SLAYER

 

In January 2018 the band announced it would embark on its final world tour, which began that May and ended in November 2019; the band is not breaking up but will not perform live anymore. Despite being referred to as a farewell tour for Slayer, their manager Rick Sales has stated that the band is not breaking up, but has no intention of ever performing live again. Kristen Mulderig, who works with Rick Sales Entertainment Group, has also been quoted as saying that there would be Slayer-related activities following the tour's conclusion.

Not to be confused with Texas power metal band S.A. Slayer, who was initially known as Slayer.

Slayer was formed in 1981 by Los Angeles schoolmates and guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Tom Araya soon joined on bass and vocals, and drummer Dave Lombardo joined last in 1982. They played in a style reminiscent of early Exodus, influenced heavily by Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, before their attendance at a mid-1982 Metallica concert convinced them to play faster and heavier.

"Black Magic" was written in February 1983 and marked Slayer's definite venture into thrash metal. They secured a spot on the compilation appearance Metal Massacre III in 1983, contributing the speed metal song "Aggressive Perfector". They also recorded two demos in 1983 and became a popular live act in the Los Angeles area (in 1983, Bob Gourley filled in for Dave for one gig and later appeared in Dark Angel). Their debut LP, Show no Mercy, was recorded in November, 1983.

Show No Mercy was released after Slayer appeared on Brian Slagel's Metal Massacre III compilation. Then came the two EPs Haunting the Chapel and Live Undead, the latter of which was actually recorded in the studio in front of 50 of their closest friends.

After 1985's Hell Awaits, Slayer were signed to Rick Rubins Def Jam record label, better known for acts like Run DMC. This led to three studio albums, including the brutal Reign in Blood, as well as a 1991 live double CD, Decade of Aggression.

Dave Lombardo left the band in 1987 for several weeks and was replaced for a few live gigs by Tony Scaglione (Whiplash), and then again left in 1992. Finally, in 1994, Paul Bostaph from Forbidden was brought in and three more albums were recorded. Drummer Jon Dette was an official member of Slayer briefly in 1996.

In 2001, Bostaph left to join Systematic. Lombardo, who had been in Grip Inc. and Fantômas, rejoined the band.

While both have sometimes been reported, the band was never known as Dragonslayer, and Slayer is not an acronym for 'Satan Laughs As You Eternally Rot', even though those words appeared on the first vinyl pressing of Show No Mercy between the grooves of the record (known as dead wax) and the paper label in the middle.

Slayer Discography

Show No Mercy Full-length 1983

Live Undead Live album 1984

Hell Awaits Full-length 1985

Reign in Blood Full-length 1986

South of Heaven Full-length 1988

Seasons in the Abyss Full-length 1990

Decade of Aggression Live album 1991

Divine Intervention Full-length 1994

Undisputed Attitude Full-length 1996

Übernoise Compilation 1998  

Diabolus in Musica Full-length 1998

God Hates Us All Full-length 2001

Soundtrack to the Apocalypse Compilation 2003

Christ Illusion Full-length 2006

World Painted Blood Full-length 2009

The Vinyl Conflict Boxed set 2010  

Repentless Full-length 2015

The Repentless Killogy (Live at the Forum in Inglewood, CA) Live album 2019