In a new interview with Nikki Blakk from San Francisco Bay Area radio station 107.7 The Bone, SLAYER drummer Paul Bostaph opened up about the band’s two reunion performances this fall—one on September 22 at the Riot Fest in Chicago, Illinois, and the other on October 10 at the Aftershock festival in Sacramento, California. Reflecting on these monumental gigs, Bostaph described the experience as both exhilarating and exhausting. “How do I feel? Um, wow. That’s a really good question. I’m kind of a bit drained,” he admitted. “Sacramento had a lot of guests, a lot of friends, not to mention the show itself. So it was a lot of energy just put out. Each show felt overwhelming because I never thought it would happen again. It was a lot of relearning songs that I thought I knew but hadn’t played in five years. So, yeah, it was great. I feel like it was probably one of the best live experiences I’ve had because the fans were really into it. They were hungry for it, and that kind of made it special.”
Bostaph’s sentiments capture the essence of the reunion; the band’s dedicated fans were eager for a taste of the legendary thrash metal that SLAYER is known for. Despite the intense energy and the emotional weight of the shows, he expressed a hopeful outlook for the future, saying, “It’s fun to play SLAYER songs. So, hopefully that can happen in the future. But [as of right now], that was the last show.”
During both the Riot Fest and Aftershock performances, SLAYER delivered an impressive 20-song setlist, featuring iconic tracks such as “South of Heaven,” “Seasons in the Abyss,” “Angel of Death,” “Hell Awaits,” “Raining Blood,” and the title track from their final album, “Repentless.” Each song resonated deeply with the audience, serving as a reminder of SLAYER’s indelible impact on the metal genre.
Interestingly, SLAYER was also slated to perform at the Louder Than Life festival in Louisville, Kentucky, on September 27. However, that performance was canceled due to severe weather conditions, which added another layer of anticipation and significance to the remaining shows.
The reunion followed a five-year hiatus after SLAYER played the last concert of what was billed as their farewell tour. Just weeks before the reunion shows, guitarist Kerry King announced details of his solo project, but the reunion was a surprise to many, including Bostaph himself. “I was like, ‘You’re kidding, right?’ I really put that to bed,” he said. “When something like that ends, I’m not going to do that to myself and think, ‘Gee, someday it’d be great to get back together again.’ Life is life, and this is how it is, and I’m moving on to whatever the next thing is. I put that to bed, and then all of a sudden, the call comes.”
Kerry King, in an interview with Metal Injection, did not rule out the possibility of more SLAYER performances in the future, stating, “I’m trying to be real and definitely say, hey, we’re not gonna tour again. And we’re certainly not gonna record again, ’cause I have a means of doing that now with my band. We’re doing three shows for now. And I say ‘for now’ because I know Europe’s gonna come knocking, ‘Hey, man, you guys played America. Come see us.’ So it wouldn’t surprise me if something like that happened, but it’s certainly not on my books right now.”
Bostaph echoed similar sentiments about the future of SLAYER, emphasizing the uncertainty surrounding more shows. “We played our last one… If everybody’s asking that question [about the possibility of more SLAYER gigs], I am too, but I don’t have the answer to that question,” he said. “So, yeah, Aftershock was the last one. And we all hope that there will be more. There could be an instance where there’s another one-off. It just has to be the right offer at the right time, maybe someplace everybody loves to go. But touring, no, I don’t see touring. But, you know, who’s to say a one-off can’t happen again?”
Kerry King previously expressed his surprise at Tom Araya’s willingness to participate in these reunion shows, highlighting how it diverged from earlier assumptions that the band was finished. “I made my comments [about SLAYER being finished] based on [Tom] not wanting to play anymore,” King said. “As far as I was concerned, we were done and never going to play again. To be honest, I don’t know what switched.” He noted that SLAYER had been turning down offers for shows since their farewell tour, making this reunion feel particularly special.
Adding to the intrigue, Tom Araya’s wife revealed that she had spent over a year encouraging him to reconsider his decision to step away from the band. “We shared that news with SLAYER’s awesome managers, and they did the rest!” she explained. “So yes, without Tom, it wouldn’t have happened… without me BUGGING HIM, it wouldn’t have happened.”
As for Kerry King, he is not resting on his laurels; his debut solo album, “From Hell I Rise,” was released on May 17 via Reigning Phoenix Music. The album showcases King’s songwriting prowess and features contributions from Bostaph and the rest of his solo band, including guitarist Phil Demmel, bassist Kyle Sanders, and singer Mark Osegueda.
Ultimately, the reunion performances at Riot Fest and Aftershock have stirred excitement and nostalgia within the SLAYER fan community, leaving many to ponder the possibility of future appearances. As Paul Bostaph noted, the energy and enthusiasm from the fans made these shows truly special, and while the future remains uncertain, the legacy of SLAYER and their impact on the metal scene is undeniable. “We all hope that there will be more,” Bostaph said, leaving the door slightly ajar for a potential return to the stage.
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As fans continue to celebrate SLAYER’s illustrious career and look back on these memorable performances, it’s clear that the band’s influence will endure long after the final curtain falls. For now, the music of SLAYER lives on, and the spirit of thrash metal remains vibrant, fueled by the passion of fans and the commitment of its legendary artists.
