In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Kerry King shared his thoughts about Slayer’s original drummer, Dave Lombardo, who left the lineup over ten years ago. The chat shed light on the strained relationship between the two former bandmates when King revealed he wasn’t in touch with Lombardo by saying:
“No. Lombardo is dead to me. [Dave] went on that tirade when we were on a flight to Australia, and he knew we couldn’t retort for 14 hours, and he threw me under the bus.”
Lombardo stepped out from Slayer’s 2013 tour in Australia in February and March due to conflicts over contract terms, leading to his eventual departure from the band. So, explaining his feelings for the drummer, King’s words went on:
“I was the only one keeping him in the band. Tom [Araya] wanted him out before that, and Jeff [Hannemann] had just gotten the spider bite [causing him to contract a flesh-eating bacteria, forcing him off the road], so he wasn’t playing with us much. I said, ‘We need [Dave]. The fans won’t get it if we replace him right now.’ And then the Australia thing came up. He threw me under the bus, and I’m, like, ‘I’m the guy that kept you here.’ So, I thought, ‘F**k that guy.’”
Conflicts Over Finances Led To The Split
About the reason behind the breakup, the guitarist shared:
“He’s super impressionable. He was listening to this woman that was his attorney at the time, and she thought we had Metallica money, which we’ve never had f**king Metallica money. So, she’s just blowing s**t in his ear, and he thinks he should be getting more than he should be getting. It’s like, talk to somebody that actually knows the situation and isn’t just blowing sunshine up; you’re a** to make money in your commission.”
After being let go, Lombardo spoke out about the band’s financial practices. He claimed that 90 percent of Slayer’s touring revenue was consumed by expenses, leaving only 10 percent to be divided among the band members.
The drummer also mentioned his access to the financial records and details was blocked even when he and Tom Araya hired someone to track the issue.
The Dispute Strained The Slayer Members’ Relationship
In a 2013 statement, Lombardo explained his side, saying he was pressured into signing a contract without clear details on how the management’s commissions were calculated or access to financial records. He also felt his earnings had not changed for two years, suggesting a lack of fairness in his treatment.
The drummer shared with the audience in Belfast, Northern Ireland:
“I tried my best to work it out with the guys. I brought Tom into the picture. I had Tom in a hotel room with me, talking to my attorney, and my attorney was telling him everything their management company had been doing to them for the past 30 freakin’ years. And we had an accountant, a forensic accountant, ready to go in there and look at the stuff.”
He added:
“Tom got bought out. Management flipped him over a couple of hundred grand — who knows how much? — and Kerry, as well, to keep quiet and go against Lombardo. So they turned their backs on me.”
A few years after Dave Lombardo’s departure, in 2019, Slayer gave their final performance at The Forum in Los Angeles.
