Lombardo reveals last Slayer text

Sacked Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo has revealed the last time he heard from his former bandmates was when Tom Araya texted him to say Jeff Hanemann had died.

Lombardo was dismissed in February last year following a contractual dispute. Guitarist Hanneman passed away three months later as a result of the alcohol-related condition that had sidelined him for the previous two years.

The drummer tells Rock na Mochila: “We lost communication ever since February 2013.

“The only text message I received was from Tom, and he said, ‘Dave, Jeff died.’ I went to Israel and did a drum clinic, and I landed in Los Angeles and I received that text from Tom. That’s the last communication I’ve had.”

Asked if there was any chance of returning for a fourth stint with the thrash giants, Lombardo recently said: “They can knock on my door – but I don’t know if I’ll answer.”

Meanwhile, Slayer have confirmed they’re in the studio working on what will be their 11th album. The follow-up to 2009’s World Painted Blood is to be their first with Exodus guitarist Gary Holt, who’d been standing in for Hanneman since 2011.

Kerry King recently said he understood many fans were concerned that material written without the late co-founded might not be up to scratch.

Freelance Online News Contributor

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.

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