Paul Bostaph
Encyclopedia
Paul Bostaph is a heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...

 drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...

. His drumming career began in 1984, when he was 20 years old, and he had since worked with bands like Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...

, Forbidden
Forbidden (band)
Forbidden is a thrash metal band from the San Francisco Bay Area. Formed in 1985 as Forbidden Evil, the group was founded by Russ Anderson and Craig Locicero, who are both permanent members. Since their formation, Forbidden have broken up and reformed twice with numerous line-up changes...

, Exodus
Exodus (band)
Exodus is an American thrash metal band formed in 1980 in Richmond, California. Spanning a career of over 30 years, Exodus has gone through numerous lineup changes, two extended hiatuses, and the deaths of two former band members. Guitarist Gary Holt remains the only constant member of the band,...

 and Systematic. He is from Newark, California
Newark, California
Newark is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It was incorporated as a city in September 1955. Newark is an enclave, completely surrounded by the city of Fremont. Its population was 42,573 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...

 and currently drums for Testament
Testament (band)
Testament is an American metal band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1983. They are often credited as one of the most popular bands of the 1980s thrash metal scene...

. Metal-Rules.com describes Bostaph as "a true professional and one of the best drummers on today's metal music scene."

Early years (1964-1984)

Bostaph first interest was to play bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....

 but he decided to play drums for money reason, because he found a drum kit cheaper than a bass. He approached to rock music listening to The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...

 and The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...

 but AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...

 got him into rock drumming. He bought his first drum kit at 15 and, after listening to Killers
Killers (Iron Maiden album)
Killers is the second album by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released on 2 February 1981 in the UK, and 6 June 1981 in the US. The album was their first with guitarist Adrian Smith and their last with vocalist Paul Di'Anno, who was sacked after problems with his stage performance arose due...

by Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...

, he wanted to become a metal drummer. Other influences include bands like ELO
Electric Light Orchestra
Electric Light Orchestra were a British rock group from Birmingham who released eleven studio albums between 1971 and 1986 and another album in 2001. ELO were formed to accommodate Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne's desire to create modern rock and pop songs with classical overtones...

, Blue Oyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult, often abbreviated BÖC, is an American rock band, most of whose members first came together in Long Island, NY in 1967 as the band Soft White Underbelly...

 and Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...

.

Bostaph attended Newark Memorial High School
Newark Memorial High School
Newark Memorial High School is a comprehensive high school in Newark, California. It is located to the southeast of Newark's business district, between I-880 and San Francisco Bay.- History :...

, in Newark, California
Newark, California
Newark is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It was incorporated as a city in September 1955. Newark is an enclave, completely surrounded by the city of Fremont. Its population was 42,573 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...

. He had a strong dislike to his schooling years as he thought, "I felt I had enough to get me through every day life, why do I need more." He was interested in sports and towards the end of his freshman
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...

 year, his interest in music began, and he got a job, which took priority over his schooling.

Forbidden (1985-1992)

Bostaph played drums for Forbidden
Forbidden (band)
Forbidden is a thrash metal band from the San Francisco Bay Area. Formed in 1985 as Forbidden Evil, the group was founded by Russ Anderson and Craig Locicero, who are both permanent members. Since their formation, Forbidden have broken up and reformed twice with numerous line-up changes...

 from 1985–1992, playing on their first two studio albums, Forbidden Evil
Forbidden Evil (album)
Forbidden Evil is the debut album from San Francisco, California thrash metal band, Forbidden, released in 1988. The title of this album refers to their original name before shortening it to Forbidden in 1987...

and Twisted into Form
Twisted Into Form (album)
Twisted into Form is the second album from San Francisco, California thrash metal band, Forbidden. It features one line-up change from their debut – 1988's Forbidden Evil – with Tim Calvert replacing Glen Alvelais on guitar. The result is a more melodic and progressive affair with many acoustic...

. He also played on their 1989 live EP Raw Evil: Live at the Dynamo.

