Slayer announced they would return for new festival dates in fall 2024 last February. Scott Ian shared his reaction to the news in a recent chat with Classic Rock:
“I wrote to Kerry [King] and said: ‘Thanks for making me look like a liar.’”
Anthrax supported Slayer on their farewell tour along with Lamb of God, Behemoth, and Testament in 2018. So, Ian explained:
“We were on Slayer’s goodbye tour for over a hundred shows. During that year and a half together, I got the sense that if they said they were ending, then that’s what was happening. Personally, I felt it was too soon – the world needs Slayer – but I took them at their word on that. I really felt that they would be the one band that when they said they were retiring, they’d be done for good.”
Ian Thought It Was The End For Slayer
Slayer revealed their retirement through a video montage covering their entire career in January 2018. Scott Ian said that he was not aware of the farewell plans before the public announcement despite Anthrax being scheduled as an opener for the tour.
Still, he told Loudwire at the time:
“All the best things have a great ending, whether it’s a book, a movie, a TV series. If you don’t stick the ending… what was the point in the first place? And I like the way they’re doing this, and I really think they’re gonna go out in a big way and really stick the ending.”
The guitarist mentioned new possible Big 4 shows with Exodus replacing Slayer in later years but noted that it wasn’t possible until 2025 due to Metallica’s ongoing shows.
The Comeback Will Be Brief
Slayer will perform their first show since disbanding in 2019 at Riot Fest on September 22. Tom Araya, Kerry King, Gary Holt, and Paul Bostaph will return for more appearances at Louder Than Life and the Aftershock Festival in Sacramento, on October 10.
The band wrote in an announcement:
“There’s been a lot of excited fans out there about our playing a couple of festival dates, so it’s great to be able to add this last one.”
King later made it clear to Metal Hammer that the reunion didn’t signal a new record or a tour. He said it was a brief celebration to remind their pre-pandemic presence.