“I think people are questioning the norm more than they did 15 years ago.”
– Kerry King, Slayer
Back in 1984 Slayer and other metal mainstays Venom and Exodus hit the road on what was dubbed the Combat Tour. According to band legend, one drunken night on the tour bus, Slayer frontman Tom Araya – just a tempestuous twentysomething – stumbled down the hallway looking for a place to take a leak. Venom vocalist Cronos joked that the bathroom was right there, in his mouth. Araya proceeded to whip it out and piss all over Cronos’ hair. Sure, Cronos left Araya with a shiner but it’s all part of what makes Slayer, well, fucking Slayer.
After more than 20 years and 13 albums, the thrash-metal titans are still going strong, and with the release of Christ Illusion in 2006, some say Slayer is better than ever. Not only is Christ Illusion the first album in 15 years with the original lineup – Araya (vocals/bass), Kerry King (guitar), Jeff Hanneman (guitar) and Dave Lombardo (drums) – but it also managed to earn the band a Grammy, proving you never know what to expect from these California natives.
SuicideGirls caught up with metal legend Kerry King to chat about the Christ Illusion Special Limited Edition (out now), the band’s summer tour with Marilyn Manson, and the joys of breeding snakes…
Read our exclusive interview with Kerry King on SuicideGirls.com.
