22 Dave Lombardo was born in Havana, Cuba, on February 16, 1965. Two years later, Lombardo immigrated to Los Angeles with his family. When he grew up, he became a very good drummer and co-founder of American thrash legends Slayer, with whom he has performed in seven albums; plus, Dave has also collaborated with bands such as Grip Inc., Fantômas, Philm, and Testament. Dave Lombardo is a very talented and creative man with a lot of insight and ideas. Why? Let’s have a closer look. In 1993, Dave Lombardo formed Grip Inc. with the guitarist Waldemar Sorychta. Then bassist Jason Viebrooks and vocalist Gus Chambers came to complete the line-up. The first album called “Power of Inner Strength” was released in 1995. The band had many problems with their sound, because it was similar to Slayer so Sorychta reassured people complaining that “Now Grip Inc. sound exactly like Slayer”. Then the album “Nemesis” was launched in 1997 with the withdrawal of bassist Viebrooks. Stuart Carruthers took his place in the same year; Along with the new bassist’s joining, came the album “Solidify” in 1999, which was very different from its predecessors, featuring many progressive elements and more exotic sound and rhythm. In 2004, the band released the album “Incorporated”. Grip Inc. had been facing many problems due to Dave Lombardo’s return to Slayer, as well as due to frontman’s Gus Chambers’ death. It seemed that their future as a band remained uncertain since the very beginning. In the time between the albums “Nemesis” and “Solidify”, Dave Lombardo said the big “yes” to join the band Fantomas. Fantomas started after the collapse of Faith No More, featuring the vocalist and bandleader Mike Patton, the guitarist Buzz Osborne of Melvins, bassist Trevor Dunn of Mr. Bungle and drummer Igor Cavalera of Sepultura, who declined and recommended Dave Lombardo. In 1999, releashed the album “Fantomas” and in 2001, the album “The Director’s Cut”. In 2004 came the album “Delirium Cordia” and in 2005 came the “Suspended Animation” and a European Tour, in which Dave Lombardo was replaced with Terry Bozzio, because Dave was on a tour with
Slayer and returned only for the final dates of the tour. The albums “Fantomas” and “Solidify” were released in 1999. In the same year, Dave Lombardo, collaborated with Italian classical musician Lorenzo Arruga to record “Vivaldi-The Meeting”, a seven-track album featuring drum improvisations on Vivaldi’s work including two pieces from “The Four Seasons”. In 1999, Lombardo performed drumwork on Testament’s album “The Gathering”, along with Steve DiGiorgio and James Murphy. Dave Lombardo is a person with many faces and he loves experimentation in music. In 2005, he recorded “Drums of Death” with DJ Spooky. DJ Spooky played his things with Lombardo playing along and interpreting his own rhythms. Earlier, in 2003, he recorded six tracks on the album “Reflections” of Apocalyptica. Apocalyptica met Dave in Netherlands in “Headbangers fest” and asked him to collaborate. Of course he said the second big “yes”. After this, Dave Lombardo became, if we can say it, a “member” of Apocalyptica. He played the drums for the track “Betrayal/Forgiveness” on the 2005 album “Apocalyptica”, for the track “Last Hope” on the 2007 album “Worlds Collide” and for the track “2010” on the 2010 album “7th Symphony”. In December 2009, Dave Lombardo announced that he had recorded a cover of “Stand by Me”, featuring Lemmy on vocals and bass, and produced by DJ and producer Baron. Then came, Dave Lombardo’s project named “Philm”, featuring members Dave Lombardo on Drums, Gerry Nestler on Guitars, Pancho Tomaselli on Bass; In May 2012 they released their debut album named “Harmonic”. Philmper formed as support act on West Coast tour dates for Rob Halford of Judas Priest solo band Halford. Plus, they played at Wiltern on December 17, 2010. By forming Philm, Lombardo experimented with postrock, proving once again that music has no boundaries if you are blessed with such talent. We truly can’t wait to see his two live shows on 20 and 21 of April in Second Skin, Athens... Until then, read the interview that Dave Lombardo gave to our very own, Spiros Smyrnis.
interview Those days, I often see myself musing “I totally love this job”. A few years ago I couldn’t even imagine that one day I was going to say on the phone: “Hey Dave this is Spiros from Burst Magazine”. Dave who? Dave Lombardo. Does this name ring a bell? “Fuckin Slaaaaayeeeeeer!!” most of you would scream. Dave Lombardo is the co-founding member of Slayer and one of the best drummers in history of metal music. Apart from Slayer, the Cuban American drummer has joined the insane masters Fantomas with Mike Patton behind the mic, while, at the same time, he was an active member in side projects like Grip Inc and the post rockers Philm. Philm are going to be on the stage of Second Skin club on the 20th and 21st of April for two gigs in front of the Athenian audience. We talked about Philm, Fantomas, Slayer, Plaka and many more. The mic is on Dave. Read that LOUD motherfuckers!
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