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While appearing on the “Talk Is Jericho” podcast, SLAYER guitarist Gary Holt discussed the band’s two reunion shows from last year — on September 22, 2024, at Riot Fest in Chicago, Illinois, and on October 10, 2024, at the Aftershock festival in Sacramento, California. Holt, who is also a longtime member of EXODUS, stated (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “It [had] been years, but we rehearsed hard for those performances. We dedicated our time. I never stopped; I was on tour [with EXODUS] a month after the final SLAYER show. Only the pandemic slowed me down. My skills were sharp, so it was just about getting back into the groove with the material.”
When asked if he was surprised to receive the call about SLAYER‘s return to live performances, Gary mentioned: “Absolutely. People say, ‘Oh, this and that. You had this planned all along.’ I knew a little before most folks, but it wasn’t an eternal forecast. I had enough time to sit at home and study the songs, as I wanted to be well-prepared. So yes, I was surprised.”
Holt added: “I’m sure there were offers for the band over the years, but they felt it was the right time, and I’m more than happy to be part of it. And for the current arrangement, which allows SLAYER to play just a few small shows each year, works for me since I’m fully committed to EXODUS. It lets me do both and allows me to perform with fire, which is expensive. EXODUS doesn’t get pyro.”
Last October, Holt shared with Chuck Armstrong of Loudwire Nights that the SLAYER shows at Riot Fest and Aftershock felt “surreal. It was incredible,” he commented. “We rehearsed rigorously, like full production rehearsals. Previously, SLAYER rehearsed in cramped studios with small gear. This was fantastic, as I played with an entire rig — three amps and six cabs fully on. I redesigned the rig based on my EXODUS setup. It had the same tone, just three times larger, which was amazing.”
“We were nervous,” Holt confessed. “Tom [Araya, SLAYER bassist/vocalist] was anxious, yet he sounded phenomenal. Sometimes, you just need to let go of the time that’s passed and let muscle memory take over. I only played one song I hadn’t before, which was ‘213’, and ‘Reborn’ I think I had played once or twice, so it felt almost new. The rest were just refreshers.”
Gary added: “I started prepping for the songs long ago when the shows were first confirmed: ‘I better ensure I remember how to play these.’ I had to dive into Internet tabs for songs I played countless times. Then I realized, ‘Wow, I’ve been playing it wrong.’ I let go and just played, and thankfully, my hands remembered the notes.”
“But it was spectacular,” Holt emphasized. “It was truly disappointing to miss the second show [at the Louder Than Life festival] because of weather, the end of the hurricane, especially for the fans who traveled. I met folks at the airport who came from England, and they were so positive about it. Obviously, it wasn’t our fault. We did everything we could; you can’t control 50-mile-an-hour winds. The crew had to evacuate three times that day. We never left the hotel.”
“It was amazing. Unforgettable. The vibe was incredible. The crowd was joyful, and we were happy; everything was just right.”
At both Riot Fest and Aftershock, SLAYER delivered a 20-song set, featuring tracks like “South Of Heaven”, “Seasons In The Abyss”, “Angel Of Death”, “Hell Awaits”, “Raining Blood”, and the title track from SLAYER‘s final album, “Repentless.”
SLAYER was also scheduled to perform at the previously mentioned Louder Than Life festival in Louisville, Kentucky, on September 27, 2024, but that show was canceled due to severe weather conditions.
In a separate interview with Nikki Blakk from the San Francisco Bay Area station 107.7 The Bone, SLAYER drummer Paul Bostaph shared his thoughts on the band’s reunion shows. When asked how he felt post-performance, Bostaph replied: “How do I feel? Um, wow, that’s a deep question. I’m a bit exhausted. Sacramento had so many guests and friends, not to mention the energy of the show itself. Each show felt overwhelming since I never thought we’d reunite. Relearning songs you were certain you knew after five years was intense. Overall, it was fantastic. I feel it was one of my best live experiences as the fans were so into it. They were hungry for it, which made it special.”
Five years after SLAYER completed what was advertised as the farewell tour, and just weeks after SLAYER guitarist Kerry King unveiled his solo project, Kerry and his fellow bandmates announced performances at Aftershock, Riot Fest, and Louder Than Life.
The lineup for SLAYER‘s comeback remained the same as the one from the 2019 tour: King, Araya, along with Holt and Bostaph.
In September 2024, Bostaph informed the Los Angeles Times he was taken aback when the reunion dates were arranged. “I thought, ‘You’re kidding, right?’ I really thought that chapter was closed,” he said. “Once something like that ends, I’m not one to dwell on it: It’d be great to reunite someday. I accept life as it comes and move on. I put that chapter behind me, and suddenly, the call comes.”
Last July, Kerry told Guitar World magazine that he was “very surprised” when Araya agreed to the three SLAYER shows in 2024. “I made comments about SLAYER being finished based on Tom‘s desire to not perform anymore. To me, we were done and would never play again. I’m honestly unsure what changed.”
“For at least three years, we turned down offers to perform. Then one came along that visibly interested Tom enough for him to take the leap. I can’t say why, but that’s how it is.”
King had previously shared with Total Guitar regarding SLAYER‘s reunion shows: “I was caught off guard as well. Do I wish the timing were different? Absolutely, but that’s out of my control.”
In June 2024, King explained to Jonathan Clarke from “Out Of The Box” on Q104.3, a classic rock radio station in New York, how SLAYER‘s reunion came to be. He remarked: “To simplify it, we’ve been rejecting offers since early 2020, pandemic included. Then, approaching the five-year anniversary of our last performance, I thought, ‘This is a three-show package; it could be fun.’ It’s somewhat of a commemoration of our last tour. We won’t tour or record again; that’s not in the cards. But commemorative shows? That sounds fun. I’m not obligated to it long-term. Fans don’t need to worry about tours because we said we wouldn’t. It’s just anniversary celebration shows — that’s all it is.”
Shortly after SLAYER‘s reunion announcement, Tom Araya‘s wife revealed on social media that she had “harassed him for over a year” before he finally “agreed” to perform more shows with the band. “We shared that news with SLAYER‘s wonderful managers, and they handled the rest!” she clarified. “So yes, without Tom, this wouldn’t have happened… without my constant nagging, it wouldn’t have happened.”
Kerry‘s debut solo album, “From Hell I Rise”, was released in May 2024 through Reigning Phoenix Music. All tracks for the LP were composed by King, who was assisted during recording sessions by Bostaph and the rest of Kerry‘s solo band, including guitarist Phil Demmel, bassist Kyle Sanders, and vocalist Mark Osegueda.
Earlier this year, SLAYER announced headlining performances across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., marking their first concerts in the U.K. and Canada in six years. The U.K. and Canadian shows will feature SLAYER headlining at some of the largest venues in those countries, including the 35,000-capacity Blackweir Fields in Cardiff, London’s 45,000-capacity Finsbury Park, and the 100,000-capacity Festival D’été De Québec in Canada.
Besides their international headline dates, SLAYER will also celebrate BLACK SABBATH‘s incredible legacy at SABBATH‘s sold-out “Back To The Beginning” final concert, slated for July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, England. The “Back To The Beginning” concert will be only the third time SLAYER shares a stage with BLACK SABBATH, following Ozzfest in 1998 and 2004.
As the band’s only East Coast performance in 2025, SLAYER will headline the 30,000-seat Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, September 20.
Photo credit: Ryan Segedi
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