Slayer and solo project (1992-2001)

Following the departure of Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...

 drummer Dave Lombardo
Dave Lombardo
Dave Lombardo is a Cuban American heavy metal drummer best known for his work with American thrash metal band Slayer. He has performed with Slayer on seven albums, including their groundbreaking 1986 release Reign In Blood and their 2006 release Christ Illusion, for which he received critical praise...

 in 1992, the band was looking for a new drummer. Lombardo's drum teacher was filling in but constantly made errors. After auditioning several drummers and listening to hundreds of demo tapes, Bostaph was recommended by Slayer guitarist Kerry King
Kerry King
Kerry King is an American lead and rhythm guitarist. He is best known as the lead guitarist and cofounder of American thrash metal band Slayer. He co-founded the band with Jeff Hanneman in 1981 and has been a member ever since...

's guitar technician. Slayer members listened to Forbidden records, however, they did not see how Bostaph could fit into the Slayer momentum - Lombardo's style being "over the top", while Forbidden was more melodic
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...

. Slayer auditioned Bostaph with nine songs, and he made only one error on "Angel of Death
Angel of Death (song)
"Angel of Death" is the opening track on the American thrash metal band Slayer's 1986 album Reign in Blood. The lyrics and music were written by Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman and are based on Nazi ″physician″ Josef Mengele, who conducted human experiments at the Auschwitz concentration camp during...

". Bostaph had to continually practice to improve the strength of his hands and feet; "I respected and loved Dave’s drumming but as a fan, if they got a new drummer and I bought a ticket to a show, I would expect to hear the stuff that Dave does, that’s what I would want. So, I went in and every time I had to learn a new song I would play them exactly how Dave played them".

Bostaph recorded three albums with Slayer, his least favorite is 1994's Divine Intervention
Divine Intervention (album)
Divine Intervention is the sixth studio album by American thrash metal band Slayer. Released on September 27, 1994 through American Recordings, it was their first album featuring Paul Bostaph, replacing the band's original drummer Dave Lombardo. Several of the songs on the album were inspired by...

. This is due to the guitars not being loud enough as they were in the recording session, moving around to several recording studios, and a producer who had never done any heavy metal music. The producer changed near the end of recording to Toby Wright
Toby Wright
Toby Wright is a record producer and mixing engineer who has worked with artists such as Alice in Chains, Metallica, Sevendust and Korn. He is currently in Nashville, Tennessee working on Kara Clark's latest Ep.-Producer:...

 - Bostaph stating "that record never had any consistency to it although a lot of fans still like it." Bostaph left the band in 1996 to concentrate on his solo project, Truth About Seafood, and was replaced by Jon Dette
Jon Dette
Jon Dette is the heavy metal drummer of Killing Machine. He has previously played for Apocalypse, Evildead, Testament and Slayer. Dette joined Slayer in 1996, when Paul Bostaph left to work on his side project, The Truth about Seafood in L.A.. Dette attended the 1996 Ozzfest to promote the band's...

; however, he returned in 1997. His second favorite album is 2001's God Hates Us All
God Hates Us All
God Hates Us All is the ninth studio album by American thrash metal band Slayer. Released on September 11, 2001, the album received positive critical reviews, although it entered the Billboard 200 at number 28. It was recorded in three months at The Warehouse Studio in Canada, and includes the...

; "The whole era that I was with the band that was the album that was the most well-rounded and mixed the best" with Diabolus in Musica
Diabolus in Musica
Diabolus in Musica is the eighth studio album by American thrash metal band Slayer. Released on June 9, 1998, it is the third studio album to feature drummer Paul Bostaph...

.

Bostaph departed from Slayer after the release of God Hates Us All, following a chronic elbow injury he had sustained that would hinder his ability to play. His third last performance with the band is recorded on the DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....

