Gary Holt has affirmed that he is not part of the new endeavor spearheaded by SLAYER’s founding guitarist Kerry King
The EXODUS guitarist, who extensively toured with SLAYER for nearly nine years, addressed a query about Kerry King‘s new band during a pre-show meet-and-greet at EXODUS‘s November 17 performance at Club L.A. in Destin, Florida.
Speaking to MJ Tibbedeaux at the event, Gary said about the project: “I’m not involved. I haven’t heard anything written. I haven’t heard anything recorded. I’m not part of it. I’m too busy.”
Holt began standing in for SLAYER guitarist Jeff Hanneman at live performances in 2011, eventually becoming the band’s full-time co-guitarist in 2013 while still maintaining his position in EXODUS. Holt contributed to SLAYER‘s final album, “Repentless,” released in 2015.
Over three years ago, SLAYER drummer Paul Bostaph disclosed his involvement in Kerry King‘s new project. Speaking to Australia’s Riff Crew, Paul shared that the new band would “sound like SLAYER without it being SLAYER — but not intentionally so. I mean, Kerry‘s been writing songs in SLAYER his entire career, and he has a style,” he explained. “And that style, as a songwriter, you just don’t change your style because your band is done… So, all I can say is if you like heavy music and you like SLAYER, you’ll like this.”
Kerry‘s new band, simply named KERRY KING, has currently announced one show: May 9, 2024, at the Welcome To Rockville festival at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Commencing on May 10, 2018, SLAYER‘s ultimate global tour set out with the band’s goal to reach as many locations as possible, ensuring fans had the opportunity to witness one last SLAYER performance and bid farewell. Concluding the 18-month journey at the Forum, the band successfully navigated through seven tour legs, including a string of prominent summer festivals, amassing over 140 shows across 30 countries and spanning 40 U.S. states.
