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Interview
by SashaS
7-7-2000
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| Kerry King |
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Speed Of Doom
Zero compromise metal
It was business as usual on the 1998 offering, 'Diabolus In Musica', and they are still touring as recently witnessed at the Iron Maiden dates. Slayer are working on a new album and half-a-dozen songs have been taped but they did find time to cover the Black Sabbath song 'Hand Of Doom' for the 'Nativity In Black II' tribute, just released.
The core of Tom Araya, Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman has remained steadfast through the years and only in May 1992 they replaced a drummer; Paul Bostoph was in, Dave Lombardo out. The members' looks are distinct with guitarist King being often mistaken for a (US) wrestler. Which, with songs like 'Angel Of Death' (about a WWII Nazi doc from the 1987 'Reign In Blood' LP), has added to the reputation of hard-hitting and dangerous band. But that is only an image and King is a friendly and humorous chap who'd proclaim that 'Wrestling is the new Rock'n'Roll; well, it is generally as fake...'
How does he find energy and master enthusiasm after all these years? "I get it from fans and I'm a fan of music... This is the kind of music I like and have an inner need to make it because nobody else is making it for me. Being a part of Slayer is what gives me the energy. Somebody asked me recently what bands changed my life and they were not only Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, AC/DC but also Slayer, and probably the most of all as it still does every day."
Living la vida rocka
With all this music behind you, does the pressure increase to keep producing material to measure up to your past glories? "There is a pressure and its from us. We always try to do something better, something bigger than we have done before. The secret with us is that we don't waste studio time but go in prepared. We rehearse songs and know whether we like them or not. But, the ultimate measure of an album being successful is time; if 'Reign In Blood' came out today nobody would care."
"It wouldn't have the impact it had then; the time was different, the society was different and appearing then it was very early on in that type of music... It was so much ahead of any music at the time, heavier than anything else, that people still go back and listen to it. It is where it all started..."
Till neuralgia...
With a show full of headbanging, Kerry must get the occasional pain in the neck (neuralgia?). "Oh yeah, and that'll be one of the reason to stop doing it before I'm 50! Ozzy (Osbourne) and (Black) Sabbath can do it. I couldn't go on and shake my head until it falls off! It is different attitude to music, I guess." I heard that you and Jeff do neck-exercises before going on stage? "Yeah, otherwise we'd be whiplashed daily, no - constantly. And, the pain would really be unbearable..."
There is one abiding regret for guitarist King to date. "Definitely recording and playing 'In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida', a hippy anthem (by Iron Butterfly) of 20 minutes length which we condensed into three. Rick (Ruben, producer) suggested it and we managed to get the music right but the vocal... I still hate it! That is definitely my least favourite thing we've ever done. It's the most embarrassing moment of our career, I believe."
Their music has always been dark and doom-laden. Are they pessimists, collectively speaking, or is there a glimmer of optimism? "Collectively I feel we are in a tunnel and it must be expending daily because we don't see the light at the end of it. We've been in the same tunnel for years, doing the same thing, and it doesn't look like there is hope for us. When the light comes on, we'll be ready to quit."
Not for a while, hopefully. For the record, King is 36. An early age for retirement.
SashaS
7-7-2000
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