The historical past of steel is plagued by well-known musicians’ aspect tasks. Many ultimately see the sunshine of day in some type, however others stay misplaced within the mists of time, unheard by few besides those that have been concerned.
Pap Smear falls within the latter camp. This short-lived 80s hardcore punk band is obscure even by unreleased aspect challenge requirements, particularly contemplating it options two authentic members of Slayer – particularly guitarist Jeff Hanneman and drummer Dave Lombardo. So what’s the story?
The seeds of Pap Smear have been sewn when Hanneman found the early 80s underground hardcore scene and went all for it. Talking to Metallic Hammer, Lombardo recalled his bandmate’s in a single day conversion.
“Jeff reveals as much as rehearsal with a shaved head: ‘I’m punk now!’” the drummer mentioned. “He introduced all this music with him: Black Flag, TSOL, Minor Menace, Lifeless Kennedys, Circle Jerks.”
Lombardo and his bandmates have been impressed. “‘What rock have I been below? That is incredible!’ It was an enormous turning level,” mentioned the drummer.
In 1984, Hanneman and Lombardo determined to type their very own punk band. Dubbing themselves Pap Smear, they enlisted Rocky George, guitarist with Venice Seaside hardcore rabble-rousers Suicidal Tendencies, and started making a racket in Slayer’s rehearsal room.
“We have been very shut associates with Suicidal Tendencies on the time,” Lombardo defined. “We used to go see them rather a lot, after which we grew to become associates with the band. Jeff actually beloved Rocky George’s type and his really feel – the soul he had when he performed.”
Hanneman himself swapped the guitar for bass. “I’m certain on the time he would have developed into a tremendous bass participant if he’d saved at it,” mentioned Lombardo.
The ultimate piece of the Pap Smear puzzle was vocalist Joey Hanneman, a child who occurred to be in the appropriate place on the proper time. “He used to hang around at rehearsal and I used to log on with him,” mentioned Lombardo. “His identify was Joey Fuchs, however he sort of appeared like Jeff – blond hair. So he mentioned, ‘Fuck yeah, I’ll simply be Joey Hanneman as an alternative of Joey Fuchs, and I’ll fake to be Hanneman’s brother.”
Regardless of Hanneman and Lombardo’s enthusiasm for punk rock, Pap Smear by no means made it our of the rehearsal room. “We wrote most likely 5, six items of music, however we by no means performed a stay present,” mentioned Lombardo. “It was only a bunch of men hanging out in a storage ready for the remainder of the band to point out up.”
4 of these songs, Dwelling Simply To Die, D.D.A.M.M. (aka Drunk Drivers Towards Mad Moms), Abretions Asshole and Can’t Stand You, appeared on a demo tape whose whole working time comes to only 4 minutes. Inevitably, the demo has appeared on YouTube – it’s tough as hell, nevertheless it fuses the spite and aggression of early 80s hardcore with Slayer’s metallic sharpness.
Hanneman apparently deliberate to report a full Pap Smear album, however was dissuaded by producer Rick Rubin, who started working with the band on 1986’s Reign In Blood album. The guitarist later claimed Rubin instructed him: “Ahhhh, don’t do it, man – that is the sort of factor that breaks bands up!” Lombardo instructed Metallic Hammer he shared Rubin’s considerations: “I really feel our focus was Slayer and Pap Smear was sort of taking us away.”
Two Pap Smear songs, D.D.A.M.M and Can’t Stand You, have been ultimately re-recorded by Slayer for his or her 1996 punk covers album, Undisputed Perspective, however the authentic demo stays unreleased. And with Hanneman’s demise in 2013, Pap Smear stay a short however intriguing footnote in steel historical past.
