In a new interview with Metal Hammer magazine, SLAYER guitarist Kerry King and frontman Tom Araya were asked if the death of the band’s co-founding guitarist, Jeff Hanneman, had any impact on their relationship with original SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo.
“Nah, That’s why I’ve never spoken about it in the press. All of the horses**t that’s been said about me and Tom or whatever… for me not to respond to something, you’ve got to know that it’s pretty asinine.” Kerry responded.
Tom added: “I hate to say it, but it wasn’t the first time Dave put us in that position. In the end, he waited until we got on a plane to Australia [in February 2013], to play Soundwave, and then he’s on the Internet, laying it all out for the world to see, when it was nobody’s business but ours. We found out about it 16 hours after the fact. That should give you an idea of the personality involved. If it wasn’t deliberate, it certainly came across that way.”
When asked if the door is forever closed on SLAYER playing with Dave Lombardo again, Kerry replied: “I would imagine. I’ve learned a lot… I learn something new every day, let me tell you. But I never say never, because I thought that door had slammed shut the first time. But is it shut today? Yeah, that lock’s on there pretty good.”
Alongside with Kerry King and bassist/vocalist Tom Araya on SLAYER‘s new album are returning drummer Paul Bostaph, who replaced Lombardo in 2013, and guitarist Gary Holt (EXODUS), who has been filling in for Jeff Hanneman on tour for the past four years.
