Kerry King
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox musical artist
Kerry Ray King (born June 3, 1964)<ref name=BloodyReign17>Template:Cite book</ref> is an American musician, best known for being the co-lead guitarist and songwriter of thrash metal band Slayer. He co-founded the band with Jeff Hanneman in 1981 and is one of two members to stay with the band for its Template:Age-year existence (with the exception of their 2019–2024 hiatus), along with Tom Araya. King is also currently a solo artist, with his debut album From Hell I Rise released in May 2024.<ref name="Blabbermouth2024">Template:Cite web</ref>
Biography
Early life
The youngest of three children, King was born and raised in Los Angeles, California.<ref name=lawson>Template:Cite web</ref> His father was an aircraft parts inspector, and his mother worked for a telephone company.<ref name=BloodyReign17/> He started learning guitar at the age of thirteen at his father's urging, saying "...my dad was trying to get me out of the wrong circles and give me a hobby." King attended three different high schools and had very good grades, even winning an award as his school's top math student in junior high. As the youngest child in the family, King says he was "spoilt" growing up.<ref name=lawson /> He learned guitar on his father's Gibson ES-175 and later had a Fender Stratocaster which he traded for a BC Rich Mockingbird, beginning a long relationship with BC Rich guitars. The first song he ever learned was Ted Nugent's "Cat Scratch Fever" and he soon became a fan of Van Halen and Judas Priest, which had a major influence on his guitar playing.<ref name=BloodyReign17/>
Slayer
King formed his first band with another guitarist who had been teaching him lessons, and this guitarist introduced him to Tom Araya. He discovered that he and Araya lived only a block away from each other, and they agreed to start jamming together. "Everything began from that point", King has said of Slayer's origins.<ref name=lawson /> In 1981, King was at an audition for a southern rock band which Jeff Hanneman was also auditioning for. King heard Hanneman playing guitar near the reception desk and approached him, soon learning that they liked a lot of the same music, and they decided to jam together.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The pair enjoyed playing together and decided to start their own band with Araya and a neighborhood drummer named Dave Lombardo, which would soon evolve into Slayer.<ref name="Knac.com interview with Jeff Hanneman">Template:Cite web</ref> King, along with Araya, remained in Slayer for the entire length of the band's career, from 1981 to 2019 and since 2024.<ref name="notachance">Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1984, King was invited by former Metallica guitarist Dave Mustaine to join his new band Megadeth. Slayer's future was briefly in doubt as King played several shows with Megadeth, though he ultimately did not join full-time due to his commitment to Slayer. He still lived with his parents and has said that the desire to not spend time at home with his family caused him to spend more time rehearsing with the band, which helped his musicianship improve tremendously.<ref name=lawson />
King says at that time their music was viewed simply as heavy metal and the term "thrash" emerged later. He was becoming heavily influenced by the band Venom, which helped shape Slayer's dark image. King says that after releasing Haunting The Chapel and Hell Awaits and seeing the band's audience grow steadily, he knew Slayer would be his career. The controversy surrounding Slayer's 1986 song "Angel Of Death" fueled King to dedicate himself to songwriting. "I think, on the whole, that mankind is full of fucking idiots. In a nutshell, our lyrics just say 'think'. That's it", he said of the unwanted "Angel of Death" attention.<ref name=lawson />
Slayer fared better than most bands after heavy metal's decline in the 1990s, which King describes as "the fuckin' Limp Bizkit era". King almost stopped writing music entirely due to how offensive he believed the music scene had become at that time. "I couldn't understand why anybody would make music like that, let alone like it. That was definitely my darkest time as a musician, and that definitely showed up on Diabolus in Musica... through my lack of involvement", he has said.<ref name=lawson />
Solo career
In March 2020, when interviewed by Guitar World about his endorsement with Dean Guitars, King hinted that he would be working on new material for his first project since Slayer's disbandment, simply saying, "Dean didn't sign me for nothing!"<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> King stated in an August 2020 interview on the Dean Guitars YouTube channel that he had "more than two records' worth of music".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was later confirmed that he and then-former Slayer bandmate Paul Bostaph were working on a new project that would "sound like Slayer without it being Slayer — but not intentionally so."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In November 2023, King hinted that he was going to release the debut album by his new project in 2024;<ref name="2024 debut">Template:Cite web</ref> this project was later revealed to be his solo debut album,<ref name="rockville">Template:Cite web</ref> From Hell I Rise, released on May 17, 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The lineup on the album includes King, Bostaph, Death Angel vocalist Mark Osegueda, Hellyeah bassist Kyle Sanders, and Vio-lence and former Machine Head guitarist Phil Demmel.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Blabbermouth2024"/>
