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 Grammy Award winning thrash band Slayer is on the road for one of the most anticipated tours of the summer, which also featuring Marilyn Manson. Slayer burst onto the music scene in 1981 and has been garnering music fans across the world with their speed demon metal guitar riffs for over twenty years.
Slayers approach to metal has a raw, honest appeal, never shying away from their signature guitar speed demon sound or sensitive subjects such as war, that won the band a Grammy for best produced video,” Eyes Of The Insane". Kerry King’s impeccable speed demon riffs, along with Tom Araya's hard-driving vocals captured the intensity of this outstanding war depicted video approach.
On July 24th, Slayer reissued their 2006, "Christ Illusion" CD, with a bonus DVD. The album also features a new track,” The Final Six," and new take on the song,” Black Serenade.".
In this Exclusive interview with Glammetal.com, one of the most respected guitarists in metal today, Kerry King discusses Slayer's opening week on tour with Shock rocker Marilyn Manson and upcoming show at the DCU Center in Worcester on August 4th. He also reveals new details about the stage production, and gives his fans special insight on a future” Holy Alliance" DVD, and his Signature Guitar Model, the KKV by B.C. Rich.
Kerry, Thank you for checking in with Glammetal.com to discuss the tour. The Slayer/Marilyn Manson tour kicked off on July 25th in Florida. How is the tour going so far?
KING: Well, we are four shows in; it is not like it has been going that long. Things are good. Slayer hasn't played this set long enough to be comfortable with it. But now after this 4th show, we are pretty comfortable and you don't have to think as much. You can just put on your show. (Laughter)
Was it hard trying to pick a set list for this particular tour? The band has such an extensive repertoire.
KING: It is because the shorter we play, the harder it is to figure out what he are going to play. We are playing an hour and 10 minutes, so we get 14 songs in there. We are playing stuff that people haven't heard in awhile. Some of the favorites. I try and mix it up, every time we come through for people that have seen us once or twice already. So it is not like a waste of money.
I think it is a great idea too that Slayer are opening. I will be attending your show at the DCU Center, and Worcester is a working town. Has it been beneficial for Slayer to open the show so far?
KING: Everyone once in a while, it is cool, because we headline so much. Even though it is co-headlining and we play the same amount of time, Manson plays last so my party starts earlier than usual. (Laughter)
How have the fans been reacting to the Slayer set and Marilyn Manson set. Would you say there are two different audiences that are attending the concerts?
KING: Well, I haven't been onstage for much of Manson's set yet, because three of the four shows, I have been entertaining friends. They are people that I don't see that often. So I am hanging out with them and doing stuff. I was up there for one tune and one of these days, probably after we get through New York and New England, I will settle down and go out and watch them a little bit.
Now Slayer has just re-issued the 2006 "Christ Illusion". It also features a DVD. Will you be performing a lot of tunes off of the album?
KING: We are doing three songs off of that album.
How does it feel to be reunited with Rick Rubin at Columbia Records, after so many years?
KING: Well, we really didn’t work with him. After we got done with everything he kind of did his thing with the mix. I never saw him. I couldn't tell you the last time, I saw Rick Rubin.
How has the music industry changed, since your debut in the 80's? Do you feel that the metal scene is strong once again?
KING: It is pretty big right now. As long, as there are quality bands putting out quality stuff, it will hang around. When too many people get signed and too many bands come out with marginal stuff, it kind of dilutes what we are all trying to achieve.
Kerry, You are one of the premier guitar players of our genre. How do you feel that Slayer and yourself as a guitarist has evolved since Slayer's debut in metal in 1981?
KING: I say, we just learn more about our craft. Other than that, it is exactly the same. I think not to say that we are better songwriters but I think we put more effort into and just know more the business in general.
On the current Slayer tour, how many guitars do you bring onstage a night? How many different tunings are featured in a night?
KING: Yes, we do different tunings. I think I am running with 10. I think I play probably six of them.
Let's talk a little bit about your Signature Guitar, the KKV with B.C. Rich. What special features and tone did you had in mind when designing the KKV Signature model?
KING: Well, if you bought one just like mine, they weigh a ton. The are made out of solid maple. I know that B.C.Rich makes a lower version that isn't maple. They just came out with one that mimics my original one but this time around instead of a fixed bridge; they put a kahler on it, which is more like what I play.
What kind of neck do you prefer on your guitar thick or thin?
KING: I don't think anybody likes baseball bats, yeah know. (Laughter) But, I don't think it is exceptionally thin either. I think it's got a good feel to it.
"Christ Illusion" features a new song,” The Final Six". Tell me a little about the writing of this song.
