By the final pages of this tour journal, a fuller picture of Slayer begins to take shape as a unit surviving the grind of the road. The days were long, the margins tight, the wins hard-earned, and the fans growing exponentially in size and ferocity. A handwritten shower list puts people in order for bathroom access (Kerry recalls he was often staying with friends). The opposite page is filled with the kind of drawings you’d expect from guys barely out of their teens and venturing into the world outside of home.
1. A snapshot taken of the balcony at a show captures a group of fans holding a handmade banner that reads, “SLAYER WARRIORS FROM HELL’S DOMAIN.” From the Collection of Doug Goodman
2-7. Published out of Apeldoorn, Netherlands, the 1985 Dutch Slayer Fanclub zine is one of the earliest examples of Slayer’s international community organizing itself into something tangible. The issue includes interviews, concert reviews from Slayer’s first major European dates, and handwritten playlists from each member. One gig recap calls Slayer's performances "borderless," saying, "Slayer always gives everything. Every show is an experience." From the Collection of Doug Goodman
8-10. Issue 10 of U.S.-based fanzine Sledgehammer Press features a full interview with Tom Araya about the challenges and triumphs of the Hell Awaits tour. Araya speaks candidly about limited stage time, the band’s growing fanbase, and the sales success of Hell Awaits. “It sold 50,000 copies worldwide,” he says. “Not bad considering it only took a month to do.” From the Collection of Kerry King
