Photo by Steve Appleford
UPDATE
After getting cryptic by posting his stageworn chainlink sash following Slayer's final show back in 2019, and hinting that something new from Kerry King was coming next year - additional news has been revealed.
Making the picture clear for King moving forward, the founding Slayer guitarist has now confirmed his first solo gig as part of the gargantuan Welcome to Rockville line-up. Slated to perform Thursday May 9th at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL., King will join the likes of Judas Priest, Mötley Crüe, Anthrax, Disturbed, Mudvayne and more to kick off the sprig festival.
Additionally, both King and former Slayer drummer Paul Bostaph have shared a new logo, which offers the first glimpse of something concrete from the project.
It's been four years this month since Slayer last bid farewell with their mammoth live finale at The Forum in Inglewood, CA. On November 30th 2019, after nearly four decades of relentless thrash domination, the band played their final show - a heavy moment for various reasons and for some, a premature end to the band's reign.
Now, Slayer guitarist Kerry King is hinting that next year will finally see the unveiling of his new project. Slayer's longtime publicist has shared an image of King's stageworn chains that always fashioned to his side while performing. For Slayer's final show, King took off the chains and dropped them with emphasis, marking the end of era.
As reported via Blabbermouth, King spoke with Dean Guitars about the impromptu gesture and how symbolic it was for him.
"One of the reasons I did the chain drop at the last show was so everybody in the building could hear it. And it wasn't something I planned. We were doing the last run, and I said, 'I wanna do this on the last Forum show so people take it more seriously.' Like, 'King took off his chains. He left them on the stage. What the fuck, man?' So people hopefully got that. This isn't one of those, 'We're gonna be back next year and do it again.' The chains took me through Slayer. I took them off, dropped them on stage, and I walked off, and that's the end of Slayer for me."
While King has remained quiet in the years since Slayer's finale, he has confirmed that he is working on his own music and has shared that for those familiar with his work, the creative direction is definitely on brand with King's signature. Last year, it was confirmed that former Slayer drummer Paul Bostaph was working with King to flesh out some musical ideas, but nothing yet has surfaced.
The confirmation of Kerry King at Welcome to Rockville is might be the first, but there is every indication more are in the works.
Photo by Steve Appleford
