Phil Demmel, a guitarist for Kerry King‘s solo band, expresses surprise at the recent announcement of SLAYER reuniting for several festival shows this year.
After concluding their last world tour in November 2019, the band, comprising Tom Araya (bass, vocals), Kerry King (guitar), Gary Holt (guitar), and Paul Bostaph (drums), will headline three prominent festivals, Riot Fest, Louder Than Life and Aftershock Festival, marking their first live appearances since then.
In a recent interview with Good Company, Phil Demmel was asked if it feels “weird” for SLAYER to have announced their comeback shortly after King’s solo project was initially revealed to the public, to which he responded: “Um, yeah, yeah… Yeah, it caught me off guard. I didn’t know anything about it. To have a SLAYER gig announced before we’ve even played a show [with Kerry King‘s solo band] was really weird to me.”
“SLAYER‘s none of my business — the ‘why’s and the ‘when’s, it’s none of my business. I had questions when I first heard [SLAYER was coming back], and they were answered. And I’m a hundred percent at peace and good with everything that’s happening.”
The reunion has a quite strange timing, considering that Kerry King has recently unveiled his new solo band and announced his debut album. Additionally, he revealed that he hasn’t had communication with Araya since their last performance in 2019.
SLAYER played its final show of their farewell tour in November 2019 at the Forum in Los Angeles. One day later, Kerry King‘s wife, Ayesha King, said that there is “not a chance in hell” that the thrash metal icons will reunite for more shows.
