Every now and then I get the true pleasure of speaking with an artist that isn't only a fantastic musician, but one that I grew up idolizing and influenced by. Recently given the opportunity to interview current Testament drummer Paul Bostaph, how could I refuse? Born in San Francisco, California, Bostaph is one of the original bay area thrash metal legends; a man who has helped shape the thrash metal legacy we now indulge in on a daily basis. Growing up a young man with a passion for contact sports, Paul soon found a second love in rock n roll music and by the age of sixteen he was already belting away on his first drum kit. Over the years Paul has played with some of the biggest and most influential metal bands of all time! He joined his first serious band Forbidden in 1986 and released two thrashin' masterpieces in 'Forbidden Evil' and 'Twisted into Form' both of which are now classed as classic metal albums. Paul's stint with Forbidden lasted for five years and his reputation as one of the bay area's best drummers was now in full swing. Shortly after leaving them, Paul was approached by thrash titans Slayer who were looking for a new skins man after the departure of Dave Lombardo. Recording three albums with Slayer 'Divine Intervention', 'God Hates Us All' and 'Diabolus in Musica', his new found home with Slayer now had Bostaph touring across the globe, playing to adoring fans in Japan, Australia, Europe and beyond. As time has gone on, Paul's drumming and musicianship has earned him a place in the heavy metal Hall of Fame. Leaving Slayer due to an elbow injury that would see him unable to continue playing for a length of time, he never gave up on his dreams. His determined, positive attitude has seen Bostaph back behind the kit despite several setbacks. Now back behind the kit and belting it out with Testament, one of the greatest thrash metal bands of all time, Paul is drumming better than ever and has plenty to be proud of! They've released their first studio album in nine years and fans and critics around the world were quick to give 'The Formation of Damnation' the title of metal album of 2008. It is clear to see why such a title was given to this instant classic with powerful, hard-hitting, influential songs like 'The Henchmen Ride', 'More Than Meets the Eye' and 'Afterlife'. The success of the band's latest album has seen them touring in the United States with legendary metal gods Judas Priest and Heaven & Hell, and this week the bay area thrashers touched down in Australia for their second visit to our shores. Ripping it up in Brisbane tonight Testament will then play to die-hard Aussie thrash fans in Melbourne tomorrow night before annihilating Sydney on Saturday night! I had the pleasure of catching up with this amazing drummer recently to talk about the bands most recent thrashing masterpiece 'The Formation of Damnation', we also spoke the bands current Australian tour, life with Slayer and Forbidden and much more. Before the 'Killing Season' begins, kick back as we have a chat with legendary drummer Paul Bostaph. Metal Fanatix: Hi Paul, how are you doing mate? Paul Bostaph: I’m doin' well man, I’m Just getting ready to run around like a madman on tour, we’re heading out with Judas Priest, Heaven and Hell and Motorhead, it’s going to be insane! Metal Fanatix: I want to thank you for putting some time aside to speak with me today mate and I want to congratulate you on one of the finest Testament albums ever made. Now that ‘The Formation of Damnation’ has been out for a few months and you have had time to digest it, is there anything you would have changed? Paul Bostaph: Yeah, probably a few more fast songs, a few more thrash songs. When we were finishing this record, I was thinking it would have been killer to write a couple more thrash songs, but that’s good for the next record, we’ll do it then. Overall I’m really satisfied with the band and how the songs came out; the songs are a compilation of years of these guys trying to get this record done. Some were done while we were in this session writing. I wouldn’t have really changed anything cause it shows Testament, at this time! Metal Fanatix: ‘The Formation of Damnation’ was the first studio album the band had done in nine years, how did you push each other musically and creatively to get the best results possible? Paul Bostaph: None of us really had to push each other; we all knew how important this record was to us. There was this feeling of excitement, we were doing this record together and we’re a lot better than we used to be. There was plenty of excitement and enthusiasm that pushed us; we didn’t have to push ourselves. We knew it had to be great. Metal Fanatix: Since getting the Cd, it has been on heavy rotation, and I love many of the tracks including the title track, ‘F.E.A.R.’ and ‘The Henchmen Ride’ what are the stand out tracks for you on the album?