 War at the Warfield
War at the Warfield
War at the Warfield is a concert video by Slayer which was released on July 29, 2003, through American Recordings. Recorded at Warfield Theatre in San Francisco, California on December 7, 2001, it is the band's second video album. The DVD's contents were announced by MTV on July 25, 2003...

recorded on December 7, 2001. Bostaph is yet to watch it as he feels "It’s like breaking up with a girlfriend" and needs to move on with his life. He still remains friends with Slayer members, and when asked if he would work with them in the future, he replied "sure". Bostaph was temporarily replaced by original Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo, this later proved to be a permanent arrangement.

Systematic (2003-2004)

Unwilling to give up music, Bostaph joined Systematic in 2003 - a band which he had previously formed with vocalist Tim Narducci and guitarist Adam Ruppel before recording Slayer's Diabolus in Musica. Bostaph introduced the band to Slayer's manager — Rick Sales — to help the band gain notice. As the band needed a drummer in 2003, Bostaph was willing to help out.

Bostaph toured with Systematic for four months, although departed in 2004 stating: "I wasn’t having very much fun and it’s not for me." In 2003 Bostaph sustained an injury to his knee, while playing soccer. After finishing Systematics tour, Bostaph underwent surgery - not touching a drum kit for over a year until he received a phone call from Exodus members.

Exodus (2005-2007)

Bostaph received a phone call from Exodus
Exodus (band)
Exodus is an American thrash metal band formed in 1980 in Richmond, California. Spanning a career of over 30 years, Exodus has gone through numerous lineup changes, two extended hiatuses, and the deaths of two former band members. Guitarist Gary Holt remains the only constant member of the band,...

' manager, who asked him to join the band. Exodus bassist Michael Butler talked to guitarist Gary Holt
Gary Holt (musician)
Gary Wayne Holt is an American guitarist from the San Francisco Bay Area. He is the lead guitarist of Exodus.-Biography:...

 if they should recruit Bostaph - Holt knew Bostaph while Exodus toured with Forbidden, as both bands were from the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...

. When Bostaph received the phone call, two members had already left Exodus, and drummer Tom Hunting
Tom Hunting
Tom Hunting is an American drummer, famous for his work with the band Exodus. He played on their first three albums, Bonded by Blood, Pleasures of the Flesh, and Fabulous Disaster...

 was thinking about leaving. Bostaph knew how to play all the records except for Impact Is Imminent
Impact is Imminent
Impact Is Imminent is the fourth album by thrash metal band Exodus and their first with Capitol Records. This is the first album to feature John Tempesta on drums and is the last studio album to feature Rob McKillop on bass, though he would appear on their next live album, "Good Friendly Violent...

, and recorded drums on the band's 2005 album Shovel Headed Kill Machine
Shovel Headed Kill Machine
Shovel Headed Kill Machine is the seventh studio album by the American thrash metal band Exodus, released on October 4, 2005 through Nuclear Blast. This album contains a huge shift in the lineup for Exodus...

.

Bostaph asserts the album is different from the band's previous albums; "It’s so different because Bonded...
Bonded by Blood
For other uses of the phrase, see Bonded by Blood Bonded by Blood is the debut album by the San Francisco thrash metal band Exodus. Although the album was completed in the summer of 1984, it was not released until 1985 due to issues with Exodus and its record label...

was such a landmark record, such a great record that…I watched the band the whole time and I think this is a more, probably, the most brutal record the band has done since Bonded by Blood." Bostaph also says the chemistry between members was very different, due to three out of five members being replaced in one year; "it’s a totally different band than before." The band toured for over a year promoting Shovel Headed Kill Machine, and wished to enter the recording studio to record another as soon as possible. However, on March 28, 2007, Bostaph announced that he parted ways with Exodus; "They now have their original drummer Tom Hunting
Tom Hunting
Tom Hunting is an American drummer, famous for his work with the band Exodus. He played on their first three albums, Bonded by Blood, Pleasures of the Flesh, and Fabulous Disaster...

 back in the band. I always said from the start if Tom ever wanted to come back, the drum throne is his. I have the greatest respect for Tom and his playing." Bostaph also announced he is no longer endorsing TAMA drum kits, and is proud to represent Drum Workshop
Drum Workshop
Drum Workshop is a drum and hardware manufacturing company based in Oxnard, California. Their slogan is "The Drummer's Choice".-History:...

 and their products.

