KERRY KING Talks New SLAYER Album, JEFF HANNEMAN's Health Status (Video)

February 1, 2013

Eddie Trunk — co-host of the VH1 Classic television program "That Metal Show" who has a long-running radio show, "Friday Night Rocks", on New York's Q104.3 FM — conducted an interview with SLAYER guitarist Kerry King for Hartke at this year's NAMM (National Association Of Music Merchants) show, a massive music-products convention that took place January 24-27 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. You can now watch the chat below.

On the status of the long-awaited new SLAYER album:

King: "We got two songs completed last year that I thought were come out [as an EP] before [we embarked on the Rockstar Energy Drink] Mayhem [Festival last summer]. And since they didn't, they're just gonna be on the [full-length] record. They've just gotta get mixed. We have another one that just needs vocals and leads, and then me and Dave [Lombardo, drums] are working on eight complete other ones that we haven't demoed. We've just gotta go in…

"The whole hold-up now, as with every record we ever do, it seems like [head of SLAYER's longtime label American Recordings] Rick Rubin changes distributors. And we're kind of, like, left in limbo until he lands somewhere. I mean, realistically, we're without a deal [right now], but we plan on staying with Rick. But he's working out his distribution. When that gets settled, we'll be recording. So I am very comfortable saying it will be out this year."

On the status of SLAYER guitarist Jeff Hanneman, who has been absent from the road for the past two years while he is recovering from contracting necrotizing fasciitis, likely caused by a spider bite:

King: "You probably know more than me, dude. Believe it or not. [laughs] You know, not to make it sound weird, but when you get off tour, you scatter. And I don't talk to him [not] because I hate him, I don't talk to him because I had enough of him. I don't talk to Tom [Araya, bass/vocals]. The only reason I talk to Dave is 'cause we rehearse all the time. When I get off tour, I just wanna go chill and be 'Kerry,' not 'Kerry King,' you know what I mean?! But the best I know, I talk to my manager, he talks to [Jeff] periodically, and he's still trying to get back in the game."

On whether Jeff is part of the songwriting process for the new SLAYER album:

King: "Not yet. I have enough material to do it on my own, if need be. But I'm open; if Jeff comes to the party with some material, hell yeah, I've got extras."

On whether he will play all the guitar parts on the new SLAYER album and whether SLAYER's fill-in guitarist Gary Holt (of EXODUS fame) will appear on the record:

King: "No, no, no… I'll play all the guitars. But I mean, I've been playing all the guitars for years anyway — except for Jeff's leads."

Find more on
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • reddit
  • email

Comments Disclaimer And Information

BLABBERMOUTH.NET uses the Facebook Comments plugin to let people comment on content on the site using their Facebook account. The comments reside on Facebook servers and are not stored on BLABBERMOUTH.NET. To comment on a BLABBERMOUTH.NET story or review, you must be logged in to an active personal account on Facebook. Once you're logged in, you will be able to comment. User comments or postings do not reflect the viewpoint of BLABBERMOUTH.NET and BLABBERMOUTH.NET does not endorse, or guarantee the accuracy of, any user comment. To report spam or any abusive, obscene, defamatory, racist, homophobic or threatening comments, or anything that may violate any applicable laws, use the "Report to Facebook" and "Mark as spam" links that appear next to the comments themselves. To do so, click the downward arrow on the top-right corner of the Facebook comment (the arrow is invisible until you roll over it) and select the appropriate action. You can also send an e-mail to blabbermouthinbox(@)gmail.com with pertinent details. BLABBERMOUTH.NET reserves the right to "hide" comments that may be considered offensive, illegal or inappropriate and to "ban" users that violate the site's Terms Of Service. Hidden comments will still appear to the user and to the user's Facebook friends. If a new comment is published from a "banned" user or contains a blacklisted word, this comment will automatically have limited visibility (the "banned" user's comments will only be visible to the user and the user's Facebook friends).