DAVE GROHL Explains TOM ARAYA's Absence From PROBOT CD

FOO FIGHTERS frontman/ex-NIRVANA drummer Dave Grohl recently spoke to Metal Edge magazine about his "metal" side-project PROBOT project and the reason SLAYER vocalist Tom Araya ended up not contributing to the final CD.

"I tried to get Tom on the record — he was the last piece of the puzzle," Grohl said. "The list of vocalists just read like a dream come true, it was my fucking record collection. We wanted to get Tom so bad, because that would have just topped it off, and I talked to him about it, and we were trying to arrange doing it in Los Angeles or doing it in Virginia, and the logistics of this record were just so completely insane. I mean, everyone was touring, or everyone is making albums. It was difficult to nail everyone down — that's basically why it took as long as it did, because everyone has been running around all over the place."

When asked if he feels like he's providing an education for people that are not into metal by releasing the PROBOT album, Grohl said, "Well, when I was recording stuff, I never took any of that into consideration — I didn't think I was doing these guys some great favor by recording these songs with them, I was just recording music to fucking get off on it. Now, the more I think about it, I am starting to realize that a lot of people are going to discover these bands, and hallelujah, man! It's about time! I think these vocalists deserve more credit than they have ever gotten in their lives, and if I could have a hand in putting the spotlight on these guys for a few seconds, that's all the better. I mean, my dream has already come true. I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to do things like a PROBOT record — it's unreal! If I could pass that on to someone else, I am even luckier."

As previously reported, PROBOT's much-anticipated self-titled debut album will be released on February 10, 2004 through Southern Lord Recordings. A two-track 7" single, limited to 6,666 copies, will precede the album release and will contain the cuts "Centuries Of Sin" (featuring Cronos of VENOM) and "Emerald Lies" (featuring Wino).

PROBOT's debut features Grohl, ex-ZWAN guitarist Matt Sweeney and FOO FIGHTERS producer Adam Kasper accompanying some of metal's most celebrated and respected frontmen, including Lemmy, Wino, Snake (VOIVOD),Cronos (VENOM),Max Cavalera (SOULFY, ex-SEPULTURA),Tom G. Warrior (CELTIC FROST),Eric Wagner (TROUBLE),King Diamond (MERCYFUL FATE, KING DIAMOND),Lee Dorrian (CATHEDRAL, ex-NAPALM DEATH),Mike Dean (CORROSION OF CONFORMITY),and Kurt Brecht (D.R.I.).