Metal band Slayer is reuniting five years after they said goodbye (Picture: Getty)
Slayer have announced a surprise reunion, five years after their farewell tour drew to a close their four-decade career.
The thrash metal band bowed out of live performances in November 2019 when their lengthy farewell run of shows came to an end.
However, the Raining Blood hitmakers – made up of co-founders Kerry King and Tom Araya, drummer Paul Bostaph and guitarist Gary Holt – will return to headline two festivals in September: Louder Than Life in Louisville, Kentucky, and Riot Fest in Chicago.
Sharing the shock news in a post on their Instagram account, Slayer acknowledged the change of plans and 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 King announced a solo album, From Hell I Rise, which he dubbed ‘an extension of Slayer’ and will drop on May 17.
Slayer was formed in 1981 and has had a few changes in line-up over the years (Picture: Mick Hutson/Redferns)
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.’
But the musician added that ‘if it happens, it happens’ although ‘I’m going to be doing this for the next 10 years at least’.
Gary Holt, Tom Araya, Paul Bostaph and Kerry King of Slayer last performed together in 2019 (Picture: Daniel Boczarski/Redferns)
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.’
Sales also described them as ‘preoccupied with the end’, which was ‘emotional’, given that they’d ‘been doing this for so long’.
‘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.’
King had announced his own solo album just weeks before the group’s reunion (Picture: Getty)
Slayer’s reunion line-up is the same as its composition in 2019, although it has varied over the years with past members including co-founders Jeff Hanneman, who died in 2013, and Dave Lombardo, who left that band multiple times over the decades – most recently in 2013.
Drummer Jon Dette performed with Slayer between 1996 and 1997 after Bostaph left, only to be replaced by him once more after Dette was fired following a falling out.
Gary Holt initially joined as a touring member in 2011 before replacing Hanneman after his death,
Holt’s wife Lisa Holt defended the reunion from haters, suggesting anyone who wasn’t excited by it could simply not attend the concerts.
‘Yes, it’s true… and an exciting adventure for the band and fans!’ she wrote on her Facebook page in a public post.
Band co-founders King and Jeff Hanneman, who died in 2013 (Picture: Annamaria DiSanto/WireImage)
Gary Holt’s wife Lisa has defended Slayer’s upcoming shows (Picture: Instagram/@lisaholt777)
‘To all the people saying ‘they are liars’, ‘they must have ran out of money’, ‘it’s not SLAYER without so and so’… I have an idea for you all…DON’T GO… and for all the people who did go to the final tour dates and enjoyed it…awesome!!’
‘This isn’t a ‘TOUR’ it’s some dates… and GREAT NEWS!!!’ she added.
‘And everyone that thinks they know all the inside info… you can’t possibly know. So just enjoy the fact that this amazing band will play some amazing shows this year… go or don’t… nobody cares!!!!!’
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