Slayer ex Dave Lombardo: Tom Araya has wanted to retire since I was in the band

Slayer in 2002
Slayer in 2002: Dave Lombardo, Jeff Hanneman, Tom Araya and Kerry King (Image credit: Larry Marano/Getty Images)

Former Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo says the band’s Tom Araya has wanted to retire for years due to issues with his neck.

Lombardo parted ways with the thrash giants in early 2013 – and with Slayer set to bring the curtain down on their career with a pair of shows at The Forum in Los Angeles on November 29 and 30, Lombardo was asked by Dean Delray on the Let There Be Talk show if he thought this would really be the end for the band.

Confirming he’s had “no communication” with his former bandmates, Lombardo said: “Tom’s been wanting to retire when I was in the band. He wanted to stop.

“He had the neck issues. He’s been wanting to retire for a long time now. So now that he’s got it, I'm happy for him and I hope he gets what he wants out of life and his future.”

Since leaving Slayer, Lombardo has been busy behind the drum kit for Suicidal Tendencies, Misfits and Dead Cross, and will hook up with Mike Patton, Trevor Dunn, Trey Spruance and Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian for three Mr Bungle shows in the US in early 2020.

They’ll play the 1986 demo The Raging Wrath Of The Easter Bunny in its entirely at all three concerts which will take place in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York in February.

Slayer, meanwhile, will release The Relentless Killogy motion picture on November 8 in conjunction with Nuclear Blast Records and Prime Zero Productions, while the soundtrack from the show will also be available the same day on 2CD, 2LP and streaming platforms.

Slayer: The Repentless Killogy

Slayer: The Repentless Killogy
As Slayer prepare to bring the curtain down on their legendary career, they'll bow out with this new release. Combing live footage with a short film, this is not to be missed.

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent 35 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving into e-commerce in 2020. Scott keeps Louder’s buyer’s guides up to date, writes about the best deals for music fans, keeps on top of the latest tech releases and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more for Louder. Over the last 10 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, The Tragically Hip, Marillion and Rush.

Latest in
Cradle Of Filth performing in 2021 and Ed Sheeran in 2024
Cradle Of Filth’s singer claims Ed Sheeran tried to turn a Toys R Us into a live music venue
The Beatles in 1962
"The quality is unreal. How is this even possible to have?" Record shop owner finds 1962 Beatles' audition tape that a British label famously decided wasn't good enough to earn Lennon and McCartney's band a record deal
The Mars Volta
“My totalitarian rule might not be cool, but at least we’ve made interesting records. At least we polarise people”: It took The Mars Volta three years and several arguments to make Noctourniquet
/news/the-darkness-i-hate-myself
"When the storm clouds clear, the band’s innate pop sensibilities shine as brightly as ever": In a world of bread-and-butter rock bands, The Darkness remain the toast of the town
Ginger Wildheart headshot
"What happens next, you give everyone a hard-on and then go around the room with a bat like Al Capone?!” Ginger Wildheart's wild tales of Lemmy, AC/DC, Guns N' Roses, Cheap Trick and more
Lizzo and Sister Rosetta Tharpe onstage
"This is my baby, my passion – because Rosetta deserves": Lizzo to play rock'n'roll pioneer Sister Rosetta Tharpe in upcoming biopic
Latest in News
Cradle Of Filth performing in 2021 and Ed Sheeran in 2024
Cradle Of Filth’s singer claims Ed Sheeran tried to turn a Toys R Us into a live music venue
The Beatles in 1962
"The quality is unreal. How is this even possible to have?" Record shop owner finds 1962 Beatles' audition tape that a British label famously decided wasn't good enough to earn Lennon and McCartney's band a record deal
Lizzo and Sister Rosetta Tharpe onstage
"This is my baby, my passion – because Rosetta deserves": Lizzo to play rock'n'roll pioneer Sister Rosetta Tharpe in upcoming biopic
Heart publicity shot
"Don't worry, it's not the worst. It's not what you think": Nancy Wilson reassures fans concerned about Ann Wilson's onstage wheelchair
Mastodon
Mastodon add headline shows to their summer tour in the UK and Europe, but there's still no news on who's replacing Brent Hinds
Bury Tomorrow in 2023 and John Cena in 2025
This metalcore band want their new song to be John Cena’s theme now he’s a bad guy