With some considering him to be The Godfather of Double Bass, David Lombardo turned his love for the drums into a career that continues today. Spanning over four decades, the drummer is widely known as a co-founding member of the legendary band Slayer. He also performed with other groups like Dead Cross, Mr. Bungle, Misfits, and State Bastard. Although no longer part of Slayer, Lombardo recently joined forces with Slayer guitarist Gary Holt and his wife Paula for a cover of Scorpions’ hit song “Animal Magnetism.”
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Performing under the pseudonym Venamoris, Lombardo was excited to promote the upcoming album To Cross Or To Burn. Set to release on February 28th, the musician explained the special place Scorpions held in his heart. “My first concert was May 25, 1980. Scorpions opening for Ted Nugent’s Scream Dream tour. We (Slayer) had covered a couple Scorpions songs in the early years, but I never would have thought of re-imagining one of their songs at that time. Now it seems like the most natural thing to do.”
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Dave Lombardo Wanted To Honor Scorpions
With Lombardo deciding to cover the song, he admitted to enjoying the process of watching the idea come to life. “The idea to recreate Animal Magnetism came to me late one night. I could hear Paula’s sultry voice, the song taking on a slightly industrial feel… and I could fully hear Gary Holt play this insane lead. It’s been really incredible to see this idea come to life.”
Not only wanting to promote the new album, Lombardo saw the cover performance as a tribute. “To release this at the same time this iconic band is celebrating 60 years is a perfect way for me to thank them for an inspiring first show in 1980… and for all they have contributed since.”
As for what fans should expect from To Cross Or To Burn, Lombardo’s wife, Paula, said, “To Cross Or To Burn has taken us down a darker, very different path than our first album [2023’s Drown In Emotion]. There’s a confidence in this body of work. An overall vibe of heaviness that was unexpected. Verses of hard truths now bound in acceptance. The soul-searching continues.”
(Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)
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