
During a recent appearance on the “Lipps Service” podcast, SLAYER guitarist Kerry King opened up about his taste in music and shared why his once-strong admiration for VAN HALEN has faded over time.
When asked if Eddie Van Halen was one of his key influences during his youth, Kerry responded: “In the beginning, for sure. I think I saw them six times on the first four records. I didn’t go to the first album [tour] because I was too young.
“I would always sit in the first-row lodge with binoculars, so I could go there and not just have fun listening to the songs I like, but I could actually nerd out on what he’s playing, and try to get a grasp on what he’s throwing at us. I went a bunch, and then they became more of a pop band, and I stopped going. Eddie was still a great player, but I just didn’t care anymore.”
“That’s somebody I never met,” King added. “There’s not too many people like that, but Eddie‘s the one. It’s just a different circle kind of thing. Dime [Dimebag Darrell, late PANTERA guitarist] was tight with him. I was tight with Dime, but I never met Ed.”
During the same interview, King was asked to name his five favorite guitarists of all time, to which he offered: “I would have a hard time numbering them, but I can come up with five. [Ritchie] Blackmore, Tony Iommi, Eddie Van Halen, without question. Probably my favorite one all time is Glenn Tipton. And I think he’s the most overlooked. ‘Cause if you look at the leads he was doing and when he was doing ’em, he kind of innovated a lot of that stuff.
“Okay, so who’s five? I’ll go with a super-heavy hitter that’s my bro and say Zakk Wylde.”
King released his debut solo album, From Hell I Rise, on May 17. In addition to King, the album features DEATH ANGEL vocalist Mark Osegueda, longtime SLAYER drummer Paul Bostaph, former HELLYEAH bassist Kyle Sanders, and ex–MACHINE HEAD and ex-VIO-LENCE guitarist Phil Demmel.
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.