Drummer Dave Lombardo has been fired from Slayer — at least the band’s upcoming tour of Australia.

Lombardo, who has enjoyed three stints behind the Slayer skins — 1981 to ’86; ’87 to ’92; and ’02 until just recently — posted a memo on his Facebook page last night to share the news that he was being replaced for the tour.

Metal Sucks reports that Lombardo has been replaced by Joe Dette for tour. Dette played with Slayer and Testament in the ’90s.

Here’s Lombardo’s entire statement:

“I want to personally apologize to all of our fans in Australia who have bought tickets for the tour expecting to see me in my usual place on the drums.

So that you all know the truth, as of the end of the business day on February 14th, I was notified that I would not be drumming for the tour in Australia. I’m saddened, and to be honest I am shocked by the situation.

Last year, I discovered 90% of Slayer’s tour income was being deducted as expenses including the professional fees paid to management, costing the band millions of dollars and leaving 10% or less to split amongst the four of us. In my opinion, this is not the way a band’s business should operate. I tried rectifying it by letting my bandmates know, and Tom [futureusgalleryAraya] and I hired auditors to figure out what happened, but I was denied access to detailed information and the necessary back up documents.

I spent the Christmas and New Year holidays realizing I had toured all over the world in 2012, but yet, had not been paid (except a small advance) or provided a proper accounting for a full year’s sweat and blood. On top of this, I was told that I would not be paid until I signed a long form contract which gave me no written assurance of how much or on what basis management would deduct commissions, nor did it provide me access to the financial budgets or records for review. It also forbade me to do interviews or make statements having to do with the band, in effect a gagging order.

Last Monday, I sat down with Kerry [futureusgalleryKing] and Tom to rehearse for Australia and to propose a new business model that I felt was the best way forward for Slayer to confidently protect itself so we could do what we do best…play for the fans. Kerry made it clear he wasn’t interested in making changes and said if I wanted to argue the point, he would find another drummer.

On Thursday, I arrived at rehearsals at 1 pm as scheduled, but Kerry did not show. Rather, at 6:24 pm I received an email from the lawyers saying I was being replaced for the Australian dates.

I remain hopeful that we can resolve our issues. But once again, I sincerely apologize to all of our fans in Australia who spent their money expecting to see the 3 of us original Slayer members.

I look forward to seeing you in the future.

Sincerely,
Dave Lombardo”

Metal Sucks reports that Lombardo has been replaced by drummer Jon Dette for the tour. Dette played with Slayer and Testament in the ’90s. Stay tuned for more updates as they develop!

Having surprised the audience at Metal Master 2 in New York City with surprise appearances by Philip Anselmo (Pantera / Down) and Scott Ian (Anthrax), as well as a full Anthrax performance, Charlie Benante and Frank Bello (Anthrax), David Ellefson (Megadeth), Mike Portnoy (ex–Dream Theater/Adrenaline Mob), Kerry King and now Dave Lombardo (both of Slayer) are back on the West Coast with an exclusive metal experience that’s bigger than ever. Artists will perform both individually and collectively, demonstrating their personal techniques and how they all come together to create the music that millions bang their heads to every day.

“We’re extremely excited to be bringing the Metal Masters series back to the West Coast where it originated,” says Mark Menghi, Samson’s Director of Marketing. “And with the artists we have participating and the surprises we have planned, Metal Masters 3 is going to be the best one yet.”

Tickets are available for $20 (first come, first served) at the Key Club’s box office, located at 9039 Sunset Boulevard, or via www.keyclub.com. With door giveaways and surprise guests, all should purchase their tickets early for this All Ages event to witness the return of the Metal Masters.

The Big Four
Although Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax jammed together for the first time last year, it was in 2011 they made it their calling card. Beginning with their performance of Diamond Head’s “Am I Evil?” in April to their jams in Europe (which also featured members of Diamond Head, Exodus, and Sepultura), to their U.S. final performance of Motörhead’s “Overkill” in New York City, these bands have made history at each performance.

The Metal Masters
The night before the Big Four concert in New York City, members of Megadeth and Anthrax along with drummer Mike Portnoy gathered to give instrument tips to fans and musicians a like. What the audience didn’t expect was the closing jam, which featured Anthrax’s Scott Ian, Frank Bello, and Charlie Benante, Megadeth’s David Ellefson, Mike Portnoy, and special guests Kerry King of Slayer and…Phil Anselmo of Pantera and Down fame, who sang “Fucking Hostile” and “A New Level.”

Temple of the Dog
For Pearl Jam’s 20th Anniversary concert, Chris Cornell joined the band for a four-song set of the songs he recorded with the nascent band under the name Temple of the Dog in 2011.

