Kerry King Was “Very Surprised” Slayer Reunion Shows Got Announced
When it was announced that Slayer was returning for a couple shows, it’s not much of a stretch to suggest that everyone was shocked. It hadn’t even been 10 years since they hung it up, but the iconic thrash metal band said they were coming back for a handful of shows — not a full tour, as guitarist Kerry King keeps reminding us.
And even though he knew the reunion was coming and admitted to not telling his solo band about those plans, apparently Kerry King said in a recent interview with Guitar World magazine that was “very surprised” that the tour was going to happen.
“I was very surprised. I made my comments [about Slayer being finished] based on [Slayer bassist/vocalist Tom Araya] not wanting to play anymore. As far as I was concerned, we were done and never going to play again. To be honest, I don’t know what switched.
“We’ve been turning down offers to play shows for at least three years. So, one came up that, I guess, enticed Tom to the point where he wanted to roll the dice and try a couple. I don’t know, but that’s all it is.”
In the weeks since the reunion shows were announced, King’s really been the only person out there in the press talking about it. And in most instances he’s been trying to tamp down on fan expectations. No, Slayer won’t be doing long tours. No, this won’t be a yearly thing. The list of things the reunion won’t be goes on and on.
Except maybe it will? In that Guitar World interview, he said that there was a chance more Slayer shows could happen in the future.
“There could be an instance where there’s another one-off. It just has to be the right offer at the right time, maybe someplace everybody loves to go. But touring, no, I don’t see touring. But, you know, who’s to say a one-off can’t happen again?”
So there ya have it. Maybe keep an eye out for new Slayer shows. Or don’t. There will be tons of shows with Kerry King’s solo band, which is effectively Slayer-lite, so there’s that. You can find the full list of dates for both below.
Kerry King Tour Dates
Jul 19 – Grand Prairie, TX – Texas Trust CU Theatre [Tickets]
Jul 20 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater [Tickets]
Jul 21 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall [Tickets]
Jul 23 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place [Tickets]
Jul 24 – Orlando, FL – Orlando Amphitheater [Tickets]
Jul 25 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre [Tickets]
Jul 27 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater [Tickets]
Jul 28 – Richmond, VA – Virginia Credit Union LIVE! [Tickets]
Jul 30 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE [Tickets]
Jul 31 – London, ON – Budweiser Gardens [Tickets]
Aug 1 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre [Tickets]
Aug 3 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena [Tickets]
Aug 4 – Manchester, NH – SNHU Arena [Tickets]
Aug 6 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheatre [Tickets]
Aug 8 – Reading, PA – Santander Arena** [Tickets]
Aug 9 – Cleveland, OH – Jacobs Pavilion** [Tickets]
Aug 10 – Sterling Heights, MI – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre @ Freedom Hill** [Tickets]
Aug 13 – Moorhead, MN – Bluestem Center For The Arts Amphitheater [Tickets]
Aug 15 – Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome [Tickets]
Aug 16 – Penticton, BC – South Okanagan Events Centre [Tickets]
Aug 17 – Kent, WA – accesso ShoWare Center [Tickets]
Aug 18 – Portland, OR – Theater of the Clouds [Tickets]
Aug 21 – Los Angeles, CA – The Kia Forum [Tickets]
Aug 23 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre [Tickets]
Aug 24 – Rio Rancho, NM – Rio Rancho Events Center [Tickets]
Aug 25 – El Paso, TX – El Paso County Coliseum [Tickets]
Aug 27 – Magna, UT – The Great Saltair [Tickets]
Aug 29 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre [Tickets]
Aug 31 – Omaha, NE – The Astro Amphitheater [Tickets]
Slayer reunion shows
Sep 20-22 – Chicago, IL – Riot Fest [Tickets]
Sep 27 – Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life [Tickets]
Oct 10 – Sacramento, CA – Aftershock [Tickets]