Metal Fanatix: Being your first full length album with Testament how much involvement did you have in selecting the tunes which made the final cut? Paul Bostaph: The songs that made the final cut are the songs we came out of pre-production with. We didn’t have too many songs. As we were writing, ideas either just died in pre-production or they happened. Everything we walked into the studio with, we recorded. Metal Fanatix: Mate, as a drummer when it came time to enter the studio did you approach it in a different way to some of the albums you have recorded in the past? Paul Bostaph: Yeah actually I did. The last album I recorded, I did with a click track, this album I didn’t use a click track. The other difference in my approach with this record was that I was trying to accomplish something entirely different with my style. A lot of the drum ideas on this record are different, I honed in on a certain drum style that I do and I’ve done periodically in my career but one that has never surrounded an entire record. I think on this record, there is more ear drumming and that is something that I never really got the chance to fit into an album before. Metal Fanatix: When you hit the studio, did you have complete power over your drum tracks or did the band already have certain ideas of how they wanted things to go? Paul Bostaph: I had complete control over my drum tracks. At first Eric Peterson and I worked very hard on the drum tracks together. I would get the tracks to a certain point and Eric would come in and come up with some ideas. There would be parts to do on the guitars and some of the guitar tracks hadn’t been written yet so Eric would want the drums to follow the guitar and we would work on ideas together. I’d either say “okay, I’ll do it that way” or I would change it to come up with something more suitable, as a result I think it made the drum tracks better. Metal Fanatix: Paul I wanted to talk to you about life on the road…. As we all know you are hitting Australia this week, for the bands second visit. What can the fans expect from you guys this time around? Paul Bostaph: We will be firing from all cylinders in Australia, you’re gonna get a lot of old stuff, we will be playing songs from the new record, you will not be disappointed. It will be very exciting; you will be getting the Testament you wanted to see! Metal Fanatix: You have been here a couple of times now, what fond memories do you have of Australia? Paul Bostaph: Oh man... I remember hanging out with a Rugby team there; they got me wasted [laughs]. I remember riding in a Rugby bus and one thing I learned on the Rugby bus was you can’t grab hold of anything, because if you do, you get your hands punched really hard. The guys from the team took me under their wing and being a drummer they knew I had to play a show the next night so they cut me a little slack. I had a really good time with them! The first tour I played over there was probably one of my favorite tours of all time. Metal Fanatix: Paul, over the years you have played with some amazing bands. Tell us, what has been your most embarrassing onstage moment? Paul Bostaph: Oh god, my most embarrassing moment would have been drumming with Testament back in 1992, when I filled in for them. It’s actually on video tape somewhere and I was wearing these shorts that didn’t have a tie on them. Chuck Billy’s wife, who is a friend of mine, told one of the guitar techs that when I got out onstage and threw my hands up into the air that she’d pay them twenty bucks to pull down my shorts down around my ankles. Of course I’m standing there doing the rock star pose and next thing I can feel this slight breeze downstairs [laughs] that’s got to be the most embarrassing this that’s happened.
Paul Bostaph: I don’t drink any alcohol before I play; it takes away from my edge. When I’m onstage I want to be the best that I can. I have these illumine drumsticks which are called Vater power wrist builders which I endorse, and I use them to warm up on a drum pad. I usually warm up for about half an hour before I play, besides doing stretches and whatever else. Metal Fanatix: You have shared the stage with many great bands over the years. Who has given you the best advice out on the road and what was it? Paul Bostaph: Wow, I’d have to say the best advice I’ve gotten on the road was probably from our tour manager and it was whenever you’re flying overseas or flying anywhere, make sure you have all your shampoo and liquids in a zip lock bag so it doesn’t explode in your luggage. That’s the best advice I’ve ever gotten. Metal Fanatix: Mate, we have hit the part of the interview where our readers want to find out more about the real you! What have your parents thought about the music you played? Paul Bostaph: My dad doesn’t like heavy metal at all, he’s proud of the fact that I’ve been on the road, he has his friends calling him up telling him I’ve been on MTV or whatever. He’s excited that I’m seeing the world but he doesn’t like metal at all which is understandable. My mum is more open minded towards music and she doesn’t listen to heavy metal but she has listened to records that I’ve done and has come to tons of my shows. She’s very into music and loves the fact that I’m a musician. Metal Fanatix: Growing up can you pin point the one moment you knew you wanted to be a musician for the rest of your life? Paul Bostaph: Yeah, I would have to say I really wanted to be a musician when I first heard rock n’ roll. As far as what I wanted to do for the rest of my life… when I really started getting into Def Leppard in high school listening to Def Leppard’s ‘On Through The Night’, Mötley Crue’s first album and Iron Maiden’s ‘Killers’ I knew that it was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Metal Fanatix: From all the albums you have appeared on what one would be your favorite to listen to and why? Is it even possible to narrow it down? Paul Bostaph: Probably the latest Testament record and the reason I think that from top to bottom is I like the music, I like the vocals, the leads are great and I’m very happy with my drum performance on this record. Usually, I walk away from an album thinking I could have done something better but, and with ‘The Formation Of Damnation’ I think I couldn’t have done anything better on this album, there’s only the next record and what I’d do differently. On this album and every one before it I’ve given 100% effort and this time I feel I left everything on the table and I’m happy with that! Metal Fanatix: Mate let’s go all the way back to when you joined Forbidden back in the mid eighties. What comes to mind when you look back on those early musical experiences? Paul Bostaph: Oh wow, we were crazy, a lot crazier than I am now, we didn’t know shit about the music business and from that point, being naïve played a big part in the music we create. The fact that we were one of many bands that came from a thriving bay area thrash metal scene, we had to try and stand out amongst our peers and that was almost impossible to do at the time. Someone would always compare you to someone else that came before you. Looking back now, I think that we did stand out, sometimes good and sometimes bad, but I’m pleased that our albums have stood the test of time, back then if you had asked me if those albums would have been classic thrash metal records I would have said no! I would have said ‘Reign In Blood’ would be and ‘Ride The Lightning’ would be, but our albums no!
