Cuban born drummer Dave Lombardo is a renowned figure in the Rock world for taking speed drumming to new levels with SLAYER. Lombardo later joined GRIP INC. His first solo album, 1999's 'Vivaldi - The Meeting', working with Lorenzo Arruga, is a brave experiment in unifying Vivaldi's classical music with Metal drumming. The album includes contributions from Alberto Contini, former front man with Italian Thrash merchants BULLDOZER. Besides Lombardo's revered tenure with SLAYER the man has made his mark with GRIP INC. over three albums, TESTAMENT's 'The Gathering' opus, the FANTÔMAS union with erstwhile FAITH NO MORE man Mike Patton and Buzz Osbourne of the MELVINS and the all star VOODOOCULT collaboration. The drummer has also featured on Jazz Rock records in league with John Zorn and issued his own instructional CD / book package with Chuck Silverman.

Lombardo rejoined SLAYER for tour work in the closing days of 2001. Towards the close of 2002, with SLAYER's world tour complete, the drummer hit the club circuit with his side act PHILM which also numbered the CIVIL DEFIANCE duo vocalist/guitarist Gerry Nestler and bassist Juan Perez. Touring across Europe with SLAYER, Lombardo also made to time to put in individual drum clinic solo performances en route. Intriguingly, Lombardo would also be assembling a studio project entitled DRUMS OF DEATH, "homage to Def Jam's pioneering rock-rap fusions of the '80s", with MEAT BEAT MANIFESTO's Jack Dangers acting as producer and guitarist Vernon Reid of LIVING COLOUR guesting. The drummer also made time to guest on Finnish classical Metal act APOCALYPTICA's 2005 album, featuring on the track 'Betrayal'.