SLAYER's PAUL BOSTAPH: It's 'An Honor' To Know JEFF HANNEMAN Wanted Me Back In The Band

Paul Bostaph says that it's "honor" to know that one of Jeff Hanneman's last decisions as a member of SLAYER was to get the drummer back into the band following the departure of Dave Lombardo.

Lombardo was effectively fired from SLAYER after sitting out the band's Australian tour in February/March 2013 due to a contract dispute with the other members of the group. He has since been replaced by Bostaph, who was previously SLAYER's drummer from 1992 until 2001 and recorded four albums with the band.

In a recent interview with Artisan News, SLAYER guitarist Kerry King revealed that Hanneman was instrumental in the decision-making process that resulted in Bostaph's return to the group. He said: "That was one of Jeff's last decisions in SLAYER; he voted Paul back in. And I wouldn't go against Jeff. Jesus… For him to be paying attention and being able to make a decision, I was, like, fuckin' sending skyrockets in the sky: 'Thank you! Jeff did something!'"

Asked by Keith of Soundcrave Magazine whether it was humbling to know that Hanneman wanted him to come back to SLAYER, Bostaph responded (see video below): "Absolutely. It was humbling that all three [remaining original members of SLAYER at the time] wanted me there."

He continued: "I never got a chance to see Jeff before he passed, but it was an honor to know that he wanted me back."

Gary Holt of San Francisco Bay Area thrash icons EXODUS has been the touring guitarist for SLAYER since January 2011 when Hanneman contracted necrotizing fasciitis, also known as flesh-eating disease, from a spider bite in his backyard.

Hanneman eventually died in May 2013 from alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver. He is credited for writing many of SLAYER's classic songs, including "Angel Of Death" and "South Of Heaven".

SLAYER's new album, "Repentless", will be released on September 11 via Nuclear Blast.