It was only when "trouble in paradise" flared hours ahead of their Australian tour that the axeman made the call to have him replaced.

Jon Dette is currently behind the kit for the thrash giants Down Under � and they're not sure whether Lombardo will return.

Asked whether he saw the dispute coming, King tells Soundwave TV: "Tom did. Tom's been on the fence about Dave for a while and I was pretty much the one that said, 'Nah, I'm not comfortable moving on.'