Slayer Bring Back Paul Bostaph

Slayer have hired Paul Bostaph as their full-time drummer, replacing original member Dave Lombardo for the second time.

It’s Bostaph’s third stint with the thrash giants – he first joined in 1992 after Lombardo left, then departed himself in 1996 to be replaced by Jon Dette. He returned the following year and remained until Lombardo came back in 2002.

Dette had been covering live duties after Lombardo was dropped in February after a disagreement over contracts.

Slayer say in a statement: “Tom Araya and Kerry King are very pleased to announce that Paul Bostaph has rejoined the band on a full-time basis. He will be behind the drumkit beginning June 4 when Slayer kicks off the first leg of its 2013 international tour in Poland.”

Frontman Araya says: “Paul’s a great drummer and a good friend and we’re very happy that he’s decided to rejoin.”

Bostaph – who appeared on Slayer albums Divine Intervention, Undisputed Attitude, Diabolus In Musica and God Hates Us All –comments: “I’m very excited to be rejoining. We spent a very intense ten years of our lives together, had a lot of fun, made a lot of great music. This feels like coming home.”

The band are still reeling from the death of guitarist Jeff Hanneman, who’d been sidelined since 2011 due to ill health. He passed away on May 2, and Slayer are retaining the services of Exodus axeman Gary Holt for their upcoming tour.

Araya explains: “We’re still pretty numb from the loss of Jeff, but we don’t want to disappoint our European and South American fans. We need to begin moving forward – having Paul back makes that a whole lot easier.”

Lombardo said last month that he hoped the issues between himself and his bandmates could be resolved, but also stated he was concentrating on his other projects and regarded Philm as his “main band.”

Slayer, who held a public memorial for Hanneman despite threats from religious fanatics to disrupt it, will headline this year’s Bloodstock Open AIr festival at Catton Park, Derby, on August 11.