Headline News
Slayer Frontman Tom Araya To Undergo Back Surgery, American Carnage Tour To Be Rescheduled

Band Photo: Slayer (?)
"Tom gave various medical treatments more than a fair shot," said Slayer's manager Rick Sales, "but they just haven't handled the problem, so he's biting the bullet and is scheduled for back surgery at the end of this month."
This difficult decision made by the band's bassist/vocalist Tom Araya means the cancellation of Slayer's immediate tour plans that include the American and Canadian Carnage Tour dates that were set to kick off on January 18, as well as the band's UK/European headline tour scheduled for March and April. Booking agents for both Slayer and Megadeth are already hard at work rescheduling the tour dates; tickets already purchased for these shows will be honored at the rescheduled dates.
Araya began experiencing back problems while on the band's Australian/New Zealand/Japanese tour last October. In spite of his rapidly increasing pain and discomfort, he carried on with the tour, but immediately upon returning home saw an orthopedic specialist who diagnosed a Cervical Radiculopathy. Araya initially did not want to take the major surgery route, so the specialist recommended a series of minimally-invasive procedures. While those procedures have resulted in some improvement, Araya continues to deal with intermittent bouts of severe pain, numbness and muscle spasms. The surgical procedure that Araya will undergo, called an Anterior Cervical Discectomy with Fusion, is a relatively routine practice and the recovery rate is excellent.
Sales added, "As unfortunate as this is for so many people - the Megadeth and Testament camps, the concerts' promoters, and, of course, the fans - Tom's health is the number one priority, and this has to happen."
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64 Comments on "Tom Araya To Undergo Back Surgery"

6. writes:
Noooo! :( I had just gotten my tickets a few weeks ago and was looking forward to it......my first Slayer experience. Sucks, but health DOES come first so hope Tom recovers completely from these problems.
Also from what this statement says, "tickets already purchased for these shows will be honored at the rescheduled dates," does this mean that our purchased tickets WILL count towards the later date without having to refund and all that?
7. writes:
This is getting kind of ridiculous. Props to Tom for grinding through Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, but I personally think that it was a very ignorant decision to continue after continued spasms, and major pain. Not only should he have cancelled the shows being probably at the very least least 46 or 47 (I wouldn't be surprised if he's 50), but if "Tom's health is the number one priority," then why did he not stop get it checked out one off day? Not to mention the fact that Slayer has already rescheduled Canadian Carnage (which I still have my ticket for goddamnit lol). If he just admitted to the problem being a big one, he could have had the surgery, and simply moved it the one time. It is annoying to fans even as loyal as myself, and very confusing. Not to mention that that the tours they're rescheduling multiple times is with MegaDave, who's easily p***ed off lol.
Whatever he'll pull through and make it extra special whatever the new date is.

14. writes:
Well that sucks donkey balls. I was looking forward to a majorly kickass weekend next week. Back problems can really mess you up, and it's obvious it's from his insane headbanging for 27 or so years. I'm not sure how soon he can get back on the stage again though, he's getting a pretty serious surgery. Hopefully it's surgery is successful, and he recovers speedily so he may rock eternally \m/
16. writes:
Yeah, well hope his back problem doesn't suffer him the same fate as Anselmo's back problem...huh, yeah, I think you know...
Don't want to see King go out that way, huh?!, yeah, don't ever want to see that...
Anyway, Tom, pull up a couch, play some mosh, fingers still working well...Just play us something...
Do I sound like Dexter, hmmm?
17. writes:
f***, second concert ever and it gets rescheduled too! lol. and pinto dont worry. i bought slipknot tickets (dont judge me) a while back and when they cancelled and rescheduled ticketmaster sent me tickets for the new show. so just wait for them to announce the dates and they should send u the new ones. that was my experience anyways.
18. writes:
HH: Thanks lol, that was also my ideal response once I saw Slayer adding a date to my city. Hope it'll still be there!
Necro: Hmmm, there might be a problem with me though. I bought my ticket at my local F.Y.E. and just a few weeks ago they announced that their closing down.

21. writes:
This works out for me financially since I haven't bought my ticket for the LA show and would have had to sell my body in immigrant neighborhoods to come up with the dough.
Hope the operation goes well Tom has a speedy recovery!
If it is in the Summer it will be around the same time as MayhemFest. Speaking of that, I heard the MayhemFest rumored lineup is Lamb of God, Rob Zombie, Korn and Hatebreed on the main stage.Can anyone confirm if this is true?

