Kerry King Says He Doesn’t Believe in God or Satan

Kerry King, guitarist and one of the primary songwriters from Slayer, has made a career out of Satanic imagery in the band’s lyrics. His solo career hasn’t been any different, as his new solo album released last week is titled From Hell I Rise and has songs with titles like “Diablo,” “Idle Hands,” and “Crucifixation.” A lot of the music is either about the Devil or about blaspheming against God, so much so that in 2000 Slayer were sued (unsuccessfully) by the family of a teenage girl who was said to be murdered by boys who were trying to sacrifice her to Satan. If we were to take King’s lyrics at face value, we’d have to assume that King and Lucifer are best buds that hang out on the weekends.

But it turns out that King believes none of it. In a recent interview with German metal site Moshpit Passion, King admitted he’s an atheist and doesn’t believe in God or Satan at all. Here’s what he had to say, as transcribed by Blabbermouth.net:

“I think a lot of people are just born into their beliefs — they come down from their parents, their friends, whatever. And I don’t believe in God or the devil — I don’t believe in anything; I’m an atheist — but I like to put options on the table for those people that may never question what they believe or why they believe it. I don’t care if you believe in God — good on you; have fun with that; that’s a good story — but I just like to throw things on the table and say, ‘Hey, have you ever thought of a different perspective? Have you ever thought of all the preachers that get arrested for fondling little boys?’ This world isn’t perfect. So I just put things out on the table and hopefully get people thinking about their own life and figure things out for themselves.”

Then a little later on he added:

“That’s why, first and foremost, I always say I am an atheist. I don’t believe any of it. But I don’t mind writing about it. (Laughs) I like to think of my songs as mini screenplays that give you visuals in your mind. And it just makes you think of things, makes you think like you’re watching a movie in your head. Maybe someday somebody will make up a movie based on a short story by Kerry King, and that story is my song.”

So maybe King isn’t buddy-buddy with Satan after all, but, despite his atheism, he’s an absolute master at satanic lyrics. To check out some more of King’s dark music live, check him out at the dates below.

Jun 3 –  NL Tilburg – 013
Jun 4 – NL Enschede – Hertog Jan Zaal
Jun 6 – SE Sölvesborg – Sweden Rock Festival
Jun 7 – DE Nürburgring – Rock am Ring
Jun 8 – PL Gdańsk – Mystic Festival
Jun 9 – DE Nuremberg – Rock im Park
Jun 11 – DE Hamburg – Große Freiheit 36
Jun 12 – DE Berlin – Huxleys Neue Welt
Jun 13 – AT Nickelsdorf – Nova Rock
Jun 15 – CZ Hradec Králové, Rock For People
Jun 16 – UK Derby – Download Festival
Jun 18 – UK London – Electric Ballroom
Jun 20 – BE Dessel – Graspop Metal Meeting
Jun 21 DK Copenhagen – Copenhell
Jun 22 FI Nummijärvi, Nummirock Metal Festival
Jun 26 – ES Viveiro – Resurrection Fest
Jun 27 – FR Clisson – Hellfest
Jun 28 – FI Helsinki – Tuska
Jun 29 – PT Lisbon – Evil Live Festival, Altice Arena
Jul 19 – Grand Prairie, TX – Texas Trust CU Theatre
Jul 20 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater
Jul 21 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall
Jul 23 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place
Jul 24 – Orlando, FL – Orlando Amphitheater
Jul 25 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Jul 27 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater
Jul 28 – Richmond, VA – Virginia Credit Union LIVE!
Jul 30 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE
Jul 31 – London, ON – Budweiser Gardens
Aug 1 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
Aug 3 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena
Aug 4 – Manchester, NH – SNHU Arena
Aug 6 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheatre
Aug 8 – Reading, PA – Santander Arena**
Aug 9 – Cleveland, OH – Jacobs Pavilion**
Aug 10 – Sterling Heights, MI – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre @ Freedom Hill**
Aug 13 – Moorhead, MN – Bluestem Center For The Arts Amphitheater
Aug 15 – Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome
Aug 16 – Penticton, BC – South Okanagan Events Centre
Aug 17 – Kent, WA – accesso ShoWare Center
Aug 18 – Portland, OR – Theater of the Clouds
Aug 21 – Los Angeles, CA – The Kia Forum
Aug 23 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre
Aug 24 – Rio Rancho, NM – Rio Rancho Events Center
Aug 25 – El Paso, TX – El Paso County Coliseum
Aug 27 – Magna, UT – The Great Saltair
Aug 29 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Aug 31 – Omaha, NE – The Astro Amphitheater