Slayer Artistfacts

Slayer song list

Slayer Artistfacts

1981-2019, 2024-
Tom ArayaVocals, bass1981-2019, 2024-
Jeff HannemanGuitar1981-2013
Kerry KingGuitar1981-2019, 2024-
Dave LombardoDrums1981–1986, 1987–1992, 2002–2013
Paul BostaphDrums1992-1996, 1997-2002, 2013-2019, 2024-
Gary HoltGuitar2013-2019, 2024-
With songs like "Angel Of Death" and "Spirit In Black," the presence of evil is a common theme in Slayer's songs. Guitarist Kerry King once admitted that he did not have his own definition of "evil," despite it's prevalence in his bands music.
Slayer is known as one of the "Big Four of Thrash Metal" along with Metallica, Anthrax and Megadeth. The four bands played seven shows together during the summer of 2010.
Members of Slayer are very particular about who they work with outside of the band, and frequently reject proposals for side projects and guest appearances. Some of the artists who made the cut and have worked with Slayer include Soulfly, Pantera and Rob Zombie.
The band has cited their 1995 album Divine Intervention as their only regrettable piece of work. The content and material meshed well with the Slayer image, the band has said, but the mixing, "is just atrocious, it is horrible."
Slayer never had a Platinum album, but can claim influence over many that did. System Of A Down, for example, changed their name from "Victim Of A Down" so their CDs would be stocked near Slayer.
The band has admitted to throwing a microwave out of a hotel window, but say they have never destroyed a hotel room in typical rock 'n roll fashion.
Pianist and singer Tori Amos has covered the Slayer classic "Raining Blood." Guitarist Kerry King described her version as "not [his] cup of tea."
Drummer Dave Lombardo started a blues influenced band called Philm that was inspired by legendary rock group Led Zeppelin.
Guitarist Jeff Hanneman passed away aged 49 on May 2, 2013 from liver failure. He had been unable to tour with the rest of the band since January 2011 after he contracted necrotizing fasciitis, a debilitating skin disorder, as a result of a spider bite. However the official cause of death was alcohol-related cirrhosis and Hanneman and his family had apparently been unaware of the extent of the condition until shortly before the end.
Slayer played the final show of what was being billed as their farewell tour on November 30, 2019 at The Forum in Inglewood, California. The last song the band played was "Angel Of Death."

Comments: 1

Dan Gillespy from Courtenay British Columbia Canada We need a Slayer reunion A.S.A.P.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Cheeseburger in ParadiseJimmy Buffett

Jimmy Buffett's "Cheeseburger In Paradise" has muenster (cheese), not mustard, as commonly misheard in the line "medium rare with muenster'd be nice."

Stay With MeSam Smith

A gospel choir appears in Sam Smith's "Stay With Me" video, but the vocals on the song are all Smith - about 20 tracks of his voice were used to make him sound like a chorus.

I Kissed a GirlKaty Perry

Katy Perry's breakout hit, "I Kissed A Girl," was surprising to those familiar with her past: Her parents were pastors and she started off singing Christian music.

Everything Your Heart DesiresHall & Oates

The Hall & Oates hit "Everything Your Heart Desires" has no rhymes.

Human NatureMichael Jackson

Michael Jackson's "Human Nature" was written by the keyboard player from Toto, who was working on the Thriller album.

Freedom Of ChoiceDevo

The Devo song "Freedom Of Choice" is about mindless consumerism - how people like to make frivolous choices, but otherwise want to be told what to do.