Slayer
Explore the band's historical lineups, musicians, and studio albums.
Active7 formations12 studio albums
Formation chronology
Newest first
Formation 7 of 7
Sep 22, 2024 – Present
Members
- Tom ArayaLead Vocals, BassFrom Sep 2024
- Kerry KingGuitarFrom Sep 2024
- Gary HoltGuitarFrom Sep 2024
- Paul BostaphDrumsFrom Sep 2024
Formation 6 of 7
Jun 4, 2013 – Nov 30, 2019
Members
- Tom ArayaLead Vocals, BassJun 2013 – Nov 2019
- Kerry KingGuitarJun 2013 – Nov 2019
- Gary HoltGuitarJun 2013 – Nov 2019
- Paul BostaphDrumsJun 2013 – Nov 2019
Formation facts
- Repentless was Slayer's first studio album without Jeff Hanneman as a performing member, but his songwriting remained part of the record. The album includes the Hanneman-written “Piano Wire,” while Kerry King wrote the title track as a tribute to his late bandmate.
Studio albums
- Repentless (Sep 2015)
Formation 5 of 7
Jan 2002 – Feb 2013
Members
- Tom ArayaLead Vocals, BassJan 2002 – Feb 2013
- Kerry KingGuitarJan 2002 – Feb 2013
- Jeff HannemanGuitarJan 2002 – Feb 2013
- Dave LombardoDrumsJan 2002 – Feb 2013
Formation facts
- Slayer's first Grammy victory did not come until more than two decades into the band's career. “Eyes of the Insane” won Best Metal Performance in 2007, and Slayer won the same category again the following year with “Final Six.”
- World Painted Blood broke from Slayer's usual recording process. Instead of entering the studio with most of the material already written and rehearsed, the band developed a significant portion of the album during the recording sessions themselves, making the studio part of the songwriting process.
- Jeff Hanneman stopped touring after becoming seriously ill in 2011. Gary Holt performed in his place while Hanneman remained a member of Slayer, with other brief live substitutions handled without changing the band's durable operating lineup.
- Slayer's lineup changed rapidly in 2013: Dave Lombardo left the touring lineup, Jon Dette returned temporarily on drums, Jeff Hanneman died on May 2, and Paul Bostaph rejoined full-time beginning June 4 while Gary Holt continued on guitar.
Studio albums
- World Painted Blood (Nov 2009)
- Christ Illusion (Aug 2006)
Formation 4 of 7
1997 – Dec 2001
Members
- Tom ArayaLead Vocals, BassJan 1997 – Dec 2001
- Kerry KingGuitarJan 1997 – Dec 2001
- Jeff HannemanGuitarJan 1997 – Dec 2001
- Paul BostaphDrumsJan 1997 – Dec 2001
Formation facts
- The family of murder victim Elyse Pahler sued Slayer and American Recordings, arguing that the band's music had contributed to the crime. In 2001, a California judge dismissed the case, finding that the required causal connection had not been established and that Slayer's music was protected by the First Amendment.
- God Hates Us All was released on September 11, 2001, after Slayer had appeared at a midnight record-store event attended by thousands of fans. The band was scheduled to leave for Europe the following day, but the terrorist attacks forced the planned tour to be postponed. The coincidence between the album's title and release date was entirely accidental.
Studio albums
- God Hates Us All (Sep 2001)
- Diabolus in Musica (Jun 1998)
Formation 3 of 7
1992 – Dec 1995
Members
- Tom ArayaLead Vocals, BassJan 1992 – Dec 1995
- Kerry KingGuitarJan 1992 – Dec 1995
- Jeff HannemanGuitarJan 1992 – Dec 1995
- Paul BostaphDrumsJan 1992 – Dec 1995
Formation facts
- Slayer released Divine Intervention while alternative rock was dominating the music industry, but the band made no attempt to follow that trend. The album instead pushed further into extreme subject matter and debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard 200, giving Slayer its first U.S. Top 10 album.
- During preparations for Divine Intervention, a record-company executive told Slayer that the album needed a hit song. Tom Araya recalled that the band refused to tailor its music for that purpose, and said it became the last album-planning meeting Slayer ever had with the label.
- Undisputed Attitude exposed how strongly hardcore punk had influenced Slayer by featuring songs associated with bands including Minor Threat, T.S.O.L., Verbal Abuse and Dr. Know. Tom Araya later said that, despite being categorized as a metal band, Slayer identified strongly with hardcore punk's aggression, attitude and irreverence.
- Paul Bostaph left Slayer after completing Undisputed Attitude. Jon Dette officially joined in December 1995 and remained through early 1997, but recorded no Slayer studio album; Bostaph then returned.
Studio albums
- Undisputed Attitude (May 1996)
- Divine Intervention (Sep 1994)
Formation 2 of 7
Apr 1987 – 1992
Members
- Tom ArayaLead Vocals, BassApr 1987 – Jan 1992
- Kerry KingGuitarApr 1987 – Jan 1992
- Jeff HannemanGuitarApr 1987 – Jan 1992
- Dave LombardoDrumsApr 1987 – Jan 1992
Formation facts
- Rather than trying to repeat the relentless speed of Reign in Blood, Slayer deliberately changed direction on South of Heaven. The band slowed many of the tempos and gave the songs more space, accepting an initially mixed response rather than making a direct sequel to its breakthrough album.
- Slayer's 1988-1989 World Sacrifice Tour was marked by riot police, arrests, helicopters and repeated crowd-control problems. At New York's Felt Forum, disorder became severe enough that the band was forced to end its set early.
Studio albums
- Seasons in the Abyss (Oct 1990)
- South of Heaven (Jul 1988)
Formation 1 of 7
1981 – Oct 1986
Members
- Tom ArayaLead Vocals, BassJan 1981 – Oct 1986
- Kerry KingGuitarJan 1981 – Oct 1986
- Jeff HannemanGuitarJan 1981 – Oct 1986
- Dave LombardoDrumsJan 1981 – Oct 1986
Formation facts
- Dave Lombardo created Slayer's original jagged logo by drawing the letters as though they were being carved with a knife. Lombardo, who is left-handed, later explained that the motion of drawing the logo this way also produced its distinctive slanted appearance.
- Slayer largely financed Show No Mercy themselves after Metal Blade was unable to fund the recording. Tom Araya contributed money from his job as a respiratory therapist, while Kerry King's family also helped finance the sessions.
- Kerry King briefly played in both Slayer and Megadeth in 1984. He performed as Megadeth's second guitarist for the band's first five concerts before returning his full attention to Slayer.
- Slayer's 1985 Hell Awaits touring was still a largely do-it-yourself operation. The band traveled more than 40,000 miles across North America using a truck and Tom Araya's car, navigating with paper maps and handwritten contacts rather than a tour bus and professional touring infrastructure.
- Rick Rubin's production dramatically changed Slayer's recorded sound on Reign in Blood, stripping away much of the reverb heard on the band's earlier records. When Tom Araya worried that the finished album's roughly 29-minute running time might be too short, Rubin argued that ten complete songs were enough and refused to add filler simply to make the album longer.
- Columbia/CBS refused to distribute Reign in Blood because of the controversy surrounding “Angel of Death.” Slayer and producer Rick Rubin refused to remove the song, and Rubin ultimately arranged for the album to be distributed through Geffen instead.
- Dave Lombardo left Slayer in October 1986 during the Reign in Pain touring period after a dispute over money. Whiplash drummer Tony Scaglione temporarily replaced him before Lombardo returned in April 1987.
Studio albums
- Reign in Blood (Oct 1986)
- Hell Awaits (Mar 1985)
- Show No Mercy (Dec 1983)