Everything we’ve heard is positive towards this new record. So you can’t ask for more.
C6M: Well, in the past though, if you did anything that was slightly different from formula, you would get a lot of criticism from fans and critics – so how do you feel this album fits into the entire catalog?
Dave: This album has more of a thrash kind of attitude. A very original Slayer sound and chemistry. The songs are structured in an early thrash style. So, it’s just something that naturally happened. It fits really well with the South of Heaven, Seasons and the Reign in Blood records.
C6M: You have a very unique perspective because you took a break from the band in the 90’s. So you were a part of what defined Slayer in the beginning – its signature sound. And then you stepped away. And you did your own thing with Grip, Testament and a bunch of stuff with Mike Patton. Let’s talk about your relationship with Mike Patton.
Dave: Well, I just saw him in Madrid, Spain a few weeks ago. We ended the tour opening up for Faith No More at a festival. And it was great. I mean we have a great working relationship. We’ve been talking about getting a new album out for Fantomas. And we hit it off. When we first started playing together, we connected in a lot of ways musically. So there’s definitely a working relationship there which I’m happy and proud of…
C6M: Well you described it sort of like he was like fertilizer…
Dave: (Laughing) Yeah.
C6M: And it was akin to playing, if you were to describe it musically, like it was a Picaso painting. How is this different? How is it different from Slayer in terms of how you approach it.
Dave: Of course musically it’s extremely different. I mean…
(searching for an explanation)
Dave: Let’s see how can I explain that. You got to approach it with an open mind. But you see it’s easy for me to accept that music or to understand the music because there’s a side of me that relates to it really easy. I know where he’s coming from, I think that’s why we get along musically and personally so well is because I understand where he’s coming from. And I never knew that I could understand that kind of music, but when it was first presented to me…I was like, ‘I really understand this. I get it. I know where he’s coming from, I know what he wants to deliver. I know what he wants to do.’
C6M: I know as a listener that it was one of those things that I felt that (Mike) understands a certain kind of crazy, but I don’t mean that in the “crazy” way. Because I was listening to it just last night and I was thinking, “Boy I feel crazy tired” and this music speaks to me in this moment. Is that how it is when you’re playing it or are you concentrating on it differently?
Dave: Well, at first, when you’re first learning the music there’s so much complexity to it that you really have to focus and pay attention, but once you learn it becomes second nature like all other music…
C6M: So do you really have to focus when you’re playing it or is it more like jazz?
Dave: Oh no, it’s focusing. Everything is written, everything has its purpose. Everything in that music leads into another section that leads into the other section. You know it’s very concise, but it’s all written. A lot of people think we’re just going up there and just making a lot of noise. But actually everything is structured and we had to learn it. It’s something that is not improvised. I mean there’s some room for improvisation, but very little.
C6M: Okay, so while you were away and doing those projects, basically you were living a whole different life. Getting back to your current band, were you listening to Slayer’s releases while you were away?
Dave: No. I didn’t listen to any of their releases. I don’t know why that was. It wasn’t by choice. It was more like, I didn’t need to. I wasn’t exposed to it. I was in a whole other world of music that didn’t require me to listen to that. I had stepped away and you know, I was moving on. I didn’t know that they were going to call me back.
C6M: So was it strange coming back then and sort of having to go back to a few things that you weren’t a part of during that whole creative process?
Dave: Yeah, it was weird being on stage and seeing the backs of Kerry, Tom and Jeff. But you know that kind of went away. I mean, we got together and everything gelled right away. We all got along and everything worked.
C6M: One of the interesting things about Slayer, and I think more than any other band in the big four, for a lack of a better term, is that you guys have seemed to have received a lot more acclaim and recognition…there has been an exponential growth in how critics respond to you and you’re winning more awards later in your career than the other three. What do you think is one of the reasons why you’re being appreciated more later in your career?
Dave: I think that maybe it’s because they can’t get rid of us, you know? I mean we’re an entity that you’ve gotta deal with and you have to accept. And there is musicianship and respect from other musicians in what we’re doing and what we’ve done. So I think that’s what it all came down to. Longevity.
C6M: Do think that a part of that is that you were a little ahead of your time in some ways?
Dave: Yeah, it could be. I’ve noticed that in a lot of ways it takes time for people to recognize what you’re doing and gaining respect for that. Yeah I do feel, sometimes, we’re ahead of our time. Or I’ve been involved in some things are ahead of their time. But I think that everything that is new and fresh and challenging musically takes time for people accept and digest and learn to accept what you’re doing.
C6M: You guys are coming off probably one of the biggest opportunities to date and it’s been very much talked about. You guys just recently took the stage with Anthrax, Megadeth and Metallica on one stage. What was that like? Was it weird?
Dave: No, it wasn’t weird. It was actually like any other tour that we had done. Or any other festival tour. But what was special was the camaraderie that was taking place back stage. Lars would come visit me. I would come visit him. Anthrax would stop by. Or I would go see them. Or Anthrax and myself we would go into Megadeth’s dressing room and they had this little electronic drum set, setup and we would go in there and jam. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen that YouTube video it’s called “A Whole Lot of Willy” and one of Megadeth’s crew guy’s is singing a “A Whole Lotta Rosie” and you know I’m on drums and Charlie Benante and Scott Ian are on guitar. And Charlie plays drums, but he plays an amazing guitar. So that’s what’s special.
