Lombardo: 'They Were Not My Friends'

Estranged Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo isn’t feeling any warmer towards his former bandmates.

The iconic sticksman has already had a few choice words for Messrs King and Araya since his surprising departure from the band last year, and has come to terms with the fact that they were never the chummiest of colleagues to start with.

“It’s unfortunate, because I realise now that they weren’t really my friends,” he tells Myglobalmind. “They were just business partners. I lived and hung out with them, as if they were friends. ‘Wow, these guys are watching out for me’, and it didn’t quite turn out that way.”

Slayer have since re-recruited Paul Bostaph behind the kit, marking his third stint with the thrash icons. The band will play Sonisphere in July.

Merlin was promoted to Executive Editor of Louder in early 2022, following over ten years working at Metal Hammer. While there, he served as Online Editor and Deputy Editor, before being promoted to Editor in 2016. Before joining Metal Hammer, Merlin worked as Associate Editor at Terrorizer Magazine and has written for Classic Rock, Rock Sound, eFestivals and others. Across his career he has interviewed legends including Ozzy Osbourne, Lemmy, Metallica, Iron Maiden (including getting a trip on Ed Force One courtesy of Bruce Dickinson), Guns N' Roses, KISS, Slipknot, System Of A Down and Meat Loaf. He has also presented and produced the Metal Hammer Podcast, presented the Metal Hammer Radio Show and is probably responsible for 90% of all nu metal-related content making it onto the site.