BLAST FROM THE PAST: Old School Interview With Members Of Slayer - Read Now!

 For over 25 years, SLAYER has been busy dominating the Heavy Music world. As previously reported,  the band is currently working on their twelfth studio album. Here is an old school interview featuring SLAYER's guitar duo Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman! Check it out!

WHIPLASH: How, when, and where did SLAYER originate?

KERRY KING: SLAYER started out in about October of 1981. We all sucked terribly. I was at an audition for another shitty Los Angeles band and Jeff happened to be auditioning for the same band. Our talents and interests were similar, so that's when SLAYER started. I knew Tom from a previous band, and Dave lived down the street. That's how SLAYER's been ever since.

WHIPLASH: Personal and band influences.

JEFF HANNEMAN: Band influences are VENOM, MERCYFUL FATE, and METALLICA. That's it because that's about all we listen to.

KERRY KING: I think it's kind of obvious that we like VENOM, and METALLICA. I also think FATE's NEW album has some of the hottest riffs ever written.

WHIPLASH: Is this the original SLAYER lineup?

JEFF HANNEMAN: The SLAYER lineup has been the same since the beginning, because when bands start replacing members it fucks up the original power and energy they had, like IRON MAIDEN.

WHIPLASH: Inspiration for songs.

JEFF HANNEMAN: Kerry and I don't get inspired. I just sit down and start fucking around with a riff or chord pattern, then make it as Heavy and evil as possible.

WHIPLASH: The Los Angeles Metal scene in general (especially how it reacts to SLAYER).

KERRY KING: The Los Angeles scene is fucked, they are mostly into the wimp side of Heavy Metal. There is a select few true METAL worshipers but that's about it. We want out of Los Angeles now.

JEFF HANNEMAN: Los Angeles has got to be the poseur capital of the world. Around here QUIET RIOT, MOTLEY CRUE, and RATT are the heaviest in the world. So if that's heavy we must be molten steel. This being L.A.'s state of mind, it's obvious that SLAYER fans around here are few and far between. But those that are into us are totally hardcore.

As previously reported, SLAYER will be co-headlining the 2012 ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL:

6/30 – San Bernardino, CA
7/1 – San Francisco, CA
7/3 – Seattle, WA
7/6 – Phoenix, AZ
7/7 – Albuquerque, NM
7/8 – Denver, CO
7/10 – Dallas, TX
7/11 – Houston, TX
7/13 – Tampa, FL
7/14 – Atlanta, GA
7/15 – Indianapolis, IN
7/18 – Oklahoma City, OK
7/20 – St. Louis, MO
7/21 – Chicago, IL
7/22 – Detroit, MI
7/24 – Cincinnati, OH
7/25 – Cleveland, OH
7/27 – Philadelphia, PA
7/28 – Pittsburgh, PA
7/29 – Washington, DC
7/31 – Saratoga, NY
8/1 – Buffalo, NY
8/3 – Boston, MA
8/4 – Scranton, PA
8/5 – Hartford, CT

Stay tuned for more Slayer news!

Related links:
Slayer's Official Site

When Can The SLAYTANIC Army Expect A NEW ALBUM? Dave Lombardo Has An Update For You!

So what is the status of SLAYER's NEW album? Well,  Joe Daly of The Nervous Breakdown had the chance to chat with SLAYER's skinsman Dave Lombardo about the status of what will be the bands 12th studio album. Here is what Mr. Lombardo had to say about this matter.

 The Nervous Breakdown: So what's happening with SLAYER?

Lombardo: Writing NEW music. Kerry and I are writing NEW material. We have nine songs and everything's moving forward.

The Nervous Breakdown: What does it sound like so far?

Lombardo: SLAYER.

The Nervous Breakdown: So old-school fans will be happy?

Lombardo: Traditional fans will be pacified and non-traditional fans will be like, "Again?"

The Nervous Breakdown: Any estimation when the album could see the light of day?

Lombardo: I don't know, but we're going to do a three- or four-song EP to keep the fans pacified until we come out with the full-length record. Kind of like what we did with "Psycopathy Red", which was like a two-song 45.

