The musicians reminisce about how they formed Slayer.
As their career draws to a close, Slayer has released a documentary series that will explore the band's four decades. The first episode recounts how the group met and formed into the Slayer of today.
“I found [guitarist Jeff Hanneman] auditioning for another band in a warehouse ,” recalls guitarist Kerry King, who goes on to say that he was in high school when the band got together. “He was playing some songs I know and I said, ‘Hey, are you in any bands?’ And he wasn’t. So I said, ‘Do you want to play together and see what happens?’ And then it worked out.”
King also talks about some of the jobs he had before Slayer, such as working at a pet shop and a mini-golf course. “I was the kind of person who did stupid things that nobody else wanted to do ,” he recalls, “I’d been working there for a month when this guy said, ‘Cut your hair!’ and I replied, ‘Go to hell,’ and that was the end of it.”
Bassist and vocalist Tom Araya also shared memories of a life without Slayer, "I went to school, helped my dad, and wanted to play music ," he said. Then he recounts that he had a summer job before graduating and hoped to keep the job before the band formed.
Gary Holt, the guitarist who replaced founder Jeff Hanneman when he passed away, recalls meeting Slayer when he was still in the early days of Exodus. And drummer Paul Bostaph, who replaced drummer and founder Dave Lombardo, talks about meeting Slayer at a party he was at with the band Forbidden.
Slayer will be touring the United States in May alongside Lamb of God, Anthrax, Behemoth, and Testament as part of their farewell tour.