Testament (2008-present)

Testament's official website announced Bostaph rejoined the group in October 2007. The Formation of Damnation
The Formation of Damnation
The Formation of Damnation is the ninth studio album by American heavy metal band Testament. It was released on April 29, 2008. It is the first album Testament has released of new material since 1999's The Gathering It is also Testament's first release with original guitarist Alex...

 was the first Testament
Testament (band)
Testament is an American metal band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1983. They are often credited as one of the most popular bands of the 1980s thrash metal scene...

 studio album of all new material in nine years, and the first to feature Alex Skolnick
Alex Skolnick
Alexander Nathan Skolnick is an American jazz and metal guitarist. He was a member of the San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal band Testament from 1983 until his departure in 1993...

 on guitar since 1992's The Ritual, also the first to feature bassist Greg Christian since 1994's Low
Low (Testament album)
Low is the sixth album by American heavy metal band Testament. It was released in 1994. It was the first album without lead guitarist Alex Skolnick or drummer Louie Clemente, who were replaced by James Murphy and John Tempesta, respectively...

was released on April 29, 2008. This is also the first full length Testament studio album to feature Paul Bostaph on drums. This album was awarded the 2008 'Album of the Year' by the Metal Hammer Awards.

Testament is currently recording their next studio album, entitled The Dark Roots of Earth
The Dark Roots of Earth
The Dark Roots of Earth is the upcoming tenth studio album by American thrash metal band Testament. It is currently scheduled to be released in late April/early May 2012 by the independent German record label Nuclear Blast Records...

, expected to be released in October 2011. However, due to a "serious injury", Paul is not going to be involved in the recording sessions; Gene Hoglan
Gene Hoglan
Eugene "Gene" Victor Hoglan II is an American drummer. He is acclaimed for his creativity in drum arrangements, including usage of odd devices for percussion effects and his trademark lengthy double-kick drum rhythms...

 (who previously played on the band's 1997 album Demonic
Demonic (album)
Demonic is the seventh studio album by American heavy metal band Testament. It was released in 1997. The lyrics deal with occult themes akin to their 1980s efforts, instead of the political topics covered on more recent releases....

) is filling in for him. He will rejoin Testament when they tour to support the album.

Other projects

Bostaph is also a member of a tribute band called "HAIL!". HAIL!'s rotating cast of members include Andreas Kisser
Andreas Kisser
Andreas Rudolf Kisser is the lead guitarist for the metal band Sepultura as well as the rock supergroup HAIL!-Biography:...

, Tim "Ripper" Owens, David Ellefson
David Ellefson
David Warren "Dave" Ellefson is a bassist and founding member of the American thrash metal band Megadeth. He also goes by "Junior." He currently resides in Scottsdale, Arizona...

, Mike Portnoy
Mike Portnoy
Michael Stephen "Mike" Portnoy is an American drummer primarily known as the former drummer, backing vocalist, and a co-founder of the progressive metal band Dream Theater, as well as the temporary drummer for the hard rock band Avenged Sevenfold. Known for his drumming prowess and technical...

, Jimmy DeGrasso
Jimmy DeGrasso
Jimmy DeGrasso is an American heavy metal drummer. He is currently the drummer for F5.DeGrasso was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and graduated from Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1981....

 and Roy Mayorga
Roy Mayorga
Roy Maurice Mayorga is the drummer for the hard rock band Stone Sour. He is of Ecuadorian and Cuban descent.-Musical history:...

. Ripper, DeGrasso, Ellefson and Kisser formed the band in late 2008. The band, toured Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

 in 2009 and in June 2010 HAIL! is on their second European tour with the following line-up: Andreas Kisser
Andreas Kisser
Andreas Rudolf Kisser is the lead guitarist for the metal band Sepultura as well as the rock supergroup HAIL!-Biography:...

