Kerry King riffs about his return to the stage after Slayer and the band’s unexpected Riot Fest reunion
As a lifelong metalhead, I find myself captivated by Kerry King’s story of perseverance and creativity. His journey with Slayer, one of the pioneers of thrash metal, is nothing short of inspiring. The struggles to secure a band name that wouldn’t land them in trademark trouble, the influence of punk rock on his new music, and the eventual reunion with Slayer – it all paints a picture of a man who refuses to back down, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges.
As Slayer’s final performance neared its end, Kerry King signified the event with an epic metal gesture. In the last moments of their show on November 30, 2019, at the Forum in Inglewood, the guitarist, who had worn heavy chains symbolizing his devotion to metal for years, stood on stage and dramatically threw them to the floor.
The iconic thrash metal group, Slayer – which Kramer helped establish back in 1981 from the suburbs of Huntington Park – ceased its active touring and recording phase, leaving many fans in tears and disbelief as they moshed before him. However, Kramer had already devised a new path for himself, venturing into a solo career and leading a new band with unwavering determination.
King had largely decided on his team for the upcoming project, beginning with Paul Bostaph, the drummer from Slayer. Moreover, he had penned several songs in preparation. Essentially, he was all set and eager to begin the work.
King is currently speaking from a tour stop during a recent day off in Madison, Wisconsin. He expresses that he was in a favorable position, but this experience was unique for him since it involved starting anew and gathering everyone, which presented a completely different challenge. However, he had numerous ideas and song titles, and he never found himself in a state of panic.
On Wednesday, King will return to the Kia Forum for the first time since his performance with Slayer. Now leading a new metal band under his own name, he’ll be opening for co-headliners Lamb of God and Mastodon. This appearance follows the release of his debut album, “From Hell I Rise,” which came out in May. The 13-track collection features fast, aggressive guitar work that bears a striking resemblance to Slayer’s sound, as King was heavily involved in the production of their last few studio albums.
The initial proof of King embarking on his solo venture was evident in the February release of his song “Idle Hands,” featuring a rhythm reminiscent of a gallop and an impassioned vocalist, Mark Osegueda. This track served to alleviate any concerns among fans that the guitarist might deviate from the aggressive, chaotic style he’s been instrumental in shaping over the past four decades.
According to King, who is now 60 years old, “It met all the requirements: It has an amazing riff, it features a powerful vocal segment, and it’s as fast as everyone thought I would make it.” This marked the start of his solo journey.
Subsequently, before the month drew to a close, concertgoers were taken aback when Slayer declared they would be performing at three festivals this autumn: Riot Fest in Chicago on September 22nd, Louder Than Life in Louisville, Kentucky, five days afterwards, and Aftershock in Sacramento on October 10th.
After their last performance, numerous anticipated proposals for a reunion surfaced. However, King and original singer-bassist Tom Araya declined all offers for almost five years. Araya, being the band member eager to step away from touring, was expected not to change his mind by King.
King expressed that he wasn’t prepared to call it quits, but continuing with someone who no longer wished to participate seemed futile since it would result in a lackluster performance. Therefore, he found the idea of retirement more appealing when Slayer was at its peak. “We won the championship and we walked away. That’s pretty impressive,” he stated. Now, there are three anniversary shows planned. Whether there will be additional shows? I’m not sure. Will we ever record again? Absolutely not. Will we ever tour again? Definitely not. However, the possibility of a few more performances to bring joy to people, I don’t oppose that idea.”
For King, his work wasn’t over even if Slayer no longer existed as it had. One sign was how close the sound of his first solo project echoes his old band. And Bostaph was happy to rejoin him there.
Through the years, Bostaph (at 60) shares during a separate phone conversation from Moose Jaw, Canada, that he’s discovered the importance of focusing on your strengths: “Kerry has his unique writing style, and I have my distinct drumming approach. When we perform together, you can expect me to play as I do best, and there will undoubtedly be a sense of familiarity.”
King decided to ensure that four individuals from Slayer’s touring team were ready. Initially, he considered having Gary Holt, who was now playing for Slayer after the passing of Jeff Hanneman, but felt the constant comparisons to his previous band might be too much. Instead, he brought in Phil Demmel, previously known for his work with Machine Head, to play the second guitar.
King remarks, “Collecting more Slayer elements will lead people to dissect it and label it as ‘Slayer 2.0’, or constantly refer to it as ‘Slayer this’ and ‘Slayer that’. So, I chose someone other than Gary. I hold Gary in high regard, but it’s the wise decision because it prevents the two bands from being too alike.”
