Slayer have announced a surprise reunion, five years after their farewell tour.
The thrash metal band bowed out of live performances in November 2019 when their lengthy farewell run of shows came to an end, but the ‘Raining Blood’ hitmakers – made up of Kerry King
Tom Araya, Paul Bostaph, and Gary Holt – will return to headline two festivals, Louder Than Life in Louisville, Kentucky, and Riot Fest in Chicago, this September.
In a post on their Instagram account, Slayer wrote: “It gets you when you least expect it.
9.20-9.22.24 – Riot Fest – Chicago, IL
9.27.24 – Louder Than Life – Louisville, KY (sic)”
The surprise news comes just weeks after Kerry announced a solo album, ‘From Hell I Rise’, which will drop on May 17th.
Speaking recently about Slayer’s final show in November 2019, the guitarist said: “I knew early on that I wasn’t done, and I had no intention of not continuing to play.”
Kerry also admitted earlier this month that he was “pretty sure” Slayer wouldn’t tour again, but admitted there could be “a scenario” in which the band would play a show again.
He told Rolling Stone magazine: “Will Slayer tour again? I’m pretty sure that’s not going to happen.
“Could Slayer play a show again? I’m sure there’s a scenario.
“Am I looking for it? No, I’m just getting ready to start my career.
“So if that happens, it happens. But I’m going to be doing this for the next 10 years at least.”
Shortly after Slayer completed their farewell tour, the band’s manager Rick Sales admitted he couldn’t see them reuniting “at all”.
Speaking in December 2019, he told the Los Angeles Times newspaper: “I’m not sensing [a reunion] at all … let’s put the touring to bed.
“I’ve got a couple of ideas [for future projects], but we haven’t made any decisions.
“Right now, they’re preoccupied with the end, and I imagine it’s emotional. It’s emotional for me … They’ve been doing this for so long. They just said, ‘OK, this is enough.’
“My analogy is Jerry Seinfeld, who had probably the biggest TV show when he went out on top. I respect the band for the decision. If you’re going to do it, this is the way.”