Slayer’s retirement in 2019 has caused much gossip, as fans love speculating if the band would reunite or not. So, as there are tons of ‘theories’ suggesting the said reunion would take place, or not, let’s explore the possibility of a reunion through the most legitimate sources: the Slayer members themselves.
Is A Slayer Reunion Possible?
Before we discuss the possibility of a reunion, it sure is valuable to consider how much the band members miss one another, or at least, that’s the case with guitarist Kerry King. He was discussing why their ‘farewell’ shows were ‘bummers’ while talking to Louder Sound in January 2023, clearing up how much he missed his buddies. King said:
“Every one of those shows was a bummer! We were going to all these places and all these cities where we have all this history. It’s a bummer to think, ‘I’m not gonna see my friends there again.’ You’d get to that country and know you were going to see these people, and you’d see them yearly. I haven’t seen them now in three years. That sucks And the fans, too…”
He then mentioned how the band valued their fan base and continued:
“Slayer means a lot to our fans, and they mean a lot to us… I know I will see these people again, but no Slayer leaves a big hole for a lot of people.”
So, with Kerry’s words about how much he missed seeing his friends in mind, let’s check out what Gary Holt, who played in Jeff Hannemann’s place, had said when Guitar Clinic asked him in July 2023 whether a possible Slayer reunion was on the horizon. Holt replied:
“Ah, man. You’ve gotta talk to other people. That’s outta my pay grade. Look, if anybody ever asked me to do it, of course, I’d be down to do it down to do it. But I don’t think it’s ever gonna happen. I think the band’s ended… Unlike all the other farewell tours that started five years ago and are still continuing, I think this one’s over.”
What Dave Lombardo Said About It?
It can be said that although the band’s future is not clear, Kerry and Holt wouldn’t hate the idea of reuniting. However, what about the band’s drummer Dave Lombardo? Well, according to him, the reunion could be a bit complex. He addressed a question about a comeback in May 2023 and cleared:
“I don’t even go down that path. I don’t see it [the reunion] ever happening. If they ever do decide to come back, they’re going to piss off a lot of fans because, man, they really hyped that farewell tour.”
Still, he didn’t hate the idea:
“They’re going to have to be very careful on how they approach that. But who cares? The fans will be happy regardless So, I don’t even think about that.”
So, it seems that although there are no current plans for a reunion, the band might be up for a get-together, as both Holt, King, and Lombardo didn’t veto the idea right away or dismiss the possibility. So, only time will show whether we’ll be seeing Slayer do a full comeback.