27. writes:
hello yes and now is the welcome to MORE METAL NOW show with me Metal David as the hosting yes Slayer Dokken System of the Down Saxon kOrN Deaf Leppad Limp Biksit Metalica Blessed by a Broken heart Jimi Hendrix Nickelback Alien Ant Farm Iron Maiden Motiey Crew Cannibal Cropse Machine Head yes


30. writes:
Bruno, the rumored bands so far are Korn, Rob Zombie, Lamb of God, Five Finger Death Punch, Hatebreed, Chimaira, and Winds of Plague. Zombie would be cool, and Lamb of God would be orgasmic in my opinion. Everything else is just pure bleh to me though. According to Mayhem Fest's website, bands and dates will be announced on the 20th of this month. My birthday!


32. writes:
Hope you get well soon Tom.
I purchased tickets just yesterday, and now this? They should either cancel the tour and refund the fans' money, or get another band of similar caliber to play in Slayer's place, or get another singer and bassist to play. Any of those three options is better than waiting till summer, because we don't even know if Tom will be better by then. He might need more surgery.


36. writes:
^Decap LOL, i think it was a cheap attempt at a self proclaimed that metal show spoof....
That mayhem fest rumor to me is sick....i dig all those bands except 5fdp....hope it happends, especially rob zombie.....last years show was great, itll be tuff to out do that one



46. writes:
I contacted ticket master about a refund, and they said I just have to send my tickets back to get my refund. So if you purchased your tickets online they should have sent you an email with a link. Just fill in the all the spaces in the link.
Notice how they said you are "encourage" to hold on to your tickets. IOW you don't have to hold on to them. Megadeth is supposed to headline a solo spring tour. I rather have my money back to buy tickets for that.

47. writes:
Tyrano-Tom will be just fine...very routine knifework being done...that said, best wishes to him and his for rapid healing.
Maybe mustaine will jib out, and be excluded from the rescheduled line-up...that would be great
My suggestion would be to hire the newly reformed Crown as special guest, with Testament/Slayer headlining...yes, that would be great (3 of the most evil metal drummers under one roof!)...and have Bostaph and Bombardo switch bands for an appropriate part of each set....yes, that would be f***in great
keepin my tic in a cool, dry place :)
summer is much more befitting of such a tour anyway


49. writes:
I agree hellrat , but the surgery he is having is not routine . I had the same surgery at 28 yrs old and it took 6 months to recover , and I still have back pain to this day. I hope Tom being older can handle that type of surgery , he will have titanium rods put along his spine with screws to his vertibrae to hold them in place. I have tickets for the show also and will wait as long as it takes for that man to get better. Thats probably why the Megedeth website is stating mid summer .

50. writes:
I'm very sorry about your injury and resulting surgery, and the length of your bout with pain Slayer Fan...didn't mean for my comment to imply that such an operation is light or mundane...not at all! surgery of most any sort is very serious, and a fusion is of high order
But I like to believe in people's success in overcoming these unfortunate circumstances...so my whole hearted good wishes to you and araya both to heal quickly and be free of pain and discomfort...I've dealt with my share, certainly, and it ain't no fun ;)
Cheers to good health for all!... except for f***ing terrorists and gangsters...let the sleaze f***in suffer and kill themselves off

52. writes:
Damn, was looking forward to seeing them in February...get well Tom. I understand back problems and avoiding surgery for it. I was told 5 years ago I needed back surgery, and I still haven't gone for it. I'd rather live with the pain. Looking forward to seeing them when he recovers tho.



58. writes:
Just saying this is Depressing Im sorry Rick my main man.
and im sad cause i planned to go to this concert with one of my really good friends Michael Bultman...He is leaving to the Navy In june.. I wanted to do somthing special for him.Before he leaves cause out in that. big world I am concerned of his life.....and really want him To have a good time before he goes..he has naver been to a concert before...this would have been his first time and possbaly his last....recoversoon get well i really hope Slaer can play along with megadeth....peace love and hugs your Metalheads Chelsea Rose McN and Michael Bultman.


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1. Hollow writes:
He'll get through it.