There have been tens of thousands of hard-rock bands since the genre began in the 1970s, but none has had the impact of Slayer. Since its inception in the early ’80s, Slayer has built its reputation by playing its music faster and harder than the competition, in the process picking up a fervent fan base.
The group, featuring Tom Araya (vocals, bass), Jeff Hanneman (guitars), Kerry King (guitars) and Dave Lombardo (drums), has released ten albums to date. Their most recent album, “Christ Illusion,” was originally released in 2006, but a new, expanded edition is hitting retail this month.
Currently on tour promoting the album, Slayer will perform at The San Diego Sports Arena on Aug. 25. Though some might question an album’s re-issue so soon after its initial release, Araya insists it was for practical reasons.
The album was originally distributed by a different major label.
“It was released through Warner’s last year,” he said. “When they found out that (producer Rick) Rubin was going to make a move, they stopped everything on the record. Sony went ahead and took the initiative and reissued the album like it was (out) for the first time. They took it upon themselves to do that.”
With songs about war, serial killers and other serious subject matter, the band has attracted unwanted attention over the year, but Araya takes it in stride.
“I don’t let the controversy get to me, because we don’t purposely write controversial songs,” he said. “We just happen to write songs that people find controversial. When controversy does come around and people start pointing fingers, (they’re) the ones that are getting that out of it, not us.”
Araya acknowledges 25 years is a long time for a band to maintain its edge and popularity.
“I think that by doing what we did, as far as allowing time in between records, I think that’s actually helped with our longevity,” he said.
Though Slayer would certainly be considered one of the bigger bands in the hierarchy, Araya said he is surprised by the impact the band has had on generations of musicians ” and proud of the band’s influence.
“That was new to me,” he said. “I never in my life thought we would be influencing kids to be in bands or to do what we’ve done. It’s good, but that wasn’t in the agenda. It’s just a part that comes along with it, I guess.”
Earlier this year, the band won its first Grammy for the song “Eyes of the Insane.” While Slayer might not seem like the type of band that would be singled out by Academy voters, their win thrilled Araya.
“I was excited, I still am excited,” he said. “What made it even more exciting for me was the fact that it was a song that I wrote lyrically. And it wasn’t an album they picked. It was a song they picked. That made it even sweeter.”
Slayer has performed in San Diego many times over the decades, but no local show is more memorable to the band than an early ’80s appearance at The Adams Avenue Theatre.
“It had two different levels right in front of the stage,” he recalled. Some kids in the front balcony decided to jump on stage. Unfortunately, the building was old and in need of serious repair.
“The sole memory we have of San Diego is this kid going through the stage,” he said.
Though today Araya plays his music loud and hard, his initial forays into music in the mid-’60s consisted of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and other pop groups of the era.
“My older brother played guitar, that’s why I learned to play the bass,” he said. “Because he was learning how to play guitar and I thought, ‘Well, if I learn to play the bass then we can accompany each other.’ We were big Beatles fans and Rolling Stones fans. We knew a lot of the pop songs that were big at the time.”
Has he ever considered branching out musically and performing some songs in other than a hard-rock style?
“You know? I’ve been thinking about that,” he said.
Could a solo album by Araya also be a possibility?
“As far as writing songs like that, I think it would be great,” he said. “There’ll come a time for that, but right now it’s Slayer time.”
Slayer performs at The San Diego Sports Arena, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., on Saturday. Tickets are $50. For more information, visit www..com.