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SLAYER’s KERRY KING: I Can’t Pretend To Be JEFF HANNEMAN

Manos Spanos
The February 2014 issue of U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine features an interview with SLAYER guitarist Kerry King about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's next album — SLAYER's first following the passing of guitarist, and one of key songwriters, Jeff Hanneman. "I've got assloads of songs!" King stated about SLAYER's next CD. "I mean, I'm more prepared than I've been before any record, working on this material for of three years. Me and Paul [Bostaph, drums] have demoed 11 songs. I'm sitting on 14 or 15 songs and I've got seven complete with lyrics already. I'm in great shape!" Asked if he has found himself tempted to write the kind of songs that Jeff might have contributed to an album, Kerry said: "I think that would be shooting myself in the foot. I can't pretend to be Jeff. We both learned from each other in 30 years of writing together. As far as going out of my way to write something that Jeff might've done? I won't do that. If it happens to end up sounding that way, good for me!" According to King, it's still undecided as to whether any of Hanneman's previously unused ideas will make it to the next SLAYER album. "There was a song we finished on the last record, but I know for a fact [Jeff] wanted to rewrite the lyrics on, so that one got to deconstruct and make better," he said. "I've said, and I'll continue to say, that if we use any of Jeff's songs, I don't want it to come out just because Jeff wrote it. I want it to come out because it's awesome," he added. "We've just got to put out something that I think Jeff would be proud of." Regarding what fans can expect from the new SLAYER material, King said: "I've got a surprising amount of heavy stuff for me. I do tend to lean on the fast side, but I have some exceptionally heavy tunes, Like, 'Wow, man, where did that come from?' I expect my stuff to be angry and fast, but it's all over the map. I'm stoked. We'll have enough so we can pick great stuff whether we use any of Jeff's material or not. It should add up to as good a record as we can hope for with one of our original songwriters being gone." King also spoke about SLAYER's current touring lineup, which includes drummer Paul Bostaph and guitarist Gary Holt (also of EXODUS). "Not to toot my own horn, but we sound fucking great right now," he said. "It's a juggernaut. Paul's a machine. He always has been. Also he's been here before, so that made this transition as easy as it could be as well as for the fans because I think they always felt he was part of the band, even t hough he wasn't for many years." Asked if he is looking forward to shutting people up with the new SLAYER album, King said: "Oh, yeah, but only because people expect us to fail. "I'm very stoked about the stuff we're gonna be putting out," he added. "In a perfect world, which is never what happens in SLAYER, me and Paul plan on continuing to play to keep our chops up, and if we can get everybody on board, I want to start in January and have a record out before the summer."
03 min read

SLAYER’s AMERICAN RECORDINGS Discography Available In Clear Vinyl From NUCLEAR BLAST

Manos Spanos
Nuclear Blast USA's webshop will be the exclusive online distributor of the 10 seminal albums from SLAYER's American Recordings catalog on clear, Collector's Edition vinyl. Each album will be sold individually, is strictly limited to 666 hand-numbered copies, and can be shipped internationally. Full audio has been remastered from the original analog flat master tapes and pressed on the highest-quality, 180-gram audiophile vinyl to satisfy the most discerning turntables and SLAYER collectors. Featuring original album artwork (including exact reproductions of the original 12x12 vinyl sleeves), the nine studio releases comprising the American Recordings discography are: * "Reign In Blood" (1986) * "South Of Heaven" (1988) * "Seasons In The Abyss" (1990) * "Divine Intervention" (1994) * "Undisputed Attitude" (1996) * "Diabolus In Musica" (1998) * "God Hates Us All" (2001) * "Christ Illusion" (2006) * "World Painted Blood" (2009) Also included is SLAYER's live double album "Decade of Aggression: Live" (1991).
01 min read

