It’s not every day that Kerry King offers to answer your emails but the ‘King himself has agreed to answer the ramblings of a select few members of the Metal Hammer staff.

Check out some of our favourite Slayer moments from our own personal experiences and what the Slayer shredder had to say about them.

Terry Bezer:

“When you guys first brought Dave back to the fold, I remember you playing three nights at the Astoria. One of my lasting memories from the show was the support band. If memory serves correct they were a British band called Ellis. They played nu-metal, had a knuckle-head who looked like Vin Diesel for a singer and a female bassist. One side of me felt sorry for the shit they got but the other thought they were nu-metal so fuck ‘em.”

Kerry says: “Ahh, the problems of ‘questionable’ acts opening for the beast that is SLAYER!”

Alex Burrows:

It’s often thought that Kerry is strictly a beer ‘n’ Jagermeister chap but he’s something of a bon viveur on the quiet. This pic was taken at the Golden Gods II aftershow. For a change, the party was in a rather salubrious establishment which proffered an impressive wine list, considering the hostelry’s immediate environs. Kerry and I were discussing the finer points of viniculture and sampling an array of new world wines. Here, we are trying out a rather robust Chilean Carmenere.
And here’s the proof (Ok, so only I had wine, but the rest is true)

Kerry says: “Alright my friend, here goes… I don’t drink beer, nor have I ever partaken in wine! It must’ve done a number on your memory! Your photo proves my point! Where’s my fuckin’ jager?!?!?!?!”

Malcolm Dome:

I do recall the first time Slayer headlined Hammersmith Odeon, backstage Kerry King being more interested in a copy of a music mag than chatting up two very keen groupies.

Then, there’s the complete shock on their faces in New York in 1986, when the record label in the UK had kicked up a stink over Angel Of Death. Tom’s quote then was, “How can I be racist when I’m Chilean?”

There was the time they supported Venom at The Palace in LA (1985) and after they finished their set, they went down to the front to headbang to Venom.

Kerry says: “Fuck yeah! I headbanged to Venom! I’d do it today! Woooaaaaaahhhh black metal!”

Chris Ingham:

I can remember two thirds of Slayer bailing at the Golden God Awards to sit in a pub round the corner because it was ‘too hot’ in the venue. Tom wanted to score some weed. But more, he wanted to tell people about his bull sperm: what it retails for, how much it costs per vial. They invited Kerry to join them in the pub but he said, ‘No thanks, I’m at the metal show.’ And asked us for another Jager. Legend.

Kerry says: “As i said at the last Golden Gods… I’m an incredibly lucky fuck who has some of the greatest friends and colleagues in the business, so far be it from me to abandon a great time like that! Let’s fuckin’ do it again!”

Dom Lawson:

Not much of an anecdote, I know, but the first time I interviewed Slayer in the flesh was at the Ozzfest in New Jersey (I think) when they were third on the bill to Priest and Sabbath. I was hanging around outside their tour bus, waiting for the tour manager to turn up and lead me through to the band, when Kerry King suddenly appeared. He was scowling, as usual, and growled “Are you the English guy?”, which made me think I was about to be physically assaulted or, at best, forced to endure one of those interviews. I said “Yup, that’s me”…at which point Kerry grinned, led me on to the tour bus and then forced me to drink several shots of freezing cold Jagermeister. In fact, he refused to do the interview until everyone on the bus (the band, several girlfriends/wives and at least two burly hangers-on who may or may not have been members of Black Label Society) had had a shot. I wish more bands were that friendly. Great interview too.

Kerry says: “See, you never know how much fun can be had unexpectedly. It probably was BLS guys on the bus. And what a great day in metal history for the fans - myself included… Slayer, Priest, and fuckin’ Sabbath! Fuck yeah!”

Dave Ling:

On UK tour for the Reign In Blood album in 1987 – I think it was at the Manchester Apollo gig I saw – Tom Araya repulsed the audience by telling them about performing cunnilingus on corpses. “Every time I eat them out,” he claimed, “I can feel the maggots crunching in my teeth.

Kerry says: “And if you notice, if we play the song now, he says the same shit!”

Slayer will co-headline this year’s Unholy Alliance with Trivium on a bill that also features Mastodon and Amon Amarth. Dates call at:

October 27th - Manchester Arena

October 28th - Birmingham NEC

October 30th and 31st - London Hammersmith Apollo

November 2nd - Cardiff CIA

November 3rd - Glasgow SECC

Tickets for Unholy Alliance are available now.