Paul Bostaph: No never, I’ve played sports all my life competitively at a very high level, and if you play week after week as a kid, growing up, you learn that injuries are a part of anything you do! You have to be smart in how you approach your goals. I’ve learned to deal with my injuries and I’ve also learned to play through them. With my knee, I couldn’t play drums for a year and I had to have surgery. At a certain point you have to realize that your health is more important than your music. Without your health there is no music, but I keep a positive attitude! Metal Fanatix: Paul, most artists are lucky to survive in this industry for 2 – 3 years and yet you have had an amazing journey up to this point. If you had to relive it all again, would you change anything? Paul Bostaph: Um…yeah I probably would. You can’t and I’m happy with the way things have turned out, but I think if I would have changed anything I would have never have quit Forbidden. Metal Fanatix: Oh really! Paul Bostaph: I would have stuck through it and would have seen how far we could have taken that! People were just starting to figure us out, and we were starting to pack places, the music was getting better. I think we were just hitting the tip of the iceberg but, everything ends for a reason… I joined slayer and that was an interesting ride and it made me a better drummer! Metal Fanatix: Let me stop you there… I have never heard any members past or present refer to Slayer as an interesting ride, how so? Paul Bostaph: Well, because if you would have asked me when I had left Forbidden what was next? I couldn’t have answered you. I thought it was over. Back then music was changing, and I wanted to put a heavy metal band together but I just didn’t see it happening at the time, I got a phone call the next day from Slayer and here I am! Metal Fanatix: Mate, who have you been surprised to learn is a fan of you work? Paul Bostaph: That’s a good question… when I first met System Of A Down they told me they were all Forbidden fans, the guys from Slipknot. I am surprised when anyone walks up to me and tells me they are a fan of my work. I have been told that Neil Pert is a fan of my drumming but that can’t be confirmed or denied. The biggest surprise was Bill Ward from Black Sabbath! When I did Ozzfest with Slayer, Bill wanted to come and talk with me, so we sat and had a conversation for an hour and that conversation really kept the wind in my sails, in terms of music. He was a big fan of my playing and he was really complementary and I would have to say he was the biggest surprise out of them all! Metal Fanatix: What’s the craziest rumor you had ever heard about yourself and or the band? Paul Bostaph: That I was retired from drumming due to an elbow injury! Metal Fanatix: What’s the single best piece of advice you could give to upcoming drummers who were trying to make it in the business? Paul Bostaph: Practice, practice, practice! It’s a party on the road and it can be a lot of fun, but don’t let the partying affect your gig. People show up and pay money to see you play and that makes you an entertainer. I believe it’s an entertainer’s responsibility to give people their money’s worth.
Paul Bostaph: After Australia we are doing some more touring in the United States, and then in the down time we will probably start writing again for the next album. I think we are heading into Europe next year also and wherever the wind takes us after that! Metal Fanatix: Paul, I look forward to seeing you in Australia, enjoy the time you have here mate! Thanks again for taking the time to speak with us today; it’s been a true pleasure. Do you have any last words for our readers? Paul Bostaph: Can’t wait to see you guys, I always have a great time in Australia be prepared to get your money’s worth! ‘The Formation of Damnation’ is out now, you would be crazy not to add this masterpiece to your metal collection! To keep up with all the latest on Testament head to the following websites: http://www.testamentlegions.com - Official Testament Site http://www.myspace.com/testamentlegions - Testament MySpace Site http://www.myspace.com/insideout666ints - Inside Out 666 © Cameron Edney September, October 2008 Not to be re-printed in any form without written permission. |
