Kerry King
Kerry King
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Full name: Kerry Ray King
Common alias: King K.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born: April 3, 1963 (age 60)
Death Date: N/A (still alive)
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Nationality: American
Profession(s): Musician, songwriter, record producer
Early Life and Background
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Kerry King is a renowned American musician, best known as the co-founder and lead guitarist of the thrash metal band Slayer. Born on April 3, 1963, in Los Angeles, California, King's early life was marked by his passion for music. Growing up in a musical family, he began playing guitar at the age of eight.
King's influences were diverse, ranging from rock and roll to punk and heavy metal. He cites bands like Judas Priest, Motörhead, and Black Sabbath as key inspirations for his style. After high school, King moved to San Francisco to pursue a career in music, where he met Tom Araya and Hanneman, who would later become members of Slayer.
Major Accomplishments
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Co-founding Slayer: In 1981, King co-founded Slayer with Tom Araya, Jeff Hanneman, and Dave Lombardo. The band's early years were marked by intense touring and a reputation for brutal live performances.
Songwriting contributions: As one of the primary songwriters in Slayer, King has contributed to many of the band's most iconic songs, including "Raining Blood," "Angel of Death," and "Seasons in the Abyss."
Awards and recognition: Slayer has received numerous awards and nominations throughout their career, including multiple Grammy nominations for Best Metal Performance.
Notable Works or Actions
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The Repentless album: Released in 2015, The Repentless album marked a new era for Slayer, with King contributing to several tracks. The album was well-received by critics and fans alike.
Kerry's solo work: In addition to his work with Slayer, King has released solo material, including the song "Goddamn Sin" in 2007.
Impact and Legacy
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Slayer's influence on heavy metal is immeasurable. With over 10 million albums sold worldwide, they have left an indelible mark on the music industry. King's contributions to the band's songwriting and guitar work have been widely praised by critics and fans alike.
Kerry King's impact extends beyond his work with Slayer. As a guitarist, he has inspired countless musicians to pick up the instrument. His unique style, which blends technical proficiency with raw energy, continues to influence metal music today.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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As one of the most influential guitarists in heavy metal, Kerry King is widely quoted and remembered for his contributions to Slayer's sound. His uncompromising approach to songwriting and guitar work has earned him a reputation as a true innovator.
King's influence extends beyond his music; he is also known for his unapologetic lyrics, which have sparked both controversy and admiration in equal measure.
Throughout his career, King has remained committed to his art, refusing to compromise his vision. This unwavering dedication has earned him a loyal following among metal fans worldwide.
In conclusion, Kerry King's impact on heavy metal is undeniable. As a guitarist, songwriter, and record producer, he continues to inspire new generations of musicians and fans alike.
Quotes by Kerry King
If you don't tour, you cannot expect to sell a huge numbers of your albums either. It was both a business - and an economical decision and we wanted to play anyway. We just wanted to get out for the tour when it was safe enough for us.
I don’t reflect much, unless I’m talking to the media. I have more of a ‘Forward, march!’ kind of attitude.
I write when I have to; I write when the song is done and I deal with the idea and I just go with it and I’ll become what that song is all about until I have finished it. And when you do that, it makes the song more visual, it makes it more personal.
We haven’t played that many of them because all our gear was over here waiting for us when we could get here. So we didn’t get to rehearse any of the new stuff, so we have planned to play 3 or 4 new ones.
Chart numbers can be deceiving. An album doesn’t have to sell that much these days to show up really high on the charts.
Check bags are fun. I just make sure there won’t be anything illegal in my check bag which is forbidden at a cabin of a plane. Just leaving things like scissors and such out of my carry-on things in order to avoid troubles with some certain airline, y’know.
I just saw Jensen the other day. They are gonna be in the States at the same time when we are doing the tour, Se we’ll see if we are going to see somewhere.
It’s fun when you are on tour to go a place you are familiar with in any given city. It’s like being home away from home.
It’s hard ’coz you have got different time zones; you can’t sleep and y’know, it’s boring way for the show to happen, but you do off the stage. Y’know, onstage it’s all better.
