Metal Anarchy

During a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Kerry King opened up about his relationship with his Slayer bandmate Tom Araya. The guitarist says he hasn’t spoken to the frontman since the band’s final concert.

King said the following when asked how he found out about Araya’s decision to retire:

“We were on tour and some kid was interviewing him, and he said something about, ‘I’ve got to get together with Kerry and talk before we talk about the next record.’ He should have just said, ‘I’m probably not going to do another record,’ or had that conversation with me before he mentioned anything like that. I was just assuming, ‘Oh fuck, what’s this going to be?’ And it was, ‘I’m done.’ Not what I expected. But if you made that decision, I’m not going to try to talk you out of it because your heart’s not going to be in it anyway.”

He continued when asked why Araya wanted to retire:

“I think just the wear and tear of the road. I think he wanted to be home. None of us are real spotlight seekers, but he’s certainly not. And when [late Slayer guitarist] Jeff [Hanneman] was around, he was like a hermit. He did not want fame. I tolerate fame. Somebody’s got to be that guy.”

King also discussed the political differences between the two, referencing Araya’s decision to post a photoshopped pic of the band with Donald Trump back in 2017:

“I was super pissed off at that — but not enough to fucking quit my band. I was like, ‘Dude, that’s what your personal social media is for. You’re the only one in this band that gives a shit about this idiot, and when you put it up there, we’re all backing him.’ And I am not [backing Trump], [guitarist] Gary [Holt]’s not, [drummer] Paul [Bostaph] is not. That’s your opinion, not ours. I would never do that to you.”

He added:

“Me and Tom have never been on the same page. Like if I want a chocolate shake, he wants a vanilla shake. ‘Kerry, what color is the sky?’ Blue. ‘Tom, what color is the sky?’ White. We’re just different people. The further on in years we got, it just became more.

Am I going to hang out with Tom? He likes tequila a little bit and I’m a big tequila-head, so I’ll have my shot with him, and we’ll part ways. We’re not going to hang out or anything because we are very different people. And together, we made great music and a great live show.”

He also confirmed that hasn’t spoken to Araya since their final show in 2019:

“Not even a text. Not even an e-mail. I’ve talked to everybody else from the band on the phone, text, or e-mail. If Tom hit me up, I’d probably respond. It probably depends on what he hit me up for, but I don’t wish him dead at this moment.”

King then discussed the possibility of a new Slayer album:

“I can pretty much a hundred percent say no because I have a new outlet, and it’s not Slayer, but it sounds like Slayer. I’m making the music I like to make still, so I don’t need to do that. Records don’t sell anymore anyway. It’s just a means to have a product out so people know what I’m playing when I come to town.”

He also ruled out a future Slayer tour:

“I’m pretty sure that’s not going to happen. Could Slayer play a show again? I’m sure there’s a scenario. Am I looking for it? No, I’m just getting ready to start my career. So if that happens, it happens. But I’m going to be doing this [solo band] for the next 10 years at least.”