- Nov 24, 2002
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With legendary Slayer and Anthrax drummers, Dave Lombardo and Charlie Benante, not touring Australia, their last minute fill in Jon Dette certainly had some big shoes to fill.
It was announced that Jon Dette would be filling in on drums for Anthrax a couple of weeks prior to Soundwave and then about a week later, it was announced that he would be filling in for Slayer too. Luckily, Dette is already familiar with Slayers songs after having played a brief stint with them in the mid-nineties. Its like riding a bike as far as playing the songs. It feels like weve been playing for years and its just great hanging out with the guys again and were having a great time out here.
Like the rest of us, Dette only found out that he was going to be playing with Slayer for the Australian tour a week before it began and he was about as surprised as everyone else. I was [surprised]. Actually, I was taken back a little bit Kerry basically called and asked if Id be able to do this for them and of course I said yes Im going to be in Australia with Anthrax anyway.
When asked if Dette would take up the opportunity to stay on with Slayer if that was a possibility, Dette indicated that wed have to wait and see what the future holds. Its baby steps right now. I think it would be too early for me to make a comment like that at this time, but all I can tell you is that were having a great time. It feels great on stage and everybody thats actually at the shows and seen the shows, not just the fans, but even the crew on the side of the stage all have smiles on their faces so I must be doing something right and I guess well see what the future brings.
Dette was on standby for Anthrax before the tour began, but it wasnt certain whether hed be filling in for Charlie Benante until last minute. They were really trying to work it out to get him down here, but its all based on whether or not he could get a work visa to enter your country and that was really the issue. Charlie was having difficulty getting a work visa so I knew maybe a couple of weeks ago, but they had me on standby just in case they couldnt make it happen for them. Dette continues Charlie has asked me to help him out for any dates that he cant make and, of course, Im not only a huge Anthrax fan, but also a huge Charlie fan and I told him that itd be an honour and a privilege to help him out in any way I can.
Slayer fans were up in arms when the news broke that Lombardo wouldnt be touring Australia with Slayer, but Dette understands it from the fans perspective. Lombardo has been such an integral part of Slayer and its only natural for fans to feel upset right now. I mean Im a Slayer fan first and, of course, I paused a little bit when I heard the news, but youre never going to please everyone and the only thing that I can do is give it the integrity that the music deserves then I feel that Ive done my job and thats all I can do. If the fans accept it then they accept it, if they dont, they dont, but thats out of my control really.
Playing with both Anthrax and Slayer is a huge commitment for Dette. Not only were both bands playing the same day at Soundwave, they were playing back to back in a side show in Sydney. The physical commitment wasnt so much of an issue for Dette, it was the logistics that was more of a concern. I first wanted to know if our set times were back to back because I was asking myself how I am going to be able to do this? and is it logistically possible? or were we playing on the same stage together?.
As you know Soundwave is a very big festival and I didnt know if Anthrax was going to be on one completely different area so once I found out that logistically we could make it work I think thats what put me at ease the most, but as far as playing for both bands its definitely a physical challenge, but it was one that I attacked with a smile on my face. I was looking forward to it.
Dette explained that the back to back Big Top gig at Luna Park in Sydney was a feat of endurance, but was well worth it. Yeah that was definitely a challenge they brought in a massage therapist for me and they were like what do you need? Whatever you need well make happen and I was just like all I need is some supplements to keep myself hydrated and, you know, that was really about it. I just made sure that I ate really well that day and I got some great rest the night before and just paced myself. I was pretty toasted by the end of the night though, Ive got to be honest. I did it with a smile on my face, what an amazing night it was It was physically challenging but the show was amazing.
Dette, Dave Lombardo and Paul Bostaph have all drummed for both Slayer and Testament, but Dette doesnt see it as that much of a coincidence. With these bands everybody is like one big family. Everybody knows each other and so if there is something going on with another band theres availability. Everybody basically almost has each others numbers so I think that with Testament they toured with Slayer even before I was in the band and I think that the styles are so compatible it just makes sense for Paul to go into Testament and Slayer and Dave as well so I think its a great choice for any of those drummers to go into either of those bands.
With Dette having replaced or filled in for Bostaph and Lombardo in Slayer and with Bostaph and Lombardo getting to record with both Slayer and Testament where Dette has only played with the bands, we wonder if theres any animosity or grudges held. I dont know how Dave feels. I havent spoken to Dave in a few weeks. I saw Dave back in January at the NAMM convention, which is a large music convention in California that happens every year, and Ive known both of those guys for years now obviously. I certainly dont hold anything against them. Theres nothing to hold against them for the fact that theyve recorded albums. He continues Theres no reason to hold a grudge on anything like that and as far as my history with Slayer in the past its just something that was so long ago. You know, its funny because when people start asking me questions about it again because of all of this has happened so suddenly Im trying to remember because it was literally 16 years ago when I was in the band I think that obviously Bostaph has done an amazing job with his time in Slayer and hes done an amazing job in Testament as well and its great that hes still on there playing and Im sure regardless of what happens with Dave, if he comes back to Slayer, great, if he goes on and does other things Im sure whatever he does will be phenomenal as well.
Out of all the bands that Dette has played with, he considers Slayer to number one. My favourite band -I have to default and say Slayer. Just for the fact that theyre one of my favourite all time bands and I think again its just something about being on stage with Slayer and playing Slayer songs thats just a magical feeling for me theres just something amazing about being on stage with Slayer thats just an amazing experience.
