Slayer was an American thrash metal band from California formed in 1981 by two guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman (both 17 years old), drummer Dave Lombardo (16 years old) and bassist/vocalist Tom Araya (20 years old). According to the Website Slayer.net, they introduced a new hybrid of metal and punk, which was faster and darker than what had been seen before, and it set a new standard for the music. This is probably a ket factor why Slayer became of of the “big four” bands of thrash metal, alongside Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax.
The decided to part ways in 2019 but their legacy lives on and inspires new generations of musicians.
Current members
Kerry King, is the lead guitarist of Slayer. Born in 1964, he is the co-lead guitarist and songwriter of Slayer. He co-founded the band with Jeff Hanneman in 1981 and remained a member for nearly four decades. The youngest of three children, it appears he had a pleasant childhood, with the support of his family to pursue his music.
Tom Araya, is the lead singer and bass player for Slayer. His full name is Tomás Enrique Araya Díaz and he was born in 1961 in Chile, moving to America when he was five years old. Araya is ranked at number 58 by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Metal Vocalists of All Time. His inspiration for his music and lyrics are serial killers, a subject he finds fascinating.
Gary Holt is the lead guitarist for Slayer and was born in 1964. An American musician from San Francisco, he is a guitarist, bandleader, and main songwriter for another thrash metal band called Exodus and he was a member of Slayer from 2011 to 2019, when he replaced Jeff Hanneman on a temporary basis due to an illness in 2011. He became a permanent member when Jeff Hanneman died in 2013.
Paul Bostaph is the drummer for Slayer. Born in 1965, Paul is an American heavy metal drummer, and while he might be best known as a drummer in Slayer, he has worked with many, including Forbidden, Exodus, Systematic, Testament, and BlackGates. A heavy metal Website called Metal-Rules.com, described Bostaph as “a true professional and one of the best drummers on today’s metal music scene.”
Previous members
Jeff Haneman – founding member, lead guitarist, and Slayer member until his death at 49 in 2013. Starting with a spider bite in 2011 which caused necrotizing fasciitis that nearly resulted in amputation, he died in 2013 from liver failure.
Dave Lombardo is a Cuban-American drummer, a co-founding member of Slayer and he is currently playing drums with Testament, Fantômas, Suicidal Tendencies, Dead Cross, Mr. Bungle, and the Misfits.
Jon Dette first audition for Slayer was in 1996 following Bostaph’s departure. He was then fired in 1997 due to a fallout with the band and Bostaph returned.
Personal reflection
I know many people love Slayer and their fans are completely devoted to them. I find their music all sounds very much the same, so I suppose it’s not one of my favorite metal thrash bands. Some of it, like Reign In Blood, is definitely good. As a guitar player, I do admire Kerry King.