KING: It was suppose to be on the first release of,” Christ Illusion". But we had it all finished and everything but Tom went home for a vacation for a weekend and that is when he got sick. So, he couldn't come back to finish it. So we finished it a few months back, and now with a new record label it kind of helped out. They wanted to re-release the album so we had something new we can put on.
Now what about the guitar part for the song, "Black Serenade"? Why did you want to do them over?
KING: Actually, we didn't do it over. What we did was, the way Jeff originally wrote it, is the way it is on the re-release. The way it was on the first one was the way the producer messed around moved things around. I don't like one particularly better than the other. It is just a different version.
Also, the new re-issued "Christ Illusion" features a bonus DVD. Are you happy with the footage on the DVD? Any chance that you will be filming any of the shows on this tour for a possible new live DVD?
KING: There was guy out here filming the last two shows. I know there are cameras that out up on screen. I am not positive, if any of that stuff is being recorded or not.
Are there any more plans to re-issue any more of Slayer's past catalog?
KING: I don't think so. I think we got everything out finally. I know we got a DVD from the "Unholy Alliance" Tour in the works. The majority of it is us, but Lamb of God is on it, Children Of Bodom is on it, Mastodon is on it.
Kerry, I would like to congratulate you and Slayer for your Grammy award on,” Eyes Of The Insane". What was running through your mind when you won the Grammy Award? The video was outstanding. It depicted the horrors of war. Tell me why you choose to do more of a theatrical video than a performance video?
KING: At that time, we got a treatment for three different songs. There was that one, there was "Jihad", and "Cult", I believe. "Eyes Of The Insane" was the one that was different. It felt like it would be cool to have someone do it. It just seemed like a cool thing to do. After we viewed it, we thought that is really different. I am a fan of performance videos, as well. I think fans want to see the band. I think every once in a while, we got so much footage out there in one form or another, that this is kind of a different thing to throw out.
Was "Jihad" written about September 11th?
KING: It was loosely. It was written from the perspective of Al - Qaida I would say.
Now getting back to the current tour. Do you have a massive stage show on the current tour?
KING: it is a pretty good size. We are traveling with more Marshalls, than we ever have. Which, I am sure makes Marshall very happy. It is condensed, like I said. We are on 70 minutes, it is just mayhem from the time we start to finish. It is pretty effective.
Now you also just toured Europe recently. How would you compare European Metal audiences to American Metal audiences?
KING: What we did over there was mostly festivals. It is kind of like being on an Ozzfest every day, but with different bands on it. So it is really odd. You can see a bunch of your friends in different countries, and you don't even know you are playing with them that day. It was interesting.
Kerry, I know you attended NAMM, earlier this year. Also you attended the Dimebag Blacktooth Bash. How did Dimebag Darrell Abbott influence you, as a musician?
KING: Dime just made me realize with a little practice, how good you can get. Dime was just mind-blowing. Zakk is the same way. I could listen to either one for them play for hours.
Do you think you will ever work with Zakk Wylde in the future?
KING: Yes, if either one of us had time to wipe our ass. (Laughter) Yes, we are two of the busiest guys on the planet.
Kerry, Actually, you Zakk, and Dime are the premier metal guitarists on the planet. Back in 1981, when Slayer first burst onto the music scene, bands back in the day, use to release albums once or even twice in the same year. Now all of that has changed today. Why did Slayer have a five-year gap between "God hates us all" and the,"Christ Illusion" release?
KING: We were touring a lot. We put out a lot of stuff. We put out the box set. We put out two different DVD's in one year. We kind of toured on a DVD. We put out another DVD; we kind of toured on that one. It was just putting out different products and supporting it on the road.
Kerry, I have to commend you too, for the band never changing their musical roots to fit in with the current every changing musical trend that come and go in this business. Would you attribute Slayer's longevity is due to the fact that Slayer never compromised their music and stayed true to your craft?
KING:I think it shows that we got it right the first time. Number one, we didn't change to become popular. We just did what we wanted and popularity came to us.
What are Slayer's touring plans after this current tour is finished? Will the band be on the road till the end of the year?
KING: I think we are done after this tour for the year. I don't know what the beginning of next year holds. I haven't talked to the manager about that or anything.
Kerry, Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to do this very important tour interview for Glammetal.com. One last thing, I have to ask you about your tattoos. Does the 666 or tribal tattoo on your head, have any special meaning to you?
KING: I got that one done of 06/06/06 at Paul Booth's place. The tribal one was just the vibe; I was going for I guess.
Kerry, I want to thank you so much for your time. I will be out to review Slayer at The DCU Center in Worcester on August 4.
Great, we will catch up with you later.
www.myspace.com/slayer
www.bcrich.com
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