C6M: Are you guys talking about more dates yet? Do you have anything have planned for the U.S.?
Dave: I’m sure the agents and managers all have something up their sleeves, but as far as I know, I don’t know. But I’m willing to do it. I’m ready to go.
C6M: Let’s talk a little bit about the legacy of Slayer and also to some extent to you. Not just in connection with being one of the biggest bands in metal. But also you hear a lot about how you guys as a band and you as a drummer were influences on a lot of people. For instance, the Rev, who just passed away cited you as one of his influences –
Dave: Yes, it’s very flattering. And to hear about that from somebody like the Rev, I mean it’s cool…I mean it’s really nice. But does it affect me? No. I just go up there and do what I do best. And I don’t pay attention to what people say. I mean some drummers say kind things about me but there are other drummers that don’t like what I do. Which is perfectly fine and I don’t mind. So everybody has their opinion. But I do very much thank the kind words that a lot of drummers have said about me.
C6M: You know, I’ve heard some members hint at that maybe this might be the end of Slayer or maybe one more project. If you had to think about what your legacy would be, what would you say is the one thing that you were trying to do that you’re most proud of?
Dave: Um. (Long pause, searching) Wow. I mean, I’m proud of being in a band like Slayer. I mean it’s been an amazing experience. (Long pause) But first, let’s rewind a little…somebody said, I don’t know who said that we’re only going to do one more record? Do you know who?
C6M: I…I don’t know…off the top of my head…it was just something…
Dave: Yeah, yeah there are rumors of that. And it all stems from Tom being ill. And the fact that our record deal with American Recording has ended.
C6M: So as far as you’re concerned that you’re going to keep playing for as long as you can play.
Dave: Well, I personally feel, that if you’re a true artist and you love your job – that you never stop creating and you never stop playing your instrument and performing live. So I don’t have much opinion for musicians that “plan” on retiring. And I don’t have much respect for them whoever is planning on retiring. Unless, I just heard Rolling Stones, okay, well they’ve been at it for fifty years. Okay, go ahead, retire that’s perfectly acceptable. But at the age that we’re at, I personally don’t feel that that’s something that should be even looked upon. Because I feel like a true artist never stops creating. It doesn’t matter what age. Maybe the Rolling Stones aren’t going to continue, but I’ll bet anything that Mick Jagger will keep putting music out like Frank Sinatra did.
C6M: Sure. And we had a chance to talk to Rob Halford and one of things he said about the secret to longevity was that you had to be addicted to doing what you do…
Dave: Yes!
C6M: You agree?
Dave: I agree.
C6M: Yeah, he was saying that it doesn’t matter if you sold a hundred records or a hundred million records. That’s not why you’re doing it.
Dave: Exactly, I agree with him one hundred percent. It’s the love of what you like to do. Okay, in the nine months that Tom Araya was sick…I found myself itching to play on stage. I wanted to play. So what did I do? I got myself another band together. And I started playing the club scene in L.A. I threw my drums in the back of the car and I went to the show. I unloaded my shit on my own…but I’ll play for eighty-one thousand, but I’ll also play for twenty-five people at the Dragonfly on Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood. So you have to have that kind of love and passion for your instrument and music.
C6M: Getting back to the music of Slayer, no matter how people seem to view it, whether they attack the music or attack your lyrics or they attack whatever…what keeps you going?
Dave: I really don’t concern myself with what people have to say about the topics that we choose or Kerry and Jeff choose to write about. Because really, it shouldn’t matter. Because anybody that writes a novel or you go into a Barnes and Noble or any bookstore – you see all those books in there, and they’re all written by individuals that write whatever topic that they want to write about. And music should be viewed the same way. So I really don’t concern myself with that. Again, what drives me is the love of playing. Love of playing live. I don’t care what the hell he’s saying on stage. Like Patton doesn’t have lyrics to his music. He’d be screaming and yelling. I don’t care. I just love playing. So I think that’s what it all boils down to, just the passion for performing and recording, creating…that’s pretty much it right there.
C6M: Thank you so much for taking the time out to talk to us. We look forward to seeing you guys on the American Carnage tour. And hopefully another Mike Patton record, right?
Dave: Absolutely.
C6M: Alright. Thank you so much.
Dave: Alright, take care.
Special thanks to Dave Lombardo for being so generous with his time and sharing his thoughts. You can argue about a lot of things, but you can’t argue about the longevity and influence of a band that has been around almost thirty years. And if Dave has a say, he’ll be playing for thirty more.
Slayer is currently on the Canadian leg of the American/Canadian Carnage Tour and is slated to return to the States on August 11th in Glen Falls, New York. The Tour ends on October 21st at the Gibson Amphitheater in Universal City, CA.
Also, on August 17, 2010, 2003’s “War at the Warfield” and 2004’s “Still Reigning” will be reissued, and, for the first time ever, 1995’s “Live Intrusion,” having been digitally re-mastered, will also be available on DVD. All three will be sold separately ($13.98 each), and the Limited Edition “Slayer Live DVD 3-Pak” ($29.98), will be available exclusively on Slayer’s website, www.slayer.net.
Be sure to check out the Carnage!
by Paul Stamat
