Would Slayer have been able to emerge in today's scene? Now a symbol of thrash metal, the band was founded by guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman in 1981. Two years later, they released their first studio album, Show No Mercy . If it were today, Dave Lombardo believes that cancellation wouldn't be long in coming.
“If the internet had existed when Slayer released their first album, we would have been destroyed,” the drummer analyzed on Pit’s MoshTalks Cover Stories (via Loudwire ). “So today, in these days, you need to have the same approach we used back then – we didn’t care.”
According to Lombardo, new bands and artists need to be guided by their own instincts, without trying to please public opinion. “We thought [our music] was heavy, brutal, and evil. It was dark. It had a specific feeling,” he continued. “And that made us happy. It had our stamp of approval.”
The former Slayer drummer's final piece of advice for artists is not to be afraid to experiment with new elements for fear of fan reaction. "That way there's no growth. You'll stagnate," he observed. "You won't evolve if you don't venture out and try new things."
Recently, artists like Dee Snider of Twisted Sister and Alice Cooper have also reflected on cancel culture and political correctness .
READ ALSO: "As far as I know, it's over," says Gary Holt about the possibility of Slayer reuniting.