It was announced that Jon Dette would be filling in on drums for Anthrax a couple of weeks prior to Soundwave and then about a week later, it was announced that he would be filling in for Slayer too. Luckily, Dette is already familiar with Slayers songs after having played a brief stint with them in the mid-nineties. Its like riding a bike as far as playing the songs. It feels like weve been playing for years and its just great hanging out with the guys again and were having a great time out here.
Like the rest of us, Dette only found out that he was going to be playing with Slayer for the Australian tour a week before it began and he was about as surprised as everyone else. I was [surprised]. Actually, I was taken back a little bit Kerry basically called and asked if Id be able to do this for them and of course I said yes Im going to be in Australia with Anthrax anyway.
When asked if Dette would take up the opportunity to stay on with Slayer if that was a possibility, Dette indicated that wed have to wait and see what the future holds. Its baby steps right now. I think it would be too early for me to make a comment like that at this time, but all I can tell you is that were having a great time. It feels great on stage and everybody thats actually at the shows and seen the shows, not just the fans, but even the crew on the side of the stage all have smiles on their faces so I must be doing something right and I guess well see what the future brings.
Dette was on standby for Anthrax before the tour began, but it wasnt certain whether hed be filling in for Charlie Benante until last minute. They were really trying to work it out to get him down here, but its all based on whether or not he could get a work visa to enter your country and that was really the issue. Charlie was having difficulty getting a work visa so I knew maybe a couple of weeks ago, but they had me on standby just in case they couldnt make it happen for them. Dette continues Charlie has asked me to help him out for any dates that he cant make and, of course, Im not only a huge Anthrax fan, but also a huge Charlie fan and I told him that itd be an honour and a privilege to help him out in any way I can.
Slayer fans were up in arms when the news broke that Lombardo wouldnt be touring Australia with Slayer, but Dette understands it from the fans perspective. Lombardo has been such an integral part of Slayer and its only natural for fans to feel upset right now. I mean Im a Slayer fan first and, of course, I paused a little bit when I heard the news, but youre never going to please everyone and the only thing that I can do is give it the integrity that the music deserves then I feel that Ive done my job and thats all I can do. If the fans accept it then they accept it, if they dont, they dont, but thats out of my control really.
Playing with both Anthrax and Slayer is a huge commitment for Dette. Not only were both bands playing the same day at Soundwave, they were playing back to back in a side show in Sydney. The physical commitment wasnt so much of an issue for Dette, it was the logistics that was more of a concern. I first wanted to know if our set times were back to back because I was asking myself how I am going to be able to do this? and is it logistically possible? or were we playing on the same stage together?.
As you know Soundwave is a very big festival and I didnt know if Anthrax was going to be on one completely different area so once I found out that logistically we could make it work I think thats what put me at ease the most, but as far as playing for both bands its definitely a physical challenge, but it was one that I attacked with a smile on my face. I was looking forward to it.
Dette explained that the back to back Big Top gig at Luna Park in Sydney was a feat of endurance, but was well worth it. Yeah that was definitely a challenge they brought in a massage therapist for me and they were like what do you need? Whatever you need well make happen and I was just like all I need is some supplements to keep myself hydrated and, you know, that was really about it. I just made sure that I ate really well that day and I got some great rest the night before and just paced myself. I was pretty toasted by the end of the night though, Ive got to be honest. I did it with a smile on my face, what an amazing night it was It was physically challenging but the show was amazing.
Dette, Dave Lombardo and Paul Bostaph have all drummed for both Slayer and Testament, but Dette doesnt see it as that much of a coincidence. With these bands everybody is like one big family. Everybody knows each other and so if there is something going on with another band theres availability. Everybody basically almost has each others numbers so I think that with Testament they toured with Slayer even before I was in the band and I think that the styles are so compatible it just makes sense for Paul to go into Testament and Slayer and Dave as well so I think its a great choice for any of those drummers to go into either of those bands.
With Dette having replaced or filled in for Bostaph and Lombardo in Slayer and with Bostaph and Lombardo getting to record with both Slayer and Testament where Dette has only played with the bands, we wonder if theres any animosity or grudges held. I dont know how Dave feels. I havent spoken to Dave in a few weeks. I saw Dave back in January at the NAMM convention, which is a large music convention in California that happens every year, and Ive known both of those guys for years now obviously. I certainly dont hold anything against them. Theres nothing to hold against them for the fact that theyve recorded albums. He continues Theres no reason to hold a grudge on anything like that and as far as my history with Slayer in the past its just something that was so long ago. You know, its funny because when people start asking me questions about it again because of all of this has happened so suddenly Im trying to remember because it was literally 16 years ago when I was in the band I think that obviously Bostaph has done an amazing job with his time in Slayer and hes done an amazing job in Testament as well and its great that hes still on there playing and Im sure regardless of what happens with Dave, if he comes back to Slayer, great, if he goes on and does other things Im sure whatever he does will be phenomenal as well.
Out of all the bands that Dette has played with, he considers Slayer to number one. My favourite band -I have to default and say Slayer. Just for the fact that theyre one of my favourite all time bands and I think again its just something about being on stage with Slayer and playing Slayer songs thats just a magical feeling for me theres just something amazing about being on stage with Slayer thats just an amazing experience.