SLAYER, MOTÖRHEAD And ANTHRAX: Really Ugly Holiday Sweaters Coming From LOCOAPE

Manos Spanos
Locoape, a division of Toynk Toys LLC, announces today that they have entered into an agreement with Global Merchandising Services who represent the worldwide merchandising rights for ANTHRAX, MOTÖRHEAD and SLAYER. Locoape will be producing a high-end, limited-edition ugly-sweater collection. Following up on the massive success of 2012's SLAYER Christmas sweater, Locoape has come on board to fulfill metal fans request for more sweaters of their favorite metal artists. Slated for 2013 selling season are ANTHRAX, MOTÖRHEAD and SLAYER. 2014 will see a wider selection of Global's roster available for the holidays. Each unique sweater features the iconic imagery made famous by each metal artist, with that addition of the ugly holiday sweater vibe. The sweaters are made of a soft, heavy poly‐blend and run from size S to size XXXL. Currently on sale on their individual Global Merchandising's web stores, fans can also find the sweaters at Toynk.com. "Ugly Christmas sweater" or "tacky Christmas sweater" parties have been a holiday staple for several years, but there have been very few places to actually buy these sweaters. That has since changed, according to Time magazine, which reports that vintage stores, the Salvation Army, and Goodwill are reaping the benefits of this craze, as are fast-fashion shops like H&M and high-end retailers such as Nordstrom. Locoape is a trademarked brand of Toynk LLC. The Locoape brand serves as a licensee/manufacturer focused on producing fun and unique products covering the world of popular culture, toys, apparel and collectibles with an emphasis on the music industry.
01 min read

New SLAYER Biography ‘Slayer 66 & 2/3’ Available Exclusively Via AMAZON

Manos Spanos
A new SLAYER biography by metalhead and award-winning journalist D.X. Ferris has topped the Hot New Releases in Pop Culture chart at Amazon.com's Kindle Store. The book's title is "Slayer 66 & 2/3: The Jeff & Dave Years, A Metal Band Biography. From Birth To Reborn, Including Slaytanic Profiles, A New History Of The Thrash Metal Kings' Early Days, Reign In Blood Tours, A European Invasion, The Palladium Riot, The Seat Cushion Chaos Concert, The Whole Diabolical Discography, Newly Unearthed Details From Dave Lombardo's Turbulent History With The Band, Artwork And Photos You've Probably Never Seen Before, Jeff Hanneman's Hard Times, The Big Four's Big Year, Lombardo's Final Exit, The Top 11 Hanneman Tributes, The Mosh Memorial Service, Untold Stories, Updates, Relevant Digressions, And More Scenes From The Abyss". Available exclusively via Amazon, the full-length book is available worldwide now, as an e-book that can be read on any smart phone, tablet, or computer that can run the free Kindle app. For a limited time, the electronic version costs $6.66 (US). "If you have a device that you can use to check Facebook, you can be reading the book minutes from now," says Ferris. A 320-page paperback version will be available later in the month. The electronic version features extensive hyperlinks to (non-copyrighted) supplemental material. The exhaustively researched look at the band's career (to date) features 59 chapters, 400 footnotes, 3 appendices (in the e-book, 2 in the paperback), 33 photos, 11 illustrations, a full works cited section, and an index. The photos include striking, previously unseen images by Harald Oimoen, of renown for the Bay Area thrash yearbook "Murder In The Front Row". Illustrations include lost artwork and an early flyer by Albert Cuellar, the "Live Undead"/"Hell Awaits" cover artist who went on to work with Tim Burton, SUBLIME, and Sir Mix-A-Lot. The book also includes Jeff Hanneman's original diagram for the "Live Undead" cover (spoiler: it's stick figures). David Konow, author of the heavy metal history "Bang Your Head", writes: "This book is the biography the band has always deserved. 'Slayer 66 2/3' goes in deep, covers an enormous amount of ground, and it was clearly a labor of love. Metal is an important part of music history, and SLAYER will always be one of the most important bands in the genre. A book documenting the good, the bad, and the ugly without spin or sensationalism has been long overdue." Ferris wrote the first English-language book about SLAYER, Bloomsbury Academic's "Slayer's Reign in Blood" (2008), which is part of the prestigious "33 1/3" series of volumes about classic albums. A documentary in book form, it details the creation and legacy of SLAYER's major-label debut. The timely "Slayer 66 2/3: The Jeff & Dave Years…" is the rest of the story (so far). It's a much bigger prequel, sequel, companion, and update. It spans from the members' childhoods to the fall 2013 old-school tour. Ferris began writing it in March 2013, shortly after iconic drummer Dave Lombardo left the band. And he continued covering the story after founding guitarist Jeff Hanneman unexpectedly passed away on May 2. And he stayed with it through memorial services, lineup shakeups, and breaking developments. The book's final photo was taken Wednesday, November 20, in Pittsburgh. "It answers two questions," says Ferris. "One, how did SLAYER happen? And two, why is Dave Lombardo — the most influential and acclaimed drummer in the history of metal — no longer playing with the greatest thrash band?" This thorough, character-driven look at SLAYER's unrivalled career is based on original and archival interviews with the band, witnesses, employees, label executives, fans, and peers. Cross-referenced research includes song credits, concert counts, and profiles of the band's albums, from beloved classics to more divisive releases. "Some leading metal writers have written some great pieces about SLAYER," says Ferris. "They should all be read, and I include a list of them. But nobody will ever spend this much time and effort on a SLAYER book again." Ferris is an Ohio Society Of Professional Journalists reporter of the year. He has written for The AV Club, RollingStone.com, Decibel, Alternative Press, Metal Sucks, Cleveland Scene, and other periodicals. 2013 marks his 28th year in the music press, if you count his letter Hit Parader published in fall 1985. He was thrown out the "South Of Heaven" tour when a misdirected crowdsurf landed him onstage. The first six and a half chapters can be read at the book's Amazon page. "Slayer 66 & 2/3: The Jeff & Dave Years…" is the first release of 6623 Press, a creator-friendly multimedia outlet.
05 min read

