Slayer called it a career back in 2019 and performed their last show in Los Angeles. So far, they remain one of the few bands in existence to do a retirement tour and not re-form.
The thrash metal legends had performed since 1981 earning the distinction as one of heavy metal’s “Big Four” alongside Metallica, Anthrax and Megadeth, and the group has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide earning five Grammy Award nominations in the process. The band is also frequently sighted as one of the most influential thrash metal bands of all time.
In a new interview with Metal Hammer, guitarist Kerry King revealed his reaction when he was first approached with the idea of Slayer retiring.
“Anger… what else?” he said of how he felt. “It was premature. The reason I say ‘premature’ is because my heroes from my childhood are still playing! I can still play, I still want to play, but that livelihood got taken away from me. But, anyway, on to the next chapter, I guess, We were on top of the world, and there’s nothing wrong with going out on top of the world, it’s a good way to go out. So, bravo for that. But do I miss playing? Yeah, absolutely.”
King soon plans to reveal details on the project he’s been working on, and he said Slayer fans will be happy with the musical direction. “If you know my work, you know what it’s going to sound like,” he said.
Exodus/Slayer guitarist Gary Holt also agreed that Slayer quit too soon.
He told Metal Hammer in 2021: “We were still playing at the top of our game, we were totally killing it,” he said. “The band had a lot of years left in it, but I guess when it’s time, it’s time. When you decide to walk away from something, walk away. I can’t tell anybody they made the wrong decision. Better to go out on top than go out unable to play your own songs, and this sh*t isn’t easy. Playing ‘Angel Of Death’ at 70 years old would be f*cking hard. But it was time for me to come back, let’s put it that way. I was really missing my first family.”
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