, Tim "Ripper" Owens, Paul Bostaph and James LoMenzo
James Lomenzo
James "JLo" LoMenzo is a metal bassist known for his roles as a former member of White Lion and Megadeth. He is also known for his work in Black Label Society .-Past bands and other works :...

. Due to the death of announced bassist Paul Gray, LoMenzo agreed on only one day’s notice to fly to Portugal and rescue the Rock In Rio Festival where HAIL! was scheduled to perform on May 30, 2010.

Discography



Slayer
  • Divine Intervention
    Divine Intervention (album)
    Divine Intervention is the sixth studio album by American thrash metal band Slayer. Released on September 27, 1994 through American Recordings, it was their first album featuring Paul Bostaph, replacing the band's original drummer Dave Lombardo. Several of the songs on the album were inspired by...

    (1994)
  • Live Intrusion
    Live Intrusion
    Live Intrusion is a home video by Slayer which was released in 1995 through American Recordings and filmed at the Mesa Amphitheater in Mesa, Arizona on March 12, 1995. The video features a cover of the Venom song "Witching Hour" performed by Slayer with assistance from Chris Kontos and Robb Flynn...

    [video] (1995)
  • Undisputed Attitude
    Undisputed Attitude
    Undisputed Attitude is the seventh studio album by American thrash metal band Slayer. The album is a collection of punk covers of bands like Minor Threat, T.S.O.L., D.R.I and The Stooges...

    (1996)
  • Diabolus in Musica
    Diabolus in Musica
    Diabolus in Musica is the eighth studio album by American thrash metal band Slayer. Released on June 9, 1998, it is the third studio album to feature drummer Paul Bostaph...

    (1998)
  • God Hates Us All
    God Hates Us All
    God Hates Us All is the ninth studio album by American thrash metal band Slayer. Released on September 11, 2001, the album received positive critical reviews, although it entered the Billboard 200 at number 28. It was recorded in three months at The Warehouse Studio in Canada, and includes the...

    (2001)
  • War at the Warfield
    War at the Warfield
    War at the Warfield is a concert video by Slayer which was released on July 29, 2003, through American Recordings. Recorded at Warfield Theatre in San Francisco, California on December 7, 2001, it is the band's second video album. The DVD's contents were announced by MTV on July 25, 2003...

    [video] (2003)


Systematic
  • Pleasure to Burn (2003)


Testament
  • Return to the Apocalyptic City
    Return to the Apocalyptic City
    Return to the Apocalyptic City is an EP released by Testament in 1993.-Track listing:# "Over the Wall" 5:28# "So Many Lies" 6:13# "Haunting" 4:28# "Disciples of the Watch" 4:38# "Reign of Terror" 4:48...

    [EP] (1993) [live tracks only]
  • The Formation of Damnation
    The Formation of Damnation
    The Formation of Damnation is the ninth studio album by American heavy metal band Testament. It was released on April 29, 2008. It is the first album Testament has released of new material since 1999's The Gathering It is also Testament's first release with original guitarist Alex...

    (2008)


Forbidden
  • Forbidden Evil
    Forbidden Evil (album)
    Forbidden Evil is the debut album from San Francisco, California thrash metal band, Forbidden, released in 1988. The title of this album refers to their original name before shortening it to Forbidden in 1987...

    (1988)
  • Raw Evil: Live at the Dynamo [live EP] (1989)
  • Twisted into Form
    Twisted Into Form (album)
    Twisted into Form is the second album from San Francisco, California thrash metal band, Forbidden. It features one line-up change from their debut – 1988's Forbidden Evil – with Tim Calvert replacing Glen Alvelais on guitar. The result is a more melodic and progressive affair with many acoustic...

    (1990)
  • Point of No Return [compilation] (1992)


Exodus
  • Shovel Headed Kill Machine
    Shovel Headed Kill Machine
    Shovel Headed Kill Machine is the seventh studio album by the American thrash metal band Exodus, released on October 4, 2005 through Nuclear Blast. This album contains a huge shift in the lineup for Exodus...

    (2005)

External links

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