In a brand new interview with Luiz Cesar Pimentel of Brazil’s Cucamonga, SLAYER‘s Kerry King was requested how the 2013 demise of the band’s founding guitarist Jeff Hanneman affected his relationship with SLAYER bassist/vocalist Tom Araya. Kerry responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “I believe Jeff‘s passing weighed tougher on Tom than it did me. And I do not imply that from any form of friendship perspective. It is simply my taking wasn’t as unhealthy as Tom took it. In fact it was horrible, and nobody ever wished that to occur, nevertheless it actually weighed on Tom. I believe that is what led to him desirous to retire sooner than me, as a result of I believe he felt the band was totally different. However then, out of nowhere, Tom determined he wished to play some [SLAYER] exhibits final 12 months, and I went, ‘Properly, I by no means wished to cease taking part in exhibits. So, yeah, let’s strive it out.'”
King continued: “Similar to it was in [the earlier years of] SLAYER, [Tom and I] do not speak on the cellphone. We not often textual content one another. And that is simply because while you’re collectively for 40 years — he grew to become a really totally different individual. He isn’t the man I began the band with. Not personally — simply him; he is a special individual. I principally stayed similar to who I have been in my twenties. And I like Tom. We’re cool. We obtained collectively [last year to rehearse for the SLAYER reunion concerts]. It wasn’t bizarre. We did these two exhibits [at Riot Fest in Chicago and Aftershock festival in Sacramento]. He was tremendous comfortable. We obtained collectively after the second, had a shot after the present. He’ll drink tequila and I really like tequila, so that is what we had. And I believe the primary concept to play [with SLAYER again] this 12 months was for the [Louder Than Life festival] present we missed final 12 months ‘reason for the hurricane. So we rebooked that and [I] stated, ‘If we by no means play one other present, I wanna make that proper with the promoter,’ as a result of it wasn’t our fault. However he wished us to play. So we’re taking part in there this 12 months. And this 12 months we get to play that BLACK SABBATH present [in early July in Birmingham, United Kingdom]. I am unable to fucking wait.”
In January 2011 Hanneman contracted necrotizing fasciitis, often known as flesh-eating illness, from a spider chunk in his yard. The an infection ravaged the flesh and tissues of Hanneman‘s arm, resulting in quite a few surgical procedures, pores and skin grafts and intense intervals of rehab that pressured him into semi-retirement and left him close to demise at a number of factors.
Hanneman finally died in Might 2013 from alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver. He’s credited for writing a lot of SLAYER‘s traditional songs, together with “Angel Of Demise” and “South Of Heaven”.
Again in February 2024, Kerry was requested by Rolling Stone how he discovered Araya wished to retire. King stated on the time: “We had been on tour and a few child was interviewing him, and he stated one thing about, ‘I’ve obtained to get along with Kerry and speak earlier than we speak concerning the subsequent report.’ He ought to have simply stated, ‘I am in all probability not going to do one other report,’ or had that dialog with me earlier than he talked about something like that. I used to be simply assuming, ‘Oh fuck, what’s this going to be?’ And it was, ‘I am accomplished.’ Not what I anticipated. However in the event you made that call, I am not going to attempt to speak you out of it as a result of your coronary heart’s not going to be in it anyway.”
Concerning why Araya had determined to retire, King stated: “I believe simply the wear and tear and tear of the street. I believe he wished to be dwelling. None of us are actual highlight seekers, however he is actually not. And when Jeff was round, he was like a hermit. He didn’t need fame. I tolerate fame. Any person’s obtained to be that man.”
Kerry additionally confirmed that character variations contributed to SLAYER‘s eventual break up.
“Me and Tom have by no means been on the identical web page,” he stated. “Like if I need a chocolate shake, he needs a vanilla shake. ‘Kerry, what colour is the sky?’ Blue. ‘Tom, what colour is the sky?’ White. We’re simply totally different individuals. The additional on in years we obtained, it simply grew to become extra.
“Am I going to hang around with Tom? He likes tequila a bit of bit and I am an enormous tequila-head, so I am going to have my shot with him, and we’ll half methods,” he continued. “We’re not going to hang around or something as a result of we’re very totally different individuals. And collectively, we made nice music and an ideal stay present.”
Rolling Stone requested King if his and Araya‘s differing political ideologies performed a component in SLAYER‘s break up. In 2017, Araya used SLAYER‘s official Instagram account to make a put up about then newly elected U.S. president Donald Trump, stirring up an enormous backlash from the band’s fanbase.
“I used to be tremendous pissed off at that — however not sufficient to fucking give up my band,” King stated of the incident. “I used to be like, ‘Dude, that is what your private social media is for. You are the one one on this band that provides a shit about this fool, and while you put it up there, we’re all backing him.’ And I’m not [backing Trump], Gary‘s [Holt, SLAYER guitarist] not, Paul [Bostaph, SLAYER drummer] shouldn’t be. That is your opinion, not ours. I’d by no means try this to you.”
Previous to SLAYER‘s 2024 reunion, King advised Rolling Stone that he and Tom had not had any contact for the reason that final present of SLAYER‘s farewell tour in 2019. “Not even a textual content. Not even an e-mail,” he stated. “I’ve talked to all people else from the band on the cellphone, textual content, or e-mail. If Tom hit me up, I might in all probability reply. It in all probability is determined by what he hit me up for, however I do not want him lifeless at this second.”
Picture credit score: Ryan Segedi (courtesy of Cosa Nostra PR)