In a new interview with Jonathan Clarke, host of “Out Of The Box” on Q104.3, New York’s classic rock station, Kerry King was asked about the origins of SLAYER‘s upcoming reunion shows, five years after the conclusion of what had been announced as the band’s farewell tour.
“I’ll put it in the perspective everybody can understand. We’ve been turning down offers since beginning of 2020, pandemic and all,” he said. “And then it started getting near the five-year anniversary of us stopping playing, so I’m, like, ‘You know what? This is a three-show package. I think it would be fun to do.’ It’s kind of a five-year anniversary of our last tour. We’re never gonna tour again — it ain’t gonna happen. We’re never gonna record again; that’s not gonna happen either. But to do commemorative shows, I think that’s kind of fun. I don’t have to be married to it for a long time. Kids don’t have to worry about it coming around on tour because we said we wouldn’t. There’s not a whole lot of weird diabolical s**t going on here. I think people have just gotta say, ‘Hey, it’s anniversary celebration shows.’ That’s gonna be the end of it.”
On the May 13 edition of SiriusXM‘s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk,” King was asked about his perspective on whether the band’s forthcoming reunion performances would bolster or hinder the promotional campaign for his debut solo album, From Hell I Rise.
“I see it both ways,” Kerry responded.” We’ve [SLAYER] been turning down [reunion] offers for the last four years. Unfortunately, when the right offer came around, this one, it was right as my project was releasing. So there’s certainly people, like my management and booking agents, who say, ‘Oh, that’s great. It’s gonna boost your solo thing.’ And I’m, like, ‘Well, I don’t know the business side of it, but it is what it is.’ And every time I talk about it to journalists and magazines and stuff, I say, ‘Listen, SLAYER is not gonna make another record. SLAYER is never gonna tour again.’ May SLAYER do a one-off here or there? Maybe. I told my [solo] band when [the SLAYER reunion shows] came up, I’m, like, ‘Listen, this is a blip on the radar to me. This isn’t a solo project that’s gonna recycle musicians every record cycle. You guys are with me till you don’t wanna be.’”
When asked about whether he sees SLAYER as the kind of endeavor where the band would perform one or two shows annually when significant opportunities arise, he replied: “I’m not even talking yearly. I’m, like, every two years, every three years, every five years. I don’t know. ‘Cause I’m gonna be super busy with [my solo band] once 2025 rolls around.”
Regarding whether he has talked with SLAYER bassist/vocalist Tom Araya since the announcement of the band’s reunion performances, Kerry commented: “I’ll tell you the truth, ’cause you know that’s how I roll. No, we haven’t. But you know what’s weird about that? It’s not weird. [Laughs]”
“We’ll go probably rehearse off and on for a couple weeks [before the first show], ’cause even though me and [SLAYER drummer] Paul [Bostaph, who is also in Kerry‘s solo band] will be sharp from playing, playing with different people, you’ve gotta get sharp together.”
Expanding on his conviction that SLAYER‘s return performances won’t segue into a complete reunion for the iconic thrash metal outfit, Kerry remarked: “The way I look at it, and when I tell you this, it puts it into perspective for a lot of people, I see it as three five-year anniversary shows of our last tour.”
After concluding their last world tour in November 2019, SLAYER, featuring 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.
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.
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