Slayer’s Kerri King spoke with The Pit’s Evan J. Thomas at Carolina Rebellion earlier this month. Evan J. Thomas/The Pit
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he weather was perfect, sun soaked and topping out at 79 degrees. The venue was located across the street from the Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina. The event was Carolina Rebellion and it had to have been one of the best festivals I have ever photographed and covered.
Epic bands like Slayer, Slipknot, Korn and dozens more raged the 100 thousand fans in attendance each day. If you have ever seen any of these bands you would know how easy it is to photograph Korn’s Jonathan Davis thrashing on stage or being able to catch some killer photos of Slipknot’s Corey Taylor.
I also was given the opportunity to interview the legend Kerry King from Slayer. We were set up for a 5:15 interview, a few minutes before that my brother-in-law and assistant for the weekend Tommy Berry Jr. and I were whisked down to Kerry’s trailer instead of the much louder Media Tent. It was a better situation to conduct the interview.
We were introduced to Kerry after the previous interview completed. We shook hands and were ready to roll.
Just to make you aware, this interview was originally supposed to have been conducted as a video with audio. The video portion of the interview came out great but unfortunately due to an error on my part I was unable to capture the audio portion. Some of the questions I had asked were not your usual “what are your influences” BS that you see with so many other interviewers. I did some research and also got some great questions from Tommy and two questions from friend and fellow Slayer fan Mark Shephard. Kerry’s answers here are genuine and to the best of mine and Tommy’s memory.
So here it is…
Good afternoon I’m Evan J. Thomas with The Pit: Sports and Entertainment hanging backstage at Carolina Rebellion and today I am here with the legend, the man … Slayer’s own Kerry King!
Kerry King: Lets do this…
Evan J. Thomas: What are your expectations for the new album
Kerry King: I had big expectations, we just wanted to make an album that from top to bottom that rocked out. No filler tunes. We had a lot to work with to contribute to this album.
EJT: What was the toughest transition for the band after Jeff passed?
KK: For me it was having my friend by my side helping write the songs. I mean, for like 30 years we have been pumping out songs and it’s been a tough process without him. We had a couple of years to prepare. We ended up using a song of Jeff’s songs on the new album that he wrote.
EJT: (question via Tommy Berry Jr) Did you ever expect your solo performance on the Beastie Boys “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” to become as iconic as it did?
KK: No way man, never thought that. The Beastie’s were in the same recording studio as we were one day and they came over and asked me to throw down a rift for the song so I was like what the hell, i needed the money and I was living with my parents at the time. They offered me like $200 or $300 for the solo. They wanted me to do a wacky off the wall rift but I said no ill just rock it out. If you listen to the first note its an off note. The guys were great but they originally asked if the gorilla in the video would knock me off stage and I told them hell no, I’ll knock the gorilla off state. I never thought it would be as big as it was.
EJT: (question via Mark Shephard) Will you and Zakk Wylde ever collaborate together?
KK: You know what, he and I have only shared the stage ONE time, it was at the Marshall anniversary show. I have been friends with him for years and we seriously have never even talked about it. I was a fan of Zakk way before we even got big, i was starstruck when I first met him and then we became friend. I’d work with him again its just we have never discussed it.
EJT: (question via Mark Shephard) Will Slayer ever decide to do a final album or tour or will you guys just keep on grinding?
KK: I don’t know, but if we do it we will do it right. We will just say it will be the end and then that is it.
EJT: So you won’t be like the Rolling Stones or Kiss and keep saying it will be the last and then keep playing?
KK: No man. Motley Crue seems like they are doing it right this year. We don’t want to be that band that keeps teasing fans.
EJT– If someone offered you a million dollars would you ever consider shaving your beard or regrowing your hair?
KK: (Laughing) Neither… Fuck no… I would never shave this shit! (pulling on it) It took me 18 fucking years to grow it! I can’t grow the top either, no way.
EJT: Did you ever think that Keith Richards would live this long?
KK: (laughs) Did anyone think he would live this long? No way dude…
EJT: I just want to thank you for taking your time to talk with me today.
KK: Anytime man, thank you.