As early as February 2025, King revealed his intention to work on a second solo album, confirming that he and Bostaph "have got 10, 12 songs demoed already" and that the "realistic goal" is to release it in early 2026.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In an April 2025 interview with Rolling Stone Brasil, Kerry said, "What the plan is, is whenever [the] cycle [for From Hell I Rise] is done, and right now that looks to me like October, Paul and I have always talked about going straight from playing live, taking maybe a week off and go right in the studio to keep your tour chops, so you're firing on all cylinders — you don't gotta practice to get good; you're already good — and get in there and record it.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Guest appearances
In addition to appearing on Slayer's albums, he has also made several guest appearances for other artists. While lending production to 1986's Reign in Blood, Rick Rubin was also helping with the production of the Beastie Boys' debut album Licensed to Ill. Rubin felt the track "No Sleep till Brooklyn" needed a guitar solo, so he called in King to lay down the part.<ref name="OralHistory">Template:Cite web</ref> King has since commented that his playing ability "certainly wasn't that of a virtuoso".<ref name="OralHistory"/> The video for "No Sleep till Brooklyn", whose title was a spoof on Motörhead's 1981 live album No Sleep 'til Hammersmith, was originally intended to feature King being knocked offstage by a gorilla, but King refused.<ref name="OralHistory"/> King replied, "If there's gonna be anyone knocking anyone offstage, it'll be me knocking the gorilla", which was what subsequently happened.<ref name="OralHistory"/>
On Licensed to Ill, King also played the guitar solo on the song "Fight For Your Right (To Party)".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
King contributed the main lead guitar solo and outro part to Pantera's song "Goddamn Electric", which appeared on the 2000 album, Reinventing the Steel.<ref name="KNACKing">Template:Cite web</ref> King's rig was set up in Pantera's bathroom backstage just after Ozzfest 1999 in Dallas, as the group still did not have their own dressing room, on top of not appearing on the festival bill.<ref name="KNACKing"/>
King has also made several guest appearances on Marilyn Manson's Rape of the World Tour, joining the band to play tracks such as "Little Horn", "1996" and "Irresponsible Hate Anthem". Many fans noticed elements of King's own style used on these occasions.<ref>2008/02/23 Los Angeles, CA – MansonWiki.com</ref>
He also appeared on an episode of Daniel Tosh's television series Tosh.0, along side Corey Taylor of Slipknot. Both playing themselves as audience members.
On October 21, 2010, the final date of the Jägermeister Music Tour, King joined Megadeth on stage at the Gibson Amphitheater in Hollywood to perform "Rattlehead" which was the first time in 26 years that King had shared the stage with Megadeth (King had been a touring substitute for a few months in 1984).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
King contributed a guitar solo on the title track for the 2010 album Witchkrieg by the Swedish blackened thrash band Witchery. He also appears in the music video playing his solo.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
He made an appearance in the 2009 movie Brooklyn's Finest as a member of SWAT team led by Ethan Hawke's character.Template:Fact In 2022, he appeared in the comedy horror film Studio 666 as Krug.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In January 2025, King played on the theme song to professional wrestler Damian Priest. On April 20, 2025, King performed Priest's theme song live at WrestleMania 41.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Style and influences
King's first experience with a guitar was when he was a child.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Steve Huey of AllMusic has commented in his review for Reign in Blood that Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman's demented soloing often mimics the screams of the songs' victims.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He also described his and Jeff Hanneman's guitar solos as "wildly chaotic".<ref>Steve Huey "Slayer". Allmusic. Retrieved December 27, 2010.</ref> Thom Jurek, also of AllMusic, described his work on 2006's Christ Illusion as creating "an intensely harrowing and angular riff that changes from verse to verse, through the refrain and bridge, and comes back again."<ref>Thom Jurek "Christ Illusion – Slayer". Allmusic. Retrieved December 27, 2010.</ref>
King listed Venom, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath as his favorite bands during his teen years.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He said once "Anybody who plays heavy music and doesn't cite Sabbath as an influence is lying, because that's where it all started."<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> He cited Glenn Tipton and K. K. Downing of Judas Priest as his biggest influences as a guitarist that inspire his style, tone, and gear. He mentioned Eddie Van Halen, Ted Nugent, Ronnie Montrose, Tony Iommi, Ritchie Blackmore, Michael Schenker, Dave Murray, Adrian Smith and Randy Rhoads as other influences.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> King also quoted Elton John, Eagles, Boston, Foreigner, J. Geils among his favorite non-metal artists.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Personal life
King has been twice divorced and has a daughter named Shyanne Kymberlee King with his first wife; his current wife is Ayesha King.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He claims he has never done drugs, though he has said "I'm quite an experienced drinker".<ref name=lawson />