SLAYER’s KERRY KING Says DAVE LOMBARDO ‘Shot Himself In The Foot’

Manos Spanos
SLAYER guitarist Kerry King was the featured guest on "The Steve Austin Show - Unleashed!" podcast last week. You can now listen to the chat using the audio player below. "The Steve Austin Show - Unleashed!" is the explicit version of the podcast hosted by former WWE wrestling champion "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. On SLAYER's early years: King: "Me and [late SLAYER guitarist] Jeff [Hanneman] would go hang out and see bands. We saw METALLICA at the Woodstock in Orange County, of all places, and we were blown away. We were already into MOTÖRHEAD and VENOM, and there was a lot of talk of the METALLICA guys. So we were, like, 'Let's go check this out.' And they were doing what we were doing the way we wanted to do it… We just weren't there yet. They were probably six to eight to twelve months ahead of us, just with shit-togetheredness. Even back then, I look at [then-METALLICA guitarist] Dave Mustaine, and to this day, I love him as a guitar player; he's one of my favorites. And then I saw him playing and it just blew me and Jeff away that he was just ripping solos and he wasn't even looking at what he was playing. And we were just like, 'Man, that's awesome.' And were just into it. Me and Jeff were six months apart in age. We were just like the same person." On SLAYER's recent split with original drummer Dave Lombardo: King: "When Dave was in [the band] this last time, I figured I'd be on the stage with him until one of us fell off the stage, dead. Things change. He got some bad advice and listened to some bad advice, gave us an ultimatum ten days before we went to Australia [to do the Soundwave festival tour]. And I said, 'I can't have this over my head.' And I feel bad for Dave to this day; I really feel bad for him because he shot himself in the foot. Maybe he thought he had the upper hand, but you ain't gonna get me…. Before I got home, I knew exactly what I was going to do for Australia." On how SLAYER has managed to maintain its camaraderie within the band for more than 30 years: King: "The only thing that we've done to separate each other purposely is when Tom [Araya, SLAYER bassist/vocalist] started coming out with his family, I don't know, maybe ten or so years ago. And I said, 'It's probably a good idea to get your own bus.' Because you never know what's gonna be going on on our bus. For the band, kids keeping you awake all night — if that's what would happen; kids stumbling in on something they really don't need to see, that's something. But that's the only thing. We fly together, we're still on the same bus. We take off on the same bus in a few days. [Editor's note: The interview was conducted a few days prior to the start of SLAYER's current North American tour.] "What took me the longest time to figure out for myself personally was what not to say to people. You have your opinion, someone is pissing you off that day? You don't need to say it. Shut up, get on with your day, tomorrow's a new day and it's all gonna be fine. And, you know, there are so many bands that break up, and the individual doesn't usually have the talent of the whole. "We're good at what we do, we've got a very strong brand, a very strong following and it would be stupid [for us to call it quits]. "The only reason I would leave SLAYER today is if Tom said he was done, 'cause then it's just me. Or if I was done and it was just Tom, I don't think Tom would wanna do it. It's now just the two of us." "The Steve Austin Show - Unleashed!" podcast (audio):
04 min read

