Well, this is big: Slayer have announced they will lay their storied, 37-year career to rest following a final, run of shows all across the globe. The Big Four thrashers announced the news today, January 22nd, via a short video posted on the band's social media accounts and website. Dates for the trek have yet to be announced.
Founded in 1981 by guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, Slayer are widely credited with pioneering — and popularizing — thrash metal during the Eighties with iconic albums such as Reign in Blood and South of Heaven. They've maintained a steady presence in the nearly four decades since, recording and touring regularly. The band's last album, Repentless, came out in 2015.
The band's announcement, while sudden, may have been inevitable. In an interview with Loudwire last year, bassist/vocalist Tom Araya said the band's future was "very unclear," remarking with a laugh: "At 35 years, it's time to collect my pension."
UPDATE: Slayer have confirmed their upcoming North American trek — as well as the bands who'll be joining them on the road — via an impressive flyer, which can be seen below. Lamb of God, Anthrax, Behemoth, and Testament have all been tapped as openers.
UPDATE 2: The full list of dates for the first leg of Slayer's farewell tour has been revealed. Find them below. General admission tickets go on sale this Friday, January 26th, at 10 a.m. Pacific.
UPDATE 3: Slayer have just announced the second North American leg of their final tour, with another month of touring beginning Jul. 26 in Gilford, New Hampshire. See full dates below.
Slayer tour dates:
May 10 – San Diego, CA – Valley View Casino Center
May 11 – Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre
May 13 – Sacramento, CA – Papa Murphy's Park at Cal Expo
May 16 – Vancouver, BC – PNE forum
May 17 – Penticton, BC – South Okanagan Events Centre
May 19 – Calgary, AL – Big Four
May 20 – Edmonton, AB – Shaw Centre
May 22 – Winnipeg, MB – Bell MTS Place
May 24 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory
May 25 – Chicago, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
May 27 – Detroit, MI – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre @ Freedom Hill
May 29 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
May 30 – Montreal, PQ – Place Bell
Jun. 01 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun
Jun. 02 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Banks Arts Center
Jun. 04 – Reading, PA – Santander Arena
Jun. 06 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
Jun. 07 – Cleveland, OH – Blossom Music Center
Jun. 09 – Pittsburgh, PA – KeyBank Pavilion
Jun. 10 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
Jun. 12 – Virginia Beach, VA – VUHL Amphitheatre
Jun. 14 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
Jun. 15 – Orlando, FL – Orlando Amphitheatre
Jun. 17 – Houston, TX – Smart Financial Center
Jun. 19 – Dallas, TX – The Bomb Factory
Jun. 20 – Austin, TX – Austin 360 Amphitheatre
Jul. 26 — Pavilion, NH — Gilford Bank Of New Hampshire Pavilion
Jul. 27 — Pavilion, ME — Bangor Impact Festival Waterfront
Jul. 29 — Jones Beach, NY — Wantagh
Jul. 31 — Mountain, PA — Scranton Montage
Aug. 01 — Albany, NY — Albany Times Union Center
Aug. 03 — Darien, NY — Lake Amphitheater
Aug. 04 — Syracuse, NY — Lakeview Amphitheater
Aug. 06 — London, Ontario — Budweiser Gardens
Aug. 07 — Grand Rapids, MI — Van Andel Arena
Aug. 09 — St. Louis, MO — Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Aug. 10 — Atlanta, GA — Cellairis Amphitheatre At Lakewood
Aug. 12 — Nashville, TN — Municipal Auditorium
Aug. 13 — Rogers, AR — Walmart AMP
Aug. 15 — San Antonio, TX — San Antonio Freeman Coliseum
Aug. 16 — Oklahoma City, OK — The Zoo Amphitheatre
Aug. 18 — Denver, CO — Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre
Aug. 19 — Salt Lake City, UT — USANA Amphitheatre
Aug. 21 — Boise, ID — Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater
Aug. 23 — Portland, OR — Sunlight Supply Amphitheater
Aug. 26 — San Jose, CA — SAP Cente
