Formed: 1982
From:
Huntington Beach,
CA,
United States
Last Known Status: Active
Background
The thrash metal sound of Slayer was formed in Huntington Beach, CA in 1982. Comprising Tom Araya (bass, vocals), Kerry King (guitar), Jeff Hanneman (guitar) and Dave Lombardo (drums), they made their debut in 1983, with a track on the compilation Metal Massacre III. After that the rest has been history. The band played at breakneck speed with amazing technical precision, but the intricacies of detail were lost in a muddy production. Araya's lyrics dealt with death, carnage, Satanism and torture, but were reduced to an indecipherable guttural howl. But this chaos called music is what set the ways for Slayer and many bands to follow.
Through the years, Slayer has been hit with much controversy over their lyrics, including lawsuits. But through the years Slayer has managed to build a following from coast to coast. Slayer has played such tours as Monsters of Rock, Ozzfest, and recently toured the U.S. co-headling with Pantera.
Now almost 20 years later, Slayer is still playing just as hard as ever. Will Slayer ever stop? Not likely, considering they are keeping up with thrash bands half their age, after all they did start it!
Latest Slayer News
Below is our complete Slayer news coverage, including columns and articles pertaining to the band. Some articles listed may be indirectly related, such as side projects of the band members, etc.
Note: We began associating news directly with bands in late 2003. Therefore, earlier band news may not be listed on this page.
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Metalcamp 2011 Video Report Available
2 Guys 1 TV has posted a video report online from the Metalcamp 2011 festival, which features interviews with festival-goers and clips of live performances. You can check out the video report below.
Danzig Legacy Among Fun Fun Fun Fest Lineup
Danzig Legacy will share the stage next to Slayer at Fun Fun Fest 2011 held at Auditorium Shores in Austin, Texas November 4-6.
Danzig Legacy shows the original members of Samhain and Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein of Misfits joining Danzig on stage for Samhain and Misfits sets. Also, Glen will perform a set of solo material.
Earth Crisis, Eyehategod, Public Enemy, Boris, The Upright Citizen's Brigade, Bane and The Damned are among the acts to participate in the festival.
Slayer To Play Fun Fun Fun Fest
Austin360.com reports Slayer will be performing at Fun Fun Fun Fest.
The three day festival takes place at Auditorium Shores in Austin, Texas on November 4-6, 2011. The festival will also include performances by Odd Future, Brian Posehn, Okkervil River, M83, X and Murder City Devils, Tune-Yards, Reggie Watts, Ra Ra Riot, Flying Lotus and Kid Dynamite.
Fun Fun Fun Festival started in 2006. The festival highlights mostly underground and indie artists from a wide-range of genres including hip hop, punk, hardcore, and metal. Past artists include Weird Al Yankovic, Danzig, Gwar, Municipal Waste, The Sword, Gorilla Biscuits and Bad Brains.
Dave Mustaine Hints at More Big 4 U.S. Shows
Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine says if there will be any more Big 4 shows in the U.S. beyond the ones scheduled, it'll be up to Metallica.
Speaking with Metalunderground.com yesterday backstage at the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival in Boston, Mustaine hinted that more dates could be on tap.
“I'm hoping that after we do the New York trek . . . we'll come back and do some more dates in the states," he said. “It's totally possible. Is it realistic right now? No. I think you'll have to ask the boys in Metallica about that. I think it's pretty obvious for the three of us that it's a good opportunity for us to play with Metallica."
Mustaine raved about the European shows and said he got along great on-stage with his former band, including once being asked by Kirk Hammett to play the solo during a cover of Diamond Head's "Helpless."
“The bands got along really good. Ticket sales were incredible," Mustaine said. “We planted our flag on top of the planet. If anyone doubted the four of us were the biggest bands in the world, we removed all that doubt.”
Slayer Video Interview Posted Online
Rock Radio has posted a video interview online with Slayer's Tom Araya, which was conducted at the U.K. Sonisphere festival. You can check out the video clip below.
