SLAYER Drummer On Performing Entire 'Seasons' Album, 'Big Four' Shows And Metal's Longevity

Michael Lello of Weekender recently conducted an interview with SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

On performing the 1990 album "Seasons In The Abyss" in its entirety on the current Jägermeister Music Tour with MEGADETH and ANTHRAX:

"I think because we had to postpone the tours [due to SLAYER bassist/vocalist Tom Araya's back injury], they wanted to keep the interest of the fans, and they asked us to do that, and MEGADETH to do, what is it, 'Hangar 18'? [After being reminded of the actual album title] Yeah, whatever, the 'Peace' album they're doing. So it's kind of cool."

On whether he is open to the idea of playing another SLAYER album in its entirety on a future tour:

"Yeah. Sure. I wouldn't mind. I don't mind doing it. The only thing that bothers me about doing something like that (is) the fact that you can't change the set around. I'm so tired of playing these same friggin' songs that I'm going to have to play for the next three and a half weeks. But, hey, that's the way it is."

On how SLAYER bassist/vocalist Tom Araya is doing following his back injury:

"He's doing really, really good. It's not a good thing that he can't headbang, because no one wants to go through what he went through. What's really good about this series of events that Tom went through is that he's really focusing on his bass playing and his vocals, and he's been able to hit, recently, the opening of 'Angel of Death'. There's a scream, and he's been able to hit it. I almost stopped playing and just looked at him and went, 'Wow!'"

On persistent rumors that the "Big Four" (METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX) will tour the U.S. during the summer of 2011:

"Everybody's gung-ho for this, including myself. Hey, we're going to be playing coliseums or two nights at an arena. It's gonna be huge . . . Some guy said that METALLICA is going to join us and do the 'Big Four' here in the States. But I don't know, it could be a rumor. I don't know for a fact. I never heard anything from management."

On playing "Big Four" shows in Europe:

"I never thought that could ever happen. I thought METALLICA was maybe too big. But it's kinda cool that METALLICA is kind of reacquainting themselves with their metal fans, and they're recognizing that, 'Hey, we're not up there alone.' Although they did play songs that were more accessible than what SLAYER did, they're still metal. They started in the same state that we did, although they were in Northern California and we were in Southern."

On whether he senses a renewed sense of energy for classic heavy metal, especially in the U.S.:

"A new energy to what is real. TENACIOUS D had the perfect song (lyrics): 'You can't kill the metal.' And it's true. It's the only style of music that's gone through everything, and it's still going. Grunge isn't around anymore. Disco. What other styles are there? Punk? There's still some punk rockers out there, but nothing like what it was. So it's just real. It's real music."

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