Prior to 2020, King had lived in California for almost all of his life. He relocated to Phoenix, Arizona around 1987,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and while living there, he was a neighbor of Judas Priest singer Rob Halford.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> By the early 2000s, King had moved back to Los Angeles,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and he would later relocate to Riverside County, California.<ref name="laweekly.com">Template:Cite magazine</ref> In April 2020, King and Ayesha bought one home in Las Vegas, Nevada; as of November 2021, however, the couple resides in New York City.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
King is an antitheist. He is known to oppose and strongly criticize organized religion by expressing his views in his songwriting.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In a 2006 interview with Blabbermouth.net, King expressed his anti-religious views: "I don't really have a life philosophy; my thing is just rebelling against pretty much organized religion. That is my main thing, because personally I think it's a crutch for people that are too weak to get through life on their own. I'm the kind of guy that says if I don't see it, then it doesn't work. And nobody can show me God."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> When asked by Revolver Magazine what superpower would he want if he was a supervillain, King replied "the ability to burst a church into flames by simply walking by it."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
King is an avid snake collector who owns a reptile house and herpetology nursery called Psychotic Exotics.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
King has largely avoided politics, although he displayed sympathy for conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh in the past.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2017, King said that he was "embarrassed about Trump's presidency," which he described as "divisive and polarizing."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2024, while promoting his solo album, he stated that he was "pissed off" about the overturning of Roe V. Wade.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
King's body has grown increasingly tattooed over his career, with Blender Magazine once producing a tour of his body ink.<ref>Template:Cite web, Blender Online, retrieved on March 2, 2007</ref> King's abbreviation, KFK, was revealed to mean "Kerry Fuckin' King" in the January 2007 Issue of Guitar World.<ref name="metal-rules2004">Template:Cite web</ref>
Equipment
Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2
| Brand | Name | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| Guitars | <ref name="KingUltimateGuitar">Template:Cite web</ref> <ref name="wpb notes">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> <ref>Template:Cite book</ref> | |
| B.C. Rich KKV | Signature V | |
| B.C. Rich KKW | "Metal Master Warlock" | |
| B.C. Rich KKV | "Speed V Handcrafted G2" | |
| B.C. Rich KKV | "Beast V N.T." | |
| B.C. Rich KKW | "Wartribe" 7 string | |
| Dean Guitars KKV | "USA King V Limited Edition 50PC Late 2019/Early 2020" | |
| Amplifiers and cabinets | ||
| Marshall | JCM-800 2203KK (Signature Model)(x3) | |
| Marshall | Mode Four 4x12 Cabinets (x6) | |
| Effects | ||
| Boss | RGE-10 Graphic EQ | |
| Korg | DTR-1 Rack Tuner | |
| Dunlop | DCR-1SR Crybaby Rack Wah | |
| Dunlop | KFKQZ1 Q-Zone Pedal (signature model) | |
| MXR | 10 Band EQ Pedal (signature model) | |
| Shure | UHF Wireless System | |
| Voodoo Lab Ground Control | Pro floorboard | |
| Eventide | H3000S Harmonizer | |
| MXR | Smart Gate Pro | |
| Radial Tonebone Trimode | Classic Tube Distortion | |
| Name | Ref |
|---|---|
| Accessories | <ref name="KingUltimateGuitar"/> <ref name="wpb notes"/> |
| Jim Dunlop Signature Strings | |
| Monster Cable | |
| MM Guitar Picks | |
| Kahler Tremolo System (model 2315) | |
| Dragon Cases | |
| EMG 81 (bridge) (only for 6-string) | |
| EMG 85 (neck) (only for 6-string) | |
| EMG PA2 Gain Boost Switch | |
| EMG SA (neck) (Used for 6-strings equipped with Fernandes Sustainer) | |
| Fernandes FSK-401 Sustainer (neck) (Seated next to EMG S) | |
| Fernandes FSK-101 Sustainer (Neck) (For 6-string when neck pickup isn't needed) | |
| EMG 81-7 (bridge) (only for 7-string) | |
| EMG 707 (neck) (only for 7-string) |
Band members
Current members
- Kerry King – guitars (2019–present)
- Paul Bostaph – drums (2019–present)
- Mark Osegueda – vocals (2023–present)
- Phil Demmel – guitars (2023–present)
- Kyle Sanders – bass (2023–present)
Discography
Template:Col-begin Template:Col-3
- Solo
| Year | Album | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | From Hell I Rise | <ref name="Blabbermouth2024"/> |
- Guest appearances
| Year | Song | Artist | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | "No Sleep till Brooklyn" | Beastie Boys | <ref>Template:Cite book</ref> |
| 1986 | "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)" | Beastie Boys | <ref>Template:Cite book</ref> |
| 2000 | "Goddamn Electric" | Pantera | <ref>Template:Cite book</ref> |
| 2001 | "Dead Girl Superstar" | Rob Zombie | <ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> |
| 2001 | "Final Prayer" | Hatebreed | |
| 2002 | "What We're All About" | Sum 41 | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2010 | "Witchkrieg" | Witchery |
References
External links
- Template:Official website
- King's 2002 Slayer Guitar Rig Template:Webarchive. GuitarGeek.com
- "Slayer's Kerry King - Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction? (Part 1)," Loudwire, April 22, 2015. —video.
- "Slayer's Kerry King - Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction? (Part 2)," Loudwire, April 29, 2015. —video.
- Psychotic Exotics Facebook page
- Kerry King Interview at NAMM Oral History Collection (January 25, 2013)
- 1964 births
- American atheists
- American heavy metal guitarists
- American male guitarists
- American critics of religions
- Guitarists from Los Angeles
- American rhythm guitarists
- American lead guitarists
- Living people
- Slayer members
- 20th-century American guitarists
- 21st-century American guitarists
- Thrash metal musicians