Slayer [ tickets ] drummer Paul Bostaph has left the band due to an elbow injury, and the veteran thrash-metal group is holding open auditions for a replacement. Original Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo is temporarily sitting in the vacant spot during the band's current tour.

Live auditions are scheduled in Peoria, Ill., on Feb. 1; Dallas on Feb. 7; and San Francisco on Feb. 13. Candidates must submit a VHS video of themselves playing along with a number of Slayer songs, along with biographical information. Tapes must be submitted by Jan. 26 to have a shot at the Peoria audition, and by Feb. 1 for the Dallas and San Francisco auditions.

The songs that hopefuls will have to perform are: "Disciple" and "God Send Death" from last year's "God Hates Us All"; "Stain of Mind" from 1998's "Diabolus in Musica"; "Angel of Death" and "Post Mortem/Raining Blood" from 1986's "Reign in Blood"; the title track from 1988's "South of Heaven"; "War Ensemble" and the title track from 1990's "Seasons in the Abyss"; the title track from 1985's "Hell Awaits"; and "Chemical Warfare" from the 1984 EP "Haunting the Chapel."

Submissions should be mailed to Slayer [ tickets ] Drum Search Contest, c/o RSMA, Inc., 8981 Sunset Boulevard, Suite 102, West Hollywood, CA 90069, according to a band press release.

The audition dates mentioned above correspond with Slayer's concert dates in each of the three respective cities. The group is touring in support of "God Hates Us All." "Disciple," one of the new album's tracks, recently garnered the group a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance.

The next leg of Slayer's tour begins on Thursday night (1/24) in Connecticut, and dates are scheduled through late February. Lombardo is scheduled to perform with the group on all dates, according to Slayer's official website.

Lombardo, guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, and vocalist-bassist Tom Araya first formed Slayer in 1982. Lombardo left the group in the early '90s, and was replaced by Bostaph, who has since departed "due to a chronic elbow injury," according to the band's website.