DESCRIPTION

 

Officially Licensed Slayer Merchandise

Slayer, Glass Bubble Ashtray, Gold Eagle

Slayer formed in 1981, when guitarist Kerry King met Jeff Hanneman while auditioning for a band.

The two recruited bassist and vocalist Tom Araya, who had played with King in a previous band. Drummer Dave Lombardo was recruited when he met King delivering a pizza.

The band played cover versions of Iron Maiden and Judas Priest songs at clubs and parties in Southern California.

Early Slayer shows relied on a Satanic image, which featured pentagrams, make-up, spikes, and inverted crosses.

Rumor has it the band was originally known as "Dragonslayer", after the 1981 movie of the same name. However, when King was asked about it he denied the claim.