As previously reported, SLAYER will be co-headlining the 2012 ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL:

6/30 – San Bernardino, CA
7/1 – San Francisco, CA
7/3 – Seattle, WA
7/6 – Phoenix, AZ
7/7 – Albuquerque, NM
7/8 – Denver, CO
7/10 – Dallas, TX
7/11 – Houston, TX
7/13 – Tampa, FL
7/14 – Atlanta, GA
7/15 – Indianapolis, IN
7/18 – Oklahoma City, OK
7/20 – St. Louis, MO
7/21 – Chicago, IL
7/22 – Detroit, MI
7/24 – Cincinnati, OH
7/25 – Cleveland, OH
7/27 – Philadelphia, PA
7/28 – Pittsburgh, PA
7/29 – Washington, DC
7/31 – Saratoga, NY
8/1 – Buffalo, NY
8/3 – Boston, MA
8/4 – Scranton, PA
8/5 – Hartford, CT

Stay tuned for more Slayer news!

Related links:
Slayer's Official Site

Update From SLAYER's Drummer Dave Lombardo About Bands NEW Album!

Slayer's badass drummer Dave Lombardo has made the following Facebook post regarding the NEW album from the Thrash Metal legends:

"We have seven kick-ass songs" written for the group's next studio album. He adds, "You're going to soil your pants!"

Recently, Jenn Selby of The Quietus conducted an interview with Tom Araya, frontman of SLAYER, while Artisan News spoke with SLAYER guitarist Kerry King! When asked about the status of the NEW SLAYER album, this is what they had to say.

"We've had a few drawbacks, but we are attempting to work on the NEW material," said Araya. "Kerry [King, guitar] and Dave [Lombardo, drums] have been doing that. And me, because I'm sick, I don't want to fly out and make everybody sick, so my joining in the process is going to be on pause until I get better. But there's something there.

"We got back out [on the road] May 25 in Europe, then we'll be back in the States, of course," said Kerry King. "Hopefully we'll get in the studio to record [the new CD] before then, 'cause it's time-consuming. We're looking to get in March and April, so hopefully be done [recording] by the time [we have to go back out on tour]."

"All four of us have agreed that the guy that we want to record our NEW record will be the same gentleman who recorded our last album (Greg Fidelman co-produced 2009's 'World Painted Blood' with Rick Rubin)," Araya said. "We just had a really great experience with him last time, loved the sound, and, if we can make our timings match up, we would love to record with him again. We'll probably bring him in towards the end of the writing process, which is what we did last time."

Araya also spoke about Hanneman's current state of health.

"Jeff is recording and writing with us on the album," Araya said. "He can still play, and he is rehearsing with us. It's just that he needs to get his chops up before he joins us live again... We have to take it one day at a time. He has the ability to play, but he needs to really work at it. So we have to make sure he's at his best before he comes out and tours with us. But yeah, we want him out and on the road with us."

As previously reported, SLAYER will be co-headlining the 2012 ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL:

6/30 – San Bernardino, CA
7/1 – San Francisco, CA
7/3 – Seattle, WA
7/6 – Phoenix, AZ
7/7 – Albuquerque, NM
7/8 – Denver, CO
7/10 – Dallas, TX
7/11 – Houston, TX
7/13 – Tampa, FL
7/14 – Atlanta, GA
7/15 – Indianapolis, IN
7/18 – Oklahoma City, OK
7/20 – St. Louis, MO
7/21 – Chicago, IL
7/22 – Detroit, MI
7/24 – Cincinnati, OH
7/25 – Cleveland, OH
7/27 – Philadelphia, PA
7/28 – Pittsburgh, PA
7/29 – Washington, DC
7/31 – Saratoga, NY
8/1 – Buffalo, NY
8/3 – Boston, MA
8/4 – Scranton, PA
8/5 – Hartford, CT

Stay tuned for more Slayer news!

