Dave Lombardo Heard Of Slayer Sacking Online

Dave Lombardo discovered he was out of Slayer the same way his fans did – by reading the news on the internet.

The drummer was dropped in February following a contractual disagreement with colleagues Kerry King and Tom Araya, but was hoping the situation could be resolved.

But the thrash giants confirmed on Thursday they’d hired Paul Bostaph – who replaced Lombardo when he left in 1992 – on a full-time basis.

Reacting to the move, Lombardo tweeted “And… there you have if folks!” Asked by a fan how he’d heard, he replied: “Online.”

It’s the third time he’s split from the outfit he co-founded, after first departing in 1986. In April he admitted he was concentrating on side-project Philm as his main focus, but said fans should “cross your fingers” over a return to Slayer in time for their European tour.

The band are still reeling from the death last month of guitarist Jeff Hanneman, who’d been sidelined since 2011 with health issues. Exodus axeman Gary Holt, who’d been standing in since then, remains in that position. In April he said he’d only consider joining permanently if it didn’t disrupt his commitments to his own band.

Meanwhile, organisers behind the International Day Of Slayer, which started on June 6, 2006 – 6/6/6 – now want to raise its status to the world’s first heavy metal holiday.

They say: “With the passing of Jeff Hanneman, it would be reasonable to assume that the 2013 celebration would be a sombre one; but nothing could be further from the truth. This year, more than any other, demands full engagement from Slayer fans across the globe.”

Suggested ways to mark the day include listening to the band’s music “at full blast in your car, your home, your place of employment, in any public place you prefer.” Fans are asked not to use headphones because “the objective is for everyone within earshot to understand it is the day of Slayer.”