In Demmel, who temporarily replaced Holt in four Slayer shows during their last European tour in 2018, he was a musician whose melodic playing provided a striking contrast against King’s most extreme guitar outbursts. Despite the fact that King has long admired solo artists like Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhoads, he has always yearned for the dual guitar dynamic reminiscent of his favorite band, Judas Priest.
King expresses his admiration for intricate, harmonized guitar parts and riffs, like the complex guitar harmonies in Slayer’s ‘Raining Blood’. He notes that such elaborate harmonies cannot be achieved with just one guitar player. Holt and Demmel, being similar, are more melodic than he is, which results in a pleasing contrast between their chaotic and melodic styles of music.
× Initially joining the band was bassist Kyle Sanders, who was previously with Hellyeah and is the older brother to Troy Sanders, the singer-bassist of Mastodon. Later in February 2023, vocalist Osegueda (previously of Death Angel) completed the lineup. King remembers hearing friends praise him as having a “subtle but well-deserved reputation as the best singer in thrash.” In his view, Osegueda’s voice has a powerful edge, as if it could leap from the speakers at any moment.
Due to the pandemic, King postponed his original intention to start recording in 2020. Instead, he temporarily relocated from Southern California to Las Vegas for an entire year. Later in 2021, King and his wife Ayesha shifted their residence to a Tribeca condo in New York City. This move brought about significant changes in the metal guitarist’s lifestyle, leading him to sell his personal vehicle and his extensive collection of snakes.
With a distinctive bald head adorned with demonic tattoos and the phrase “God Hates Us All” inscribed on his left forearm, King commutes through the city via the subway system.
As a devoted movie buff, I’ve been brainstorming a fresh moniker for our upcoming performances. Two intriguing options have caught my eye – Blood Reign and King’s Rain. These names, you see, subtly echo the title of Slayer’s iconic album “Reign in Blood” from 1986. However, to officially claim either name, it seems some legal procedures will be necessary.
King mentions that it’s been quite challenging for them to think of a band name since they’ve been trying for several months without success. Every time they settle on one, the trademark attorney would reject it, stating that it could potentially cause issues and is best avoided.
Preparing for an upcoming string of concerts, I reluctantly decided to perform under my personal name. Regarding the title of our next album, I’m keeping an open mind and considering options similar to Ritchie Blackmore’s band, Rainbow.
“He finds it fun if the fans could shout out something different instead of just his name, he adds with a chuckle.”
King typically started his song and riff ideas as informal recordings on his cellphone. Over the course of a year, he created and saved demos for new tracks, and also revived two previously unpublished songs from Slayer’s discography for their final album – namely “Rage” and the title track. The newly formed band recorded their album at Henson Studios in Hollywood under the guidance of producer Josh Wilbur.
The impact of punk rock is evident in “Everything I Hate About You” and “Two Fists,” as they carry traces from two Fullerton-based bands of the 1980s, specifically, the Adolescents and D.I. In the lyrics, you’ll find a line that goes, “I think the ship’s about to sink/I think I need another drink.” According to King, it’s hard for him to picture such words being used in a Slayer song.
In the ’80s, Slayer, much like their fellow pioneers of thrash metal, developed a unique style that was a fusion of heavy metal and punk. Kerry King, one of the founding members, was the first among them to fully incorporate the punk influence into Slayer’s sound.
King expressed that he initially found it difficult to appreciate the appeal of blunt punk vocals since he was more accustomed to the soaring voices of heavy metal icons like Rob Halford and Ronnie James Dio. He struggled to comprehend the allure when there were singers out there who sounded like birds. However, with time, he began to understand the raw emotion, anger, and simplicity in most punk music. Once he grasped it, he acknowledged that this genre played a significant role in shaping his identity and background.
Once his initial solo tour concludes, King and Bostaph plan to focus on the upcoming three Slayer festival performances. It’s worth noting that King’s band incorporates a handful of Slayer tracks into their live act, but even Bostaph was taken aback when the reunion dates were confirmed.
The drummer responds, “That’s a joke, isn’t it? I’ve made it clear I won’t reconsider that decision. It’s in the past, and now I’m focusing on what’s next. Suddenly, out of nowhere, I receive the call.”
In his own words, King reveals that he seeks inspiration from the playing styles of metal musicians from a prior era to help chart his future path. At the ripe age of 72, Rob Halford remains at the helm of Judas Priest, while Black Sabbath called it quits in 2017 with their original members well into their late 60s. Already, King is mapping out plans for his band’s next two albums, with a number of songs already penned down.
As a die-hard cinema enthusiast, I can’t deny the passage of time, but as long as we’re still rocking and it doesn’t seem like an aging group attempting to perform thrash metal, there’s energy here. I’ve got to climb the ranks, prove myself in this band, and show the world just how captivating a live performance can be. I dream of retiring with this band. This should be our final act together.
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2024-08-20 21:32