Related links:
Slayer's Official Site

Tom Araya & Kerry King Update Fans On The Status Of The NEW SLAYER Album!

Recently, Jenn Selby of The Quietus conducted an interview with Tom Araya, frontman of SLAYER, while Artisan News spoke with SLAYER guitarist Kerry King! When asked about the status of the NEW SLAYER album, this is what they had to say.

"We've had a few drawbacks, but we are attempting to work on the NEW material," said Araya. "Kerry [King, guitar] and Dave [Lombardo, drums] have been doing that. And me, because I'm sick, I don't want to fly out and make everybody sick, so my joining in the process is going to be on pause until I get better. But there's something there.

"We got back out [on the road] May 25 in Europe, then we'll be back in the States, of course," said Kerry King. "Hopefully we'll get in the studio to record [the new CD] before then, 'cause it's time-consuming. We're looking to get in March and April, so hopefully be done [recording] by the time [we have to go back out on tour]."

"All four of us have agreed that the guy that we want to record our NEW record will be the same gentleman who recorded our last album (Greg Fidelman co-produced 2009's 'World Painted Blood' with Rick Rubin)," Araya said. "We just had a really great experience with him last time, loved the sound, and, if we can make our timings match up, we would love to record with him again. We'll probably bring him in towards the end of the writing process, which is what we did last time."

Araya also spoke about Hanneman's current state of health.

"Jeff is recording and writing with us on the album," Araya said. "He can still play, and he is rehearsing with us. It's just that he needs to get his chops up before he joins us live again... We have to take it one day at a time. He has the ability to play, but he needs to really work at it. So we have to make sure he's at his best before he comes out and tours with us. But yeah, we want him out and on the road with us."

As previously reported, SLAYER will be co-headlining the 2012 ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL:

6/30 – San Bernardino, CA
7/1 – San Francisco, CA
7/3 – Seattle, WA
7/6 – Phoenix, AZ
7/7 – Albuquerque, NM
7/8 – Denver, CO
7/10 – Dallas, TX
7/11 – Houston, TX
7/13 – Tampa, FL
7/14 – Atlanta, GA
7/15 – Indianapolis, IN
7/18 – Oklahoma City, OK
7/20 – St. Louis, MO
7/21 – Chicago, IL
7/22 – Detroit, MI
7/24 – Cincinnati, OH
7/25 – Cleveland, OH
7/27 – Philadelphia, PA
7/28 – Pittsburgh, PA
7/29 – Washington, DC
7/31 – Saratoga, NY
8/1 – Buffalo, NY
8/3 – Boston, MA
8/4 – Scranton, PA
8/5 – Hartford, CT

Stay tuned for more Slayer news!



Related links:
Slayer's Official Site

Slayer Begin Writing NEW Album + Update On Jeff Hanneman's Health!

According to a Twit by Slayer's drummer Dave Lombardo, the band is currently working on material for its 12th studio album. The tweet went as follows: "SLAYER is writing a new record and PHILM is about to start mixing their debut record. Looking forward to touring again with new music". Does this mean that Jeff Hanneman's health condition has improved? Is he ready to enter studio again? According to Lombardo, Hanneman "is still recovering and doing better."

Earlier this year, Tom Araya was asked about Hanneman's health and when fans can expect to see Jeff back up on stage with Slayer, this is what he had to say.

"Jeff was seriously ill. Jeff ended up contracting a bacteria that ate away his flesh on his arm, so they cut open his arm, from his wrist to his shoulder, and they did a skin graft on him, they cleaned up… It was a flesh-eating virus, so he was really, really bad. So we'll wait for him to get better, and when he's a hundred percent, he's gonna come out and join us."

Araya also told Billboard.com that Slayer will not return to the studio until Hanneman has fully recovered.

"There's no way we'd go into a studio without him," Araya said. "As a band we're not going to do something without him. He's an integral part of the band. We require his musical skills, his writing skills. He's an integral part of the band. So we're going to hold off until he's at 100 percent and can join that process and be part of it."

Stay tuned for more Slayer news!



Related links:
Slayer's Official Site