There was a bit of a readjustment period because I didn’t know what it was going to be like. I didn’t know what was happening, how it was going to be, how it was all going to feel. As time went on it was great. Everything felt good so we decided to go with it.
Every job has its downside. For example, being in a band; the travel part of it – getting picked up from your house in a car, going to the airport, getting on a plane, going from the airplane to a van, then going from the van to a hotel.
One of the great bands we opened up for was Priest back in ’89. That was really great because at that time we had never met them, never toured with them before. They were a big influence on Slayer, so to open up for them was really cool.
At the moment I have my family coming out with me on the road. We have our own vehicle and it’s more like a family vacation. I just stop, do some gigs, and take off. It’s a lot more fun now with the family.
We got off the Clash of the Titans tour and I said that my wife and I were working on having a baby and sure enough we found out that she was pregnant. So I told them nine months in advance that I wasn’t going to tour in September so I could witness the birth of my first son.
I like to be one of those drummers who actually add to the music, not one of those guys who sit in a room 24/7 trying to outwit or outplay another drummer.