Dave Lombardo

[cerendrad]

Growing up a metal head I loved all things Thrash. At around 13 years old a neighbor girl dropped Metallica on my brain. That was the beginning. I then found Slayer, Anthrax, Suicidal Tendencies etc, and was changed forever. Much to my mothers chagrin I stopped cutting my hair and started wearing a lot of black and skulls lol. A drum kit soon followed.

Anyway my music world has expanded to cover a wide variety of music now but of course there is still a significant amount of Thrash on my ipod. I went down a rabbit hole the other day and listened to all the albums from "Show No Mercy" to "Seasons In The Abyss" straight through. I don't do that very much anymore and I should do it more.

Dave's drumming blew me away when I was younger. I spent countless hours trying out those fills and bass patterns. Now a bit older and obsessed with groove I find his drumming no less impressive. I really don't think that Slayer could have had the success it had without Dave Lombardo. To me his drumming is very musical if that makes sense. Some metal today can seem a bit mathmatical to me. There are exceptions but some of the drumming feels a bit soulless. Listening back I was constantly carried along with the groove that Dave put into his playing. Also the way he played all the flashy stuff you could want without overplaying. I know he is a pioneer and anything I am saying is not new but I though I'd share some love and see if others wanted to join in.

 

[Richard.Awesome]

Gigantic Lombardo fan. I also was a big thrash fan, but I got into Slayer later than most. I can't really say he influenced my playing per se, but his energy and aggression always inspire me.

 

[Pocket-full-of-gold]

Yep. Huge fan.

In fact, even as an angst teen growing up when Reign In Blood was first released, I've always been a far bigger Dave fan than I'll ever be a Slayer fan. I think he's an absolute giant among men. Him, Bennate and Lars, were pioneers of an entire genre. A genre which Lombardo seemed to lead from the front.

Terrific player. Great innovator. Groundbreaking in his day.

Love his work with Grip Inc even more than Slayer. And his ability to keep up with the sheer diversity of Mike Patton in an outfit like Fantomas, is worthy of recognition in it's own right.

I've always thought drummers should seek out others far from their comfort zone in order for inspiration. Non metal guys could do far worse than turn their eyes to Dave Lombardo for just such inspiration.

 

[cerendrad]

Cool, Im going to check out Grip Inc. Charlie Bennate is another whole story!

 

[eclipseownzu]

Cool, Im going to check out Grip Inc. Charlie Bennate is another whole story!

Charlie is a beast behind the kit, but the fact that he writes most of the Anthrax riffs puts him on another level.

 

[cerendrad]

I didn't know that. That explains some things. cool

 

[Godzilla]

Huge Dave fan since my first listen to Show no Mercy in 1985.

 

[oldmetalhead]

Dave Lombardo is one of the best of all time. Has anyone checked out his video on why he was fired from Slayer? It is a real eye opener. Suicidal Tendencies is lucky to have him.

 

[Frosticles]

A huge influence on me from the start. Went to see Slayer for the first time in 1985 at "The Marquee" Club in London then again in 1987 on their "Reign in Pain" tour. Absolutely blown away by them & him. Charlie was another favourite of mine

 

[toddmc]

Dave Lombardo is one of the best of all time. Has anyone checked out his video on why he was fired from Slayer? It is a real eye opener. Suicidal Tendencies is lucky to have him.

Yep it's a damn shame. Was all set to see him tear it up with Slayer at the Soundwave festival that year when it all went down.

Don't get me wrong- Jon Dette did a great job filling in (for BOTH Charlie Benante with Anthrax and Dave) but nothing beats seeing the originals of course.

 

[spelman]

Happy 57th birthday, Dave!
(Feb 16 , 2022)

 

[Woolwich]

I stopped listening to Thrash after Reign In Blood (ok not literally) because to me the genre had peaked with the album 😎

And here's something new that shows his versatility

 

[iCe]

Browsing YouTube for some good ol' vids and came across this gem. The man is a force of nature!

 

[petrez]

Definately one of my big influences growing up, however I enjoy his drumming the most with Slayer. After what I heard of him since he recently joined Testament, it seems a bit less convincing. Probably had to step in at a short notice. Seems like he a lot of times switch up ride/hi-hat patterns, especially in the old classics, to me at least it takes a way a lot of the feeling of the songs. By all means still a solid drummer, but I haven't been blowed away so far, at least with them. But I'm definately curious to hear him make new music with them.

 

[toddmc]

Definately one of my big influences growing up, however I enjoy his drumming the most with Slayer. After what I heard of him since he recently joined Testament, it seems a bit less convincing. Probably had to step in at a short notice. Seems like he a lot of times switch up ride/hi-hat patterns, especially in the old classics, to me at least it takes a way a lot of the feeling of the songs. By all means still a solid drummer, but I haven't been blowed away so far, at least with them. But I'm definately curious to hear him make new music with them.

TestAmenT asked him to send in an audition video to which her replied "I don't need to do no f$%&$ video!"

Maybe he's on cruise control with them on tour at the moment (I certainly thought so when I saw him with ST) but you need to go back and listen to The Gathering to remember what amazing stuff he can actually do with them 🤘

 

[petrez]

Yeah, The Gathering is really good, so I have no doubt that he will grow into the role 🙂. And I enjoy that he plays the drums really hard and heavy, with Hoglan it was more clinical and super tight, not necessarily the best formula when you play thrash metal.