SLAYER Drummer DAVE LOMBARDO: 'Some People Walk A Line Between Reality And Another World'

July 26, 2010

Mark Lepage of The Montreal Gazette recently conducted an interview with SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

On his quest for "pure musical expression":

"I like music that has a twist. Rather than it being Mozart all the time, it's got the darkness of Beethoven and Chopin. I don't see myself playing music that seems like I'm frolicking in a park. (Everything I've done) all has a bit of edge."

On whether FANTOMAS, his collaboration with FAITH NO MORE singer Mike Patton, is still a going concern:

"Yes it is! I just met with Patton.

"Yeah, it's different — the complexity, the concentration required to play that music is definitely more demanding than SLAYER. SLAYER is like this continuous pattern.

"Patton is a genius to me. I look up to him because he's an amazing writer. The music isn't disturbing, but you realize how complex yet comprehensible it is."

On how he has recently been "dabbling in Middle Eastern rhythms":

"If you can follow those rhythms, basic Western rhythms become easier to digest.

"I try to incorporate as much groove as I can. Then the rhythm speaks, rather than being monotone or lifeless. It has to have a groove to have personality."

On how some fans take SLAYER's Satanic image too seriously:

"Okay, now you're touching on another aspect. Some people walk a line between reality and another world. And those people are not stable. This music is entertainment. You're not gonna watch a movie and act out that movie. It's not murder."

"It's entertainment. And taking it further, it's art.

"Come on. I've got three kids. I'm going to the beach. And not at night during vampire time. During the day."

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