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Q&A Interview with Slayer drum tech Norm Costa

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Norm Costa 1

It’s been a while since I’ve done a Road Crew Books Q&A interview so I thought I’d start it up again with one of the best. Slayer drum tech, Norm Costa, is one of the best drum techs out there today. Not only is he one of my oldest friends but he’s one of the funniest guys I’ve ever known.

How long have you worked in the music business and how did you get started?

I’ve been working in the music business for 22 years. I started as a stagehand in Phoenix, AZ, absorbing as much info as I could about every aspect of putting on live shows. In 1995 I was recommended by my boss at the stagehand company to a tour manager who was getting ready to go on tour with a band from Australia called You Am I. It was a van tour opening up for the Goo Goo Dolls. The crew was just the tour manager/FOH guy and me. Three years later I got the Slayer gig and the rest, as they say, is history.

Which of your clients through the years has been your most favorite to tour with and why?

I’ve been really fortunate throughout my career to have worked with some amazing drummers and bands. I can honestly say that I’ve never worked for an asshole. I’d have to say, though, that touring with Slayer for 15 years has been some of the best times I’ve had on tour, but then again I always have fun on tour.

What do you consider to be the hardest part of your job as a drum tech? 

The hardest part of my job is definitely the travel, the months away from home. The divorce rate in the music biz is probably higher than any other profession.

Do you ever perform any other jobs on the road such as tour manager, production manager or stage manager?

I’ve done some stage managing with Sevendust and with Slayer years ago, but I’d much rather just take care of my drums. With the help of Warren Lee, I had to take over as production manager during a Slayer Canadian tour when our PM decided to quit in the middle of the night and walk off the bus in a city that didn’t even have an airport. Idiot.

What is your best memory from the road?

That’s a tough question. There have been so many but I’d have to say it was my first day with Slayer. We were starting the tour in Vancouver and I missed my flight, my next flight got cancelled, and I showed up a day late. I got dropped off at the arena, walked in, and saw Paul Bostaph setting up his own drums. I was already nervous as fuck and that made it even worse.

Without changing drum heads or anything, I finished setting up the drum kit so the band could rehearse, and the kit sounded like shit. After the band went through the set everybody left and went back to the hotel except me. I stayed at the venue until 3AM, changing every head on Paul’s kit, cleaning every cymbal, making sure that when Paul came in the next day everything was perfect. There was a moment when I was alone in that huge arena and I just stopped and looked around and thought, “Wow. Here I am. Sink or swim, kid.” I will always remember that day.

What is your worst memory from the road?

My worst memory has to be when I was on tour with Sevendust and 30 minutes before we were supposed to go on stage Lajon’s dad called and told him that his brother had been murdered. Lajon’s dad made him promise that he’d still go out there and play the show, and he did. It was the saddest thing I’ve ever seen.

What do you like most about your job?

What I like most about my job is the friends I’ve made all over the world through the years, the places I’ve been, and the different foods I’ve eaten. All of these things I would’ve never done, had it not been for touring.

What do you hate most about your job?

What I hate most about my job is the time away from home, the toll it takes on relationships. Oh, and airports. I fucking hate airports.

Do you feel that a person has to be a good drummer to be a good drum tech?

I don’t think a drum tech has to be a good drummer. I think it helps when it comes to things like how the drums feel or understanding when a drummer is trying to convey something to me in drummer’s terms; but, no, you don’t have to be a good drummer. I mean, fuck, I suck!

How can young people learn to be a drum tech and work on the road?

Start from the bottom, become a stagehand, learn the business from the bottom up. Meet people, make connections, and pray you get lucky like I did.

If you could work with any artist in the world which one would you like to work with most?

John Bonham. Do dead dudes count? Honestly though, I’ve worked for all of my favorite drummers except Danny Carey. I’d love to work for him just to steal some chops.

What advice do you have for young people hoping to work on the road as a tech?

DON’T DO IT! Stay in school!

What do you think you’ll do for a living after you retire from the road?

Well, since I live in Colorado, maybe I’ll open up a weed store.

You worked for our mutual friend Dave Lombardo, the legendary drummer for Slayer, for a long time. What are your thoughts on him being fired from Slayer again and do you think he’ll ever return?

I think it sucks. I don’t think he’ll ever return to Slayer, and that sucks for the fans, but I understand why the situation is what it is. I have no doubt, though, that Dave will go on to do more amazing things. I mean, he’s Dave fucking Lombardo, the greatest thrash metal drummer ever!

We both worked for Slayer for a long time. What are your thoughts on the death of our old friend, Slayer guitarist, Jeff Hanneman, a man who is revered and considered a heavy metal icon?

It breaks my heart every time I think about it. Jeff was an amazing talent and a great friend. He had an infectious laugh. Jeff was like Dennis the Menace. I remember one time when everyone was hanging in the dressing room after a show, drinking and what not, and our tour manager came in and said, “5 minutes until bus call.” Jeff looked at me and gave me the “let’s get the fuck out of here look”.

Jeff and I took off and went to a little dive bar around the corner from the venue. It was full of Slayer fans that had just left the show. We went in and Jeff signed a few autographs as we were making our way to the bar. We got up to the bar and some drunk girl takes out her credit card, gives it to Jeff, and says, “You can buy whatever you want if you sign my back.” Jeff of course says, “no problem,” and proceeded to draw a giant cock and balls on her back.

He gave the girl her Sharpie and then ordered 30 shots and 2 Heinekens. He handed me a beer and a shot, he grabbed a beer and a shot, and then handed out the remaining 28 shots to everyone else in the bar. All thanks to some drunk girl with a giant cock on her back.

THAT’S the Jeff I miss most.

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