On the “Talk Is Jericho” podcast, SLAYER guitarist Gary Holt discussed the band’s two reunion shows in 2024: Riot Fest in Chicago (September 22) and Aftershock festival in Sacramento (October 10). Holt, also a long-standing member of EXODUS, shared his thoughts on these performances.
“Well, it [had] been years, but we rehearsed really hard for those shows,” Gary said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “We put in the effort. I never stopped. I was on tour [with EXODUS] a month after the final SLAYER show. Only the pandemic slowed me down. So, my chops were up. So, it was just refamiliarizing yourself with the material a little bit.”
When asked if he was surprised by the call about SLAYER‘s return to the stage, Gary replied: “Absolutely. People say, ‘Oh, this and that. You planned this all along.’ I’m like, look, I knew a little while before everybody else, but I didn’t know forever. I knew early enough to sit down at home and start studying the songs, ’cause I wanted to be really prepared. But, yeah, I was surprised.”
“I’m sure there were offers for the band forever, but they felt like it was time, and I’m more than happy to do it.” he explained. “And at least as of now, the current method, which has been [for SLAYER to play] a brief, minor, small little couple of shows [every year], that’s fine because I’m fully committed to EXODUS. And so it allows me to do that and then go out [with SLAYER] and play with fire, which, that s**t’s expensive. EXODUS does not get pyro.”
SLAYER shocked the metal world when they announced their reunion in early 2024, just five years after what was billed as their “final” tour. The band confirmed they would be reuniting for select live performances in 2025, including headlining appearances at major festivals such as Louder Than Life and Festival d’été de Québec.
SLAYER‘s 2025 concert dates are as follows:
July 03, 2025 – Cardiff, UK – Blackweir Fields (with AMON AMARTH, ANTHRAX, MASTODON, HATEBREED and NECKBREAKKER)
July 05, 2025 – Birmingham, UK – Villa Park
July 06, 2025 – London, UK – Finsbury Park (with AMON AMARTH, ANTHRAX, MASTODON, HATEBREED and NECKBREAKKER)
July 11, 2025 – Québec City, QC – Festival d’été de Québec
September 18, 2025 – Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life @ Highland Festival Grounds
September 20, 2025 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium (with KNOCKED LOOSE, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, POWER TRIP, CAVALERA and EXODUS)
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