Bostaf, Paul

The early years

Bostaf's first hobby was playing the bass, but he preferred her to play the drums, as he found a cheap drum kit. He discovered the world of rock music while listening to The Beatles and The Beach Boys , but it was AC / DC that inspired Bostaf to play drums. He bought his first drum kit at age 15. Hearing the Killers song by Iron Maiden , Paul decided to become a metal drummer. He was also influenced by bands such as Blue Oyster Cult and Black Sabbath . He is inspired by drummers Phil Rudd , Ringo Starr , Charlie Benante , Clive Barr , Tommy Aldridge , Bill Ward , Nico McBrain , Cozie Powell , John Bonham , Kate Moon , Jeff Porkaro , Lars Ulrich , Steve Smith , Phil Collins , Dave Lombardo , Neil Pirt and Tommy Lee .

Paul Bostaf attended Newark Memorial High School in Newark, California . He had an acute dislike of learning: “I felt that I knew enough to lead my daily life, do I really need something more?” ^[1] . Paul was interested in sports , and after his first year of high school, he became interested in music. Then he got a job that was more important to him than training.

Forbidden (1985-1992)

Bostaf was a drummer in the Forbidden band from 1985 to 1992 and participated in the recording of the first two albums - Forbidden Evil and Twisted into Form. He also played on the 1989 EP Raw Evil: Live at the Dynamo 1989 . He is considered the most fruitful and “permanent” Forbidden drummer to date.

Slayer and solo project (1992-2001, 2013)

After Dave Lombardo left in 1992, the band began looking for a new drummer. ^[2] After listening to several drummers and hundreds of demos, a guitar technician recommended Bostaf to guitarist Kerry King . ^[2] Slayer members listened to Forbidden , but did not see how Paul could fit into the group, since Forbidden was more melodic. ^[2] At the audition, Bostaf played nine songs from the Slayer repertoire and made only one mistake in Angel of Death . ^[2] Bostaf had to constantly train to increase muscle strength in his arms and legs. “I respected and loved Dave's game, but as a fan. If Slayer found a new drummer and I bought a ticket to the show, I would expect to hear the songs in the form in which they were performed by Lombardo. So every time I had to learn a new song, I tried to play it the way Dave did. ”

Together with Slayer, Bostaf recorded four albums, of which the least favorite was the 1994 Divine Intervention . ^[2] This is due to the fact that the guitars did not sound so loud, the sound engineers changed three times, and the producer never made heavy music. Paul stated that "the recording was not agreed with the band, but despite this, there are fans who like this album." Paul left the band in 1996 to concentrate on his Truth About Seafood solo project and was replaced by John Dette, but returned in 1997. His second favorite album is 2001 God Hates Us All .

Bostaf left the band after the release of God Hates Us All due to a chronic elbow injury that prevented him from playing. ^[3] Although it later became clear that the actual reason for leaving was that Paul wanted to realize himself not only as a metal drummer. ^[four]

I did not leave Slayer for reasons of my own health or for the sake of Systematic. There was nothing personal between me and the other participants, I just suddenly realized that I needed to leave. Musically, I wanted something else. And it just coincided with trouble with the hand. Slayer is a great band and I had a good time with the guys. But I already wanted to move in a different musical direction. Slayer raised my level of drumming, but I believe that this is not the limit. And that means I still have something to learn. I want to be a more versatile drummer.

His last work with the group was recorded on the DVD War at the Warfield , released December 7, 2001 . ^[2] “It's like breaking up with a girlfriend, but you need to move on.” He remained friends with the Slayer members, and when asked if he would work with them in the future, he answered "Of course." Bostaf was temporarily replaced by original Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo , who later turned out not to be permanent and in 2013 the band announced that Paul would replace Lombardo for the second time.

Systematic (2003-2004)

Not wanting to give up music, Bostaf joined Systematic in 2003, a band he had previously formed with vocalist Tim Nardakki and guitarist Adam Rappel before recording Slayer Diabolus in Musica . Bostaf was on tour with Systematic for four months, although when he left the band in 2004, he said: “I didn’t enjoy this game, it’s not for me.” In 2003, Paul suffered a knee injury while playing football. After the Systematic tour, Bostaf underwent surgery and did not touch the drums for a year until he received a telephone invitation from Exodus. ^[2]

Exodus (2005-2007)

Bostaf received a telephone invitation from an Exodus manager who asked him to join the group. Exodus bassist Jack Gibson talked with guitarist Gary Holt about Bostaf. Holt had known Bostaf since Exodus and Forbidden had been touring together. When Bostaf received the call, two Exodus members had already left the band, and drummer Tom Hunting was already thinking of leaving. Bostaf knew all the material except the Impact Is Imminent album and in 2005 participated in the recording of the seventh studio album Exodus Shovel Headed Kill Machine . Bostaf argues that the album is different from the previous albums of the group: “It is so different because Bonded ... was a milestone in the history of the group, such a great record that ... I followed the work of the group, and I think this is the most cruel record of the group since Bonded by Blood . " Bostaf also talks about unusual chemistry between the musicians, as three of the five members of the group were replaced within one year: "this is a completely different group, not the same as before." Exodus toured for a year in support of Bonded by Blood , and wanted to enter the studio as soon as possible to record a new album. However, on March 28, 2007, Bostaf announced that he was leaving Exodus. “They now have their original drummer Tom Hunting, who is back in the band. I always said that if Tom ever wants to return, the throne of the drum is his. I have the greatest respect for Tom and his game. ” Bostaf also announced that he no longer represents the TAMA drum kits and is proud to introduce the Drum Workshop and their products. ^[2]

Testament (2008—2011)

In October 2007, the official website of Testament announced the return of Bostaf to the group ^[5] . The Formation of Damnation (2008), Testament's first studio album in nine years (after 1999), also marked the return of virtuoso guitarist Alex Skolnik after leaving the band in 1992 and bassist Greg Christian , who left the band in 1994. This is the first studio album featuring Paul Bostaf as the band's drummer. The album received the "Album of the Year" award from Metal Hammer magazine.

In June 2011, Testament began recording their next album, Dark Roots of Earth , which was scheduled for release on April 27, 2012. But due to a serious injury, Paul was unable to participate in the recording and the group is recording an album with Gene Hoglan, who previously played on the Demonic album. Bostaf was supposed to return to Testament after a tour in support of the new album, but on December 2, 2011 announced his departure from Testament, commenting on this disagreement in the process of writing the material. ^[6] .

Other projects

Paul Bostaf party tribute to the group Hail! The ever-changing composition included such musicians as Andreas Kisser , Tim “Ripper” Owens , Dave Ellefson , Mike Portnoy , Jimmy Degrasso and Roy Mayorga . Owens, Degrasso, Ellefson and Kisser founded Hail! at the end of 2008. The band toured Europe in 2009 and June 2010 with the following line-up: Andreas Kisser, Tim Owens, Paul Bostaf and James Lomenzo .

Return to Slayer (2013 - present)

On May 30, 2013, a message appeared on Facebook's Slayer Facebook page that Paul Bostaf was returning to the group on an ongoing basis. Paul is involved in the process of recording a new album.