The Revolver Golden Gods Awards
We may be tooting our own horns here, but even we were floored by the collaborations of Avenged Sevenfold with Vinnie Paul on Pantera’s “Mouth for War” and Duff McKagan on GN’R’s “It’s So Easy,” as well as Duff, Corey Taylor, and Steve Jones’ take on Judas Priest’s “Electric Eye,” Volbeat’s take on Dusty Springfield’s “I Only Wanna Be With You,” and Asking Alexandria and Sebastian Bach’s electrifying take on “Youth Gone Wild.”

Guns N’ Roses and Zakk Wylde’s “Whole Lotta Rosie”
At a recent Indiana gig, Guns N’ Roses invited Black Label Society frontman Zakk Wylde to join them on guitar for an electrifying rendition of AC/DC’s “Whole Lotta Love.”

Mötley Crüe with Cee-Lo
Cee-Lo Green the Soul Machine, who had a massive hit last year with “Fuck You,” joined the Sunset Strip’s Kings of “Fuck You”—Mötley Crüe—at an L.A. gig in June for a rendition of his hit and the Crüe’s “Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away).”

Drop in the Bucket Charity Event
At the Drop in the Bucket Charity Event, Slipknot and Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor played a set highlighted by all of his famous friends. Together they played some of hard rock and metal’s greatest hits. Two highlights were Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train”—performed by Taylor, Jane’s Addiction’s Dave Navarro, Rob Zombie guitarist John 5, and Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo—and AC/DC’s “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”—played by Taylor, Anthrax’s Scott Ian, John 5, and Rob Zombie bassist Piggy D and drummer Ginger Fish. For more from that night, click here.

Metallica 30th Anniversary
Nobody has ever thrown an anniversary party quite like Metallica’s 30th Anniversary shows, which wrapped up on December 10 in San Francisco. Over the course of four nights, they played with artists who influenced them, their peers, and past members of the band. These include everyone from Diamond Head to Mercyful Fate, Marianne Faithfull to Rob Halford, Alice in Chains’ Jerry Cantrell to Kid Rock, and, most impressive, original guitarists Dave Mustaine and Lloyd Grant alongside original bassist Ron McGovney for the first song the band ever recorded, “Hit the Lights.”

Also, if you would like to make a donation to the benefit these artists were supporting, Drop in the Bucket, which builds wells to provide water in Africa and other places throughout the world, click here.

“Crazy Train”

“Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”

“Calling Dr. Love”

“Would?”

“Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love”

“Fairies Wear Boots”

“Heading Out to the Highway”

“Unchained”

“Everlong”

Hosted by Henry Rollins, the event will also feature performances by Slipknot/Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor, Jane’s Addiction’s Dave Navarro, Anthrax’s Scott Ian, Slayer’s Dave Lombardo, and guitarist John 5 along with other members of Rob Zombie’s band. In addition, artist Shepard Fairey, who designed the poster for the event, will be a guest DJ and actress Kate Flannery, from The Office will be performing a musical comedy routine with her ironic lounge act, The Lampshades.

Drop in the Bucket is a Los Angeles– and Gulu, Uganda–based non-profit that builds water wells and sanitation systems at large rural schools in sub-Saharan Africa. For more information, click here.

Tickets are available to purchase for $25, through Ticketmaster, and at the door at an increased price with availability pending. For VIP tickets and table inquiries please contact Alden Kirkman by e-mail, or by calling 323.683.5390.

“Slayer is writing a new record. Jeff is still recovering and doing better,” Lombardo’s post read.

Since Hanneman contacted the infection, Exodus guitarist Gary Holt has been filling in, including during Slayer’s performance at the Bog Four show at New York City’s Yankee Stadium in September.

The Big Four of thrash—Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax—are set to play New York City’s Yankee Stadium on September 14. It will be the second time ever that all four groups have shared a stage in the United States. To mark this occasion,

This installment is an excerpt from Revolver’s special issue devoted to the Big Four, which you can buy right here. This section recounts how it came to be that all of the bands perform “Am I Evil?” onstage together at Big Four concerts, beginning at their Sofia, Bulgaria, gig last year. It features interviews with Metallica’s Lars Ulrich, Anthrax’s Scott Ian and Charlie Benante, Slayer’s Dave Lombardo, and Megadeth’s David Ellefson. So, without further ado, here is the inside story.

REVOLVER Famously, most of you got up onstage and jammed on Diamond Head’s “Am I Evil?” last year in Sofia, Bulgaria. How did that come together?
LARS ULRICH I think that we felt we should try and see if we can get everyone together. Also, there was the whole worldwide satellite thing. It seemed like an obvious place to share, there was just such a good vibe going on. We wanted to let the fans get a chance all over the world to share in that good vibe.

