Slayer Waiting for Guitarist Before Making New Album

Although Slayer have continued touring without guitarist Jeff Hanneman (who’s been ailing from a rare flesh-eating virus) this year, the band have no plans on recording new material without their missing bandmate. As Slayer plan to hit Europe with the Big Four this summer (followed by Yankee Stadium in September), singer-bassist Tom Araya talked about the band’s future.

“There's no way we'd go into a studio without him,” Araya told Billboard.com. “As a band we’re not going to do something without him. He’s an integral part of the band. We require his musical skills, his writing skills. He’s an integral part of the band. So we’re going to hold off until he’s at 100 percent and can join that process and be part of it.”

While Hanneman’s been out of commission, Exodus’ Gary Holt and Cannibal Corpse’s Pat O’Brien have been filling in. However, Hanneman did get to play two songs with the band at April’s Big Four show in California.

“It was a big deal for him to play – for us it was, too,” Araya said. “We thought that would be a nice surprise for everybody and also make everybody aware that he’s still there. It’s pretty severe what he’s going through. He’s had skin grafts, and he’s got to rehabilitate his arm and get it back in shape again. It’s going to require a lot of time.”

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Dave Lombardo Talks Big Four Rivalry and Plans for New Slayer Album

In a new interview with GeeksofDoom.com, Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo addressed the rumors of rivalry between the Big Four, which also includes Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax. He also spoke of progress on a new Slayer album.

Asked about playing as part of the Big Four, Lombardo called it “exciting,” saying: “Every time there’s more in the pipe for us to play on. I, at least, am looking forward to hanging out with the other guys and doing these festivals that are amazing.”

Lombardo also said that he leaves the much talked-about decades of dissension between Big Four band members to the groups’ guitarists.

“I can’t really speak for anybody else, but there was never any rivalry from myself with the bands,” said Lombardo. “I never had issues with any of them. I’m sure maybe with other guitar, er, musicians within the bands, maybe, of course there would have been … Twenty years… God, you can imagine the egos and the arrogance and attitude most musicians carry around with them when they haven’t grown up.”

When pressed about his reference to rivalry between Big Four guitarists, Lombardo said, “I don’t know, I feel like drummers… we get along a lot better than guitar players do with each other… There’s one thing that we all have in common, which all us drummers have, is we like to share what we do. There’s no secret. I think guitar players tend to be a little more secretive and a little more passionate. Well, maybe passionate isn’t the right word, but they’re a little more secretive about their tricks and whatever they do. And 20 years ago, man, I tell ya, it was the same thing.”

Having resumed his spot in Slayer in 2002 following a 10-year-absence, Lombardo said that he’s not going anywhere.

“Although there’s nothing written but there [are] definitely plans [for another Slayer album]. Of course. We have to! Why not? I’m not retiring, and I don’t think Kerry [King]’s retiring either.”

Lombardo said that he draws inspiration from an unlikely musical source:

“Charlie Watts [Rolling Stones drummer] is somebody I look up to and, for someone to be on those drums for as long as he’s been up there, then I’m on my way. I’m right behind him, man. I’m one of those guys. I like longevity, and a true musician never abandons his art.”

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New Slayer Live DVD Coming Soon

Slayer will release a new live DVD this June, although the filmed performance is nearly a decade old. Dead Skin Mask will show the thrash legends playing Sweden’s Hultsfred Festival in 2002. The DVD is due on June 21 via Rock Tapes/IDS/Fontana Distribution, according to BraveWords.com.

While the DVD is named for a Slayer track on 1990’s Seasons in the Abyss, “Dead Skin Mask” isn’t performed in this concert – although classics like “Angel of Death” and “Raining Blood” made the cut.

In the meantime, Slayer will be on tour in South American in June, hit up Europe with The Big Four in July and return to North America later in the summer. Of course, they’ll also share the stage with Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax at the second-ever American Big Four show in September at Yankee Stadium in New York City.

Dead Skin Mask DVD tracklist:

“Disciple”
“War Ensemble”
“Stain of Mind”
“Threshold”
“Postmortem”
“Raining Blood”
“Hell Awaits”
“Bloodline”
“God Send Death”
“Seasons in the Abyss”
“Payback”
“Mandatory Suicide”
“Chemical Warfare”
“South of Heaven”
“Angel of Death”

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Slash, Slayer, Anthrax and Korn Pay Tribute to Metallica

One of the most important bands of the metal era is Metallica. The Bay Area rockers have sold in excess of 100 million albums worldwide since their 1983 debut, Kill ’Em All. Recently, ArtistDirect.com asked some of rock’s biggest artists when they first discovered Metallica and what the band means to them. Here are some highlights:

Slash: “I first discovered Metallica when they came out with their first EP. Metallica has always been one of my favorite heavy metal bands. I think that they are one of the most versatile metal bands that came out in the ’80s. They are also one of the most creative. I think that James Hetfield is one of the greatest heavy metal guitarists to ever walk this earth.”

Kerry King (Slayer): “I imagine it was at The Woodstock in Orange County, when Dave Mustaine was in the band. I instantly became a fan. I couldn’t believe Mustaine was ripping these incredible leads way back then and not even looking at his fingers. I’m still [expletive] looking at my fingers. [Laughs] There were no records then; it was just seeing them. I think Metallica might’ve just been on the Metal Massacre compilation or something.”

Scott Ian (Anthrax): “I was actually at Johnny Z’s record store, Rock ‘n’ Roll Heaven, in New Jersey. He played me the No Life ’Til Leather demo, so that was the first time I had ever heard any Metallica. It was pretty mind-blowing to hear for the first time. One of the coolest feelings about hearing it was just knowing there was another band out there on the West Coast that had the same mindset. Certainly, we didn’t sound alike at the time. Just the fact that they were playing their own music and had their own thing going on was how we felt about what we were doing as Anthrax in New York.”

Jonathan Davis (Korn): “I first heard them on either Master of Puppets or Ride the Lightning. I was at my buddy’s house, and this guy came over and said, ‘You’ve got to hear this [expletive]!’ I was 14 years old or something; I can’t even remember how old I was. [Laughs] This dude put Metallica on, and I was like, ‘Wow, what the hell is that?’ They’re one of my favorite bands. I look up to them. They’ve been doing it for so long. That’s truly the band I look up to – them and Ozzy Osbourne. We’ve also toured with Metallica a bunch; it’s [expletive] awesome!”

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Slayer Hoping Jeff Hanneman Returns for Big Four Shows

Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo said that he and the band are keeping their fingers crossed that ailing guitarist Jeff Hanneman rejoins the band in time for The Big Four’s Indio, California, show on April 23. Lombardo recently spoke with Austrian website Stormbringer.at.

“I’m hoping he comes back for the Big Four show in California that’s on the 23rd of April,” he said. “But, you know... We don’t know [yet if that will happen].”

Slayer have other Big Four dates (with Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax) planned for the summer in Europe as well. While Hanneman has been on the sidelines with a flesh-eating virus caused by a spiderbite, other guitarists have stepped in, including Exodus’ Gary Holt and, currently, Cannibal Corpse’s Pat O’Brien.

Lombardo talked about O’Brien’s first night on the job.

“[It went] really good. Pat was nervous. He was very, very nervous,” he said. “But he did such a great job. He worked so hard. He only had... I don’t know... five or six days [to prepare]. He flew in and he immediately went to work in the dressing room. I feel he nailed it. He did everything perfect.”

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