Big Four Footage Of Misfits Cover Available
New fan-filmed footage has made its way online from The Big Four's July 6th performance in Milan, Italy. The footage features the Big Four coming to together for a cover of The Misfits' classic "Die, Die My Darling." You can check out the clip in the player below.
Eliminator Posts "Angel of Death" Cover Online
Edison, New Jersey's Eliminator has just released a cover of "Angel of Death" by Slayer. The song can be heard/viewed below. The band is a two piece of "black speed" metal as singer/guitarist Warchild has described. Along with drummer Samus (Decrepit Birth, ex-Mutiny Within, ex-Abigail Williams, ex-Suspyre), the two have just released their second full length album "The One They Were Waiting For."
The band released the sold out debut album, "Breaking the Wheel," which was quickly followed by the latest, "The One They Were Waiting For." The band is already hard at work on the next album and are in the process of recording another Slayer cover.
Just For Fun
Record Store Employees Try To Decipher Metal Logos
Waterloo Records has posted a video clip online titled "Record Store Olympics Event 3: The Decipher," in which record store employees try to decipher increasingly incomprehensible metal band names based on their logos. Check out the clip below, and see if you can name all the bands based on their logos.
Slayer Frontman Honoured In Chile
Slayer frontman Tom Araya was honoured last friday (June 3rd) in his birth place of Viña del Mar, Chile, where he received the key to the city. This is the first official recognition of Chile to Tom Araya, who left Chile at five years of age with his family for the US. You can check out a video of the ceremony below. When asked about receiving the key, Araya stated:
"I think it's awesome. I'm kind of speechless, I don't what to say. They're probably gonna change the locks when they give me the key. (Laughs) It's an honour. It leaves me speechless. I don't have a reply. I'm more speechless than anything. It's not something I expected. It's cool. That's never happened before. You see other people receive rewards like that, but usually it's people of political status or someone that's really done something for the community or done something important. I'm excited. I don't know what to expect. All I can say is: thank you. That's about it." More...
Thornafire Comments On Slayer Show
On June 2nd, 2011, Chilean death metallers Thornafire have the distinct honor of warming up the stage for the almighty Slayer when the titans bring the World Painted Blood Tour to South America. Guitarist Victor Mac-Namara commented on the occasion:
"We are very happy as musicians and fans to be part in the scenario of a Slayer concert, and opening for them in our city.The truth is that I don't have many words to talk about it, I can only say that we will unleash our fury and vibe on stage with our sharp axes and drums to evoke the somber cry of death. In short, we hope to leave the stage like shit, but leave at least the electrical system working for Slayer to finally crush this masochistic audience with their classic tyranny."
The announcement of the Slayer gig comes as the band is currently working on the follow-up to 2009's "Vorex Deconstrucción."
In a previously released statement regarding the forthcoming album, Mac-Namara commented, "Currently we are writing music a little different than what we have done in the past. It's a variation, but still true to our underground Death Metal underground roots. I'm drawing concepts for the album artwork. We hope to have this released by 2012."
Slayer To Release New Live DVD
On June 21st, Rock Tapes/IDS/Fontana Distribution are releasing Slayer's 2002 Hultsfred Festival appearance in Sweden on DVD. Titled "Dead Skin Mask," the track listing is as follows:
Disciple
War Ensemble
Stain Of Mind
Threshold
Postmortem
Raining Blood
Hell Awaits
Bloodline
God Send Death
Seasins In The Abyss
Payback
Mandatory Suicide
Chemical Warfare
South Of Heaven
Angel Of Death
New "The Big Four: New York" Trailer Posted
A new video trailer has been posted online promoting the forthcoming "Big Four" concert set to take place on September 14, 2011 in New York's Yankee Stadium. You can view the trailer in the player below.
The Big 4 Announces New York Date
Following the success of the Big 4's California show, Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax have now announced an east coast show. The Big 4 will be playing at Yankee Stadium on September 14th. Tickets go on sale May 6th at 10am.