SCOTT IAN I think I was sitting in a bar with Corey Taylor somewhere a night or two before we actually did it, and I got a text from Kirk saying, “Hey, in Bulgaria we’re thinking about doing ‘Am I Evil?’ with everybody, so let your guys know.” And I wrote him back, “Yeah, of course. We’re in.”

ULRICH The reason we picked “Am I Evil?” is because obviously playing a Metallica song would’ve seemed a little selfish. All of the musicians would certainly share that thread in Diamond Head in terms of influence. It’s probably difficult to find a band that’s more responsible for, or at least indirectly responsible, for thrash metal. And “Am I Evil?” is just a great, anthem-like song that also has the quality of not being super complicated. So it just seemed like the right kind of vibe to share with everybody for five minutes that wasn’t necessarily going to send people back to the rehearsal room for days on end. Mustaine and a bunch of these guys obviously knew the riff, too, and it just seemed like a logical choice.

CHARLIE BENANTE The first message I got about it was—I think Kirk sent it to me—“You’re gonna play guitar.” That was the first message I got. And it was like, Fucking killer. That would be great. And I think other people thought, How is the drummer gonna be playing guitar when the other drummers are doing nothing? So all of a sudden a snare drum got put in my lap. And I was like, OK, I’m OK with that, too.

DAVE LOMBARDO I love jamming. I do it all the time at home in Hollywood. So I had a blast doing it, I wasn’t going to turn down this opportunity when all my other friends were up there. It was like, All right, let’s go.

What do you remember about rehearsing the song?
DAVID ELLEFSON It was great. As soon as I walked into the rehearsal room, Robert Trujillo was like, “Hey, Junior, glad you’re here.” And he hands me the bass. He was like, “Here, you jam.” And I was like, OK, I guess I’m the bass player in this little endeavor right now. So I played, and that was fun for me to sit there and be that guy. Lars was the drummer of course, and so we were kinda hanging by each other, because he and I have gotten along really well over the years. And I look and I see Broderick, Hetfield, Mustaine, Scott Ian, Joey Belladonna, and everybody standing there. And it was one of those classic moments. I remember as I kid, I would flip through a guitar magazine and see a classic photo of Jimmy Page, Paul McCartney, and, like, Keith Richards all being in the same room together. To me, that was our moment. It was just these guys who have never all stood in a room together before. And especially with their guitars on, creatively working on something together.

And I gotta say, James Hetfield was a really gracious host. He made it relaxed and fun and it was cool because we were essentially being invited into the Metallica secret chambers. They made it very relaxing and very easy and very fun.

ULRICH I might have been the tardy one. Everyone was kind of standing around, looking at each other. And I was like, “OK, let’s play something.” So we started playing “Breaking the Law.” We just loosened up and started having fun.

ELLEFSON The funny thing was, everyone had been practicing all day. It’s just one simple riff, and we’ve got everybody backstage at rehearsal set up in our dressing room as well. So Scott and Charlie and Frank and everybody is coming into our tent, and we’re back there jamming and rehearsing and working on stuff as well. It was one of those things where everybody wanted it to be just note perfect. Everybody out of passion was just like, I want this to be the greatest thing ever.

Photos by Andrew Stuart

In honor of the hugely anticipated Big Four concert at Yankee Stadium in New York City on September 14,

A day before Anthrax join the other members of the Big Four—Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth—onstage at Yankee Stadium on September 14, the group will release its first album in eight years, Worship Music (Megaforce). While interviewing the band’s drummer, Charlie Benante, for a feature that will appear in the November/December issue of Revolver, we asked him to pick his favorite drummers. Before answering, he asked, “Five favorite drummers, it doesn’t have to be in one field—it could be from anywhere right?” His answers may surprise you.

Neil Peart, Rush
The first drummer that, still to this day, I get inspiration would probably be Neil Peart. I mean, what other drummer writes drum fills that people play air drums to, you know what I mean? He’s still one of my favorites.

Alex Van Halen, Van Halen
I just love Alex Van Halen, always have. He just has a signature sound. When I hear it, it’s like, Well, that’s Alex Van Halen, you know?

Jerry Gaskill, King’s X
He always kind of just makes my head spin a bit. He’ll throw in these kind of syncopated fills that just always get me, you know, it’s like “Ah, God that’s great,” you know. There’s a song on Gretchen Goes to Nebraska where he just lays this pattern down, it’s called “Burning Down,” he just does this pattern for the rest of the song and just the way he does it, he doesn’t push it, he doesn’t pull it—it’s just beautiful. It’s like a drum machine, but it’s not, because it’s human and it’s very Jerry Gaskill.

Lars Ulrich, Metallica, and Dave Lombardo, Slayer
Some of these Big Four drummers have a place here, too,’cause we all were coming up together in this whole movement, this whole thrash movement—me, Lars, and Dave. And I think the three drummers always had something that was different from the other. I love the way Lars would sync in a song and I love the way Dave’s aggression in the song propelled the song. So I’d have to say those two together.

