THE BEGINNING
In the backdrop of South Central LA, in Huntington Park, California, the seeds of Slayer were sown. Two 17-year-olds, Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King, crossed paths at a dingy rehearsal studio. Jeff, playing a guitar with a taste for metal fury, caught the attention of Kerry, who was there for an audition. A shared love for savage riffs brought them together, and Slayer's core was formed.
The duo quickly expanded their ranks. Kerry reached out to Tom Araya, a 20-year-old respiratory therapist who had played with him previously in a band called Quits. Tom’s aggressive vocals and bass prowess were the perfect fit. Then came 16-year-old Dave Lombardo, a neighborhood drummer with a penchant for blistering speed. He knocked on Kerry's door, and with that, the original lineup was complete.
The band’s debut performance fittingly took place at a Halloween night gig at the South Gate Park Auditorium.
“Slayer fans around here (Los Angeles) are few and far between. But those that are into us are totally hardcore.” - Jeff Hanneman to Whiplash, 1983
“Slayer started out in about October 1981. We all sucked terribly. I was at an audition for another shitty L.A. 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.” - Kerry King to Whiplash, 1983
The Metal Blade Connection
Slayer’s raw, unfiltered aggression caught the eye of Metal Blade’s founder, Brian Slagel. He first witnessed their intensity at a club in Anaheim, where they belted out covers of Iron Maiden and Judas Priest.
“I saw them opening for Bitch and they played about eight songs, six of which were cover songs. They did an amazing version of ‘Phantom of the Opera’ by Iron Maiden. I just went backstage and told them I have this little record label, and if they wanted to do a track, I'd put them on Metal Massacre. They were like, ‘OK, that sounds cool.’” - Brian Slagel
Show No Mercy
Slayer inked a deal with Metal Blade Records and stormed into the studio to record their debut album, Show No Mercy. With its release, they embarked on a relentless US tour. Not ones to rest, the young band followed up with the Haunting the Chapel EP, featuring tracks that would become staples of their setlist.
Hell Awaits
Hell Awaits, their sophomore album, sold over 100,000 copies in the US. Slayer's sound had crossed the Atlantic, and they unleashed their fury on Europe, starting with a show at the Heavy Sound Festival in Belgium. Their ferocity didn’t go unnoticed. Producer Rick Rubin signed them to Def Jam Recordings, a move that would catapult them to new heights.
Reign In Blood
Slayer’s third album, Reign in Blood, hit like a sledgehammer. Often hailed as the best thrash-metal album of all time, it included the controversial "Angel of Death," which delved into the horrific deeds of Nazi doctor Joseph Mengele. Despite accusations of promoting Nazism, the band maintained their stance on free speech. Reign in Blood's 23 minutes of unrelenting speed earned Slayer their first Gold album.
“I know why people misinterpret it. It’s because they get this knee-jerk reaction to it… There’s nothing I put in the lyrics that says necessarily [Mengele] was a bad man, because to me – well, isn’t that obvious? I shouldn’t have to tell you that.” - Jeff Hanneman to KNAC.com, 2004