TOM ARAYA: SLAYER’s Music ‘Is Going To Live Forever’

Manos Spanos
Nathan Smith of HoustonPress.com recently conducted an interview with SLAYER bassist/vocalist Tom Araya. A few excerpts from the chat follow below. On the May 2013 death of SLAYER guitarist Jeff Hanneman: Araya: "It was just as shocking to me. We all have issues with vices in life, but I didn't know they were to that extent with his health. It was a shocking thing to get a phone call saying, 'Hey, Jeff passed away this morning,' and I'm like, 'What?! I talked to him a few days ago, and everything was fine!'" On how Hanneman's death has changed his outlook on the band: Araya: "Before, there was always hope that [Hanneman] would return. It wasn't a question of returning, it was a question of when he was returning. After he passed and we went to Europe to do that tour maybe a month later, it was... it was different. People don't realize that he had a major creative role in this band and in this new music we called thrash metal. "I still find myself having to tell myself now that he's passed that he's not going to be a part of the band anymore. So it changes your attitude; it changes your mood about things. It changes your outlook on quite a bit." On whether SLAYER will continue beyond the current tour: Araya: "That's something that me and Kerry [King, guitar] have to sit down and communicate our thoughts about. I have my feelings and my thoughts, and I need to share them with Kerry. That's what's going to happen on this trip. We need to sit down and figure out what we want to do and how to move forward." On the likelihood of Jeff's leftover material being used on SLAYER's next album:
02 min read

KERRY KING On SLAYER’s Future: It’s Going To Be Business As Usual, Just One Member Less

Manos Spanos
SLAYER guitarist Kerry King was interviewed on the November 1-3 edition of Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show. You can now listen to the chat using the audio player below. A transcript of the question-and-answer session follows. To see a full list of stations carrying the program and when it airs, go toFullMetalJackieRadio.com. Full Metal Jackie: SLAYER, of course, has the North American headlining tour [coming up at the end of October], the band's first in two years. It runs through the end of November. You guys have been touring all summer [in Europe] with Paul [Bostaph, drums] and, of course,Gary Holt [guitar, also of EXODUS]. At what point over the last five months did you know that this lineup of the band was ready to go into the studio, or work on new music? King: Well, realistically, as soon as Paul got with us, I started teaching him new stuff, because I've got probably thirteen, fourteen songs [written for the next record]. So when we didn't have any touring schedule that we had to learn stuff for, I was, like, "Well, let's take this time to get your and my chops up together to work on this new stuff so when the time comes, we'll already have 90 percent of the work under our belt." Full Metal Jackie: Kerry, metal fans around the world were terribly saddened by the death ofJeff Hanneman. Will his style and what he brought to the band continue to influenceSLAYER's legacy even after he's gone? King: I think so, because, I mean, when you play guitar opposite somebody — Jeff with myself or myself with Jeff — I think our styles infused a bit. I think in some of the things I write, I think people are gonna say, "Wow, that sounds like Jeff would have wrote it," and stuff he would have wrote, had he written anymore, people would have said, "Man, that sounds like something Kerry wrote." But, you know, we've been together so long that we kind of infused ourselves into each other. So I think it's going to be business as usual going forward, [but] just one member less, which sucks for everybody. Full Metal Jackie: This is the first full-blown SLAYER headline tour in quite a few years. What are you looking forward to the most about it? King: Yeah, this is the first one in at least six or seven years. Every time we've come through the States, it's either been on [Rockstar Energy Drink] Mayhem [Festival] or on SLAYER / [MARILYN] MANSON tours or SLAYER / MEGADETH tours, so we might have maxed out [with our time on stage] at an hour and five [minutes], an hour and ten [minutes], but on this one, we get to play an hour and thirty [minutes], an hour and thirty-five [minutes], which we haven't been able to do in the States in a very long time. I enjoy doing full headline sets, because if you're the actual last person playing, most people spent their money to come seeyou. So I wanna be able to give them something they're gona remember for the first time in quite a while. Full Metal Jackie: What can we expect from the setlist from the rest of the tour? Will you be debuting any new music prior to releasing it?
07 min read