Lars Ulrich

Dave Lombardo

Ringo Starr, The Beatles
The first drummer I ever heard was Ringo. And Ringo’s one of those drummers that, Ringo started off as a fucking killer drummer—I mean, he just had that swing, everything. Later on the Beatles’ albums, he kind of lost it a bit for me. He just kind of become very lazy. But those first few Beatles records, man, where he would just rock it, he’s fucking awesome. So I would say those are my five that I still dig.

The Big Four of thrash—Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax—are set to play New York City’s Yankee Stadium on September 14. It will be the second time ever that all four groups have shared a stage in the United States. To mark this occasion, Revolver and Guitar World are celebrating the event with the Big Four Weeks leading up to the event. For the next month or so, leading up to the show, our websites will be giving fans eye-popping exclusives (like the Big Four trading cards from the September/October issue, which we unveiled last week), previously unseen backstage video, and excerpts from our interviews with the bands on a regular basis.

This installment is an excerpt from Revolver’s special issue devoted to the Big Four, which you can buy right here. This section recounts the early days of Megadeth, right when they were playing their first shows featuring a young guitarist from another band in the Big Four, Slayer’s Kerry King. The excerpt features interviews with King, Slayer vocalist-bassist Tom Araya and drummer Dave Lombardo, alongside Megadeth bassist David Ellefson. It also features photography of Megadeth by Bill Hale, who is working on a book titled Megadeth: Another Time, Another Place, which will feature tons of great photos from this time period (for more on the book, scroll to the bottom). So, without further ado, let’s get back to business.

While in New York, Metallica kicked Dave Mustaine out of the band, replacing him with Exodus’ Kirk Hammett, and sent him back to San Francisco. Not long after, he formed Megadeth. What do you all remember about Megadeth’s early days?
DAVE LOMBARDO I remember seeing Megadeth at Slayer’s rehearsal in Tom’s house before they hit the stage. And I remember Gar Samuelson, the drummer, was amazing. He was really, really good. I thought they were amazing musicians with what they did, with the guitars and the scales and that technical stuff.

Kerry played with Megadeth early on. What were those shows like?
DAVID ELLEFSON He played the first five shows with us as our second guitar player. I think Slayer was a little bit on the fence with what they were doing, what their direction was. Kerry always claimed that he saw Dave play with Metallica at the Whisky and how it changed his life. Playing with us, Kerry was such a natural fit with Dave’s guitar-playing style. He just fundamentally understood how to play those riffs.

Kerry, did you learn a lot from Mustaine about guitar while you were in Megadeth?
KERRY KING Well, if you listen to him, he’ll fucking say, “Yeah.” As far as he’s concerned, he’ll tell you he fucking created me.

Listen, I’ve learned to take Dave with a grain of salt. He means something, and it just comes out different. I think everybody’s learned that over the years. I’m sure I did learn stuff from Dave. I was very young. I think he’s got a couple years on me. He’d been doing it longer than me.

An early Megadeth show, featuring Kerry King on guitar

What was it like for the rest of Slayer to see Kerry play with Megadeth?
DAVE LOMBARDO It was awkward. It was a little awkward, yeah. But you know, it worked out, and of course the band continued.

TOM ARAYA I guess Dave was trying to make a supergroup. And I guess Kerry didn’t really…I guess their personalities clashed. He did five shows with them and kind of said, “Eh.” When he was playing with them, me, Dave , and Jeff were like, “Oh well, I guess we can go on.” It wasn’t gonna stop us from doing what we were doing. In the end, I like to think Kerry made the right decision.

David, what do you remember about Kerry’s decision to stick with Slayer?
ELLEFSON During those first few shows, we did an in-store at the Record Vault in San Francisco. All these fans were going up to Kerry going, “Dude, Slayer! Slayer!” And I think Kerry kind of had a second thought, like, Wait a minute, maybe I shouldn’t be joining Megadeth, maybe I should go back home and kick my bandmates’ asses and get everything in gear.

I think Kerry making that trip with Megadeth up to San Francisco in February 1984, that again changed Kerry’s whole perception because he got to be right up in the Bay Area and saw thrash metal, front and center, for what it was. It’s funny, ’cause I think he went back home and Slayer wiped the makeup [futureusgallerythey wore at the time] off their faces. They definitely got out of L.A. mode and into thrash-metal mode.

To read the rest, get Revolver Presents: The Big Four right here.

Megadeth and Mustaine photos by Bill Hale. For more info on his book, which you can buy here, visit his blog and Facebook group and MySpace page. Also, check out the blog for Hale’s Metallica book, Metallica: Club Daze 1982 – 1984.