Lombardo has also been a part of his side project Grip Inc., Fantômas, Philm, and Testament. He was born in Havana and moved to South Gate, California with his family when he was two years old. He was given his first drum set at the age of ten. He was given the title "the godfather of double bass" from Drummer World. He is known as an inspiration to many modern metal drummers, mainly within both the thrash and death metal genres. 