Here's the trailer for the New York show:
More...
Jeff Hanneman Makes Return At Big 4 Show
Founding Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman stepped onstage with his band at this past Saturday's Big 4 concert in Indio, CA, marking the first time he has played with Slayer since last October. In January, Hanneman contracted necrotizing fasciitis, likely caused by a spider bite, and has been undergoing surgeries, skin grafts and intense rehab since. Hanneman surprised the crowd of 50,000 when he walked out onto the stage, unannounced, and played the two-song encore, "South of Heaven" and "Angel of Death."
Backstage in Slayer's dressing room afterwards, Hanneman relaxed on a couch and said, "I'm the happiest man in the world."
Gary Holt, guitarist for Exodus, has been the primary guest guitarist with Slayer since the band started its 2011 touring schedule in February, and will continue in that capacity until Hanneman has completely recovered.
Big Four California Footage Available
The "Big Four" of 1980s thrash metal — Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax — performed on the same stage in the United States yesterday (Saturday, April 23rd) at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California in front of a capacity crowd of more than 50,000 fans. Members of Anthrax, Slayer, and Megadeth joined Metallica on stage for a cover of Diamond Head's "Am I Evil?" You can check out footage of the band performing in the two clips below, or view photos and the set list at this location.
Orange Goblin To Play Sonisphere
Orange Goblin has posted the following announcement online about appearing at the U.K. Sonisphere Festival 2011:
"We are happy to announce that Orange Goblin have been confirmed to appear at the UK Sonisphere Festival 2011 which takes place at Knebworth on the weekend of 8th, 9th and 10th July. The band will be playing the Jagermeister Stage on Sunday 10th July.
"Other bands appearing over the weekend include Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax (this will be the first ever 'Big 4' show in the UK), Motorhead, Slipknot, Mastodon, Arch Enemy, Airbourne and many, many more."
For more info on Sonisphere, check out this location.
Havok Covers Slayer's "Postmortem/Raining Blood"
Havok has covered Slayer's "Postmortem/Raining Blood" as an exclusive iTunes "Time Is Up" bonus track. "Time Is Up" (reviewed here) is the Denver thash metal band's sophomore album and was just released on March 29, 2011, via Candlelight Records. Check out the cover below:
Slayer Performs With Cannibal Corpse Guitarist
Bootleg video footage has made its way online featuring the first live performance from Slayer including temporary guitarist Pat O'Brien from Cannibal Corpse. As we previously announced, O'Brien is filling in for Gary Holt while he completes his duties with Exodus. You can check out the live footage in the player below.
Cannibal Corpse Guitarist To Tour With Slayer
Cannibal Corpse guitarist Pat O'Brien will fill in for Exodus' Gary Holt when Holt leaves the SLAYER European tour to play with his own band Exodus at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago, Chile on April 4. Holt has been filling in for Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman since the tour kicked off February 26 in Australia.
Holt's last show with Slayer will be April 4 in Padova, Italy; O'Brien will join the band for the April 6 show in Croatia, and will finish the European dates with Slayer that wrap up on April 14 in Holland.
Hanneman has amazed his doctors with his speedy recovery from an infection thought to have been caused by a spider bite. Following surgery on his right arm, he continues his physical therapy and has already been practicing with his guitar.
The band's remaining tour dates are as follows: More...
Slayer To Tour With Rob Zombie
American thrash metal legends Slayer have announced that they will be embarking on a co-headlining tour of North America this Summer along with shock rocker and movie director Rob Zombie. The two big names will also be joined by Bay Area thrash metal legends Exodus.
"We haven't toured with Zombie since Ozzfest 1999, so you can expect no less than 'hell on earth,'" said Slayer's Kerry King. "Total sonic annihilation and a visual bludgeoning. Bring your own body bag..."
"Total destruction on stage and off is what this combination promises," states Zombie, "Seriously, how much more Hell could you ask for? The answer is none more Hell."
The tour dates are as follows: More...
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