Tom Araya, Kerry King, Paul Bostaph and Gary Holt will hit the UK for two headline shows that bookend the Black Sabbath Back To The Beginning gig when Slayer will perform at the 35,000-capacity Blackweir Fields in Cardiff on 3 July and Finsbury Park, London on 6 July.
“As it stands now, Slayer plays a handful of gigs a year,” Kerry King told us. “But that’s how important this Sabbath date is, and it’s great we will get to play a longer set for our fans in Cardiff and London on this visit too.
“Being on the Sabbath bill means the world to me because these are my uber-heroes. And to know that their camp thinks enough of us to offer us a spot is flattering and humbling.”
The large Finsbury Park and Cardiff shows have special guests Amon Amarth, Anthrax, Mastodon, Hatebreed and Neckbreakker on the bill.
Naturally, Slayer’s Tom Araya is a Sabbath fan too, “and doing this show is an honour,” he said. “I was hanging out with my brother and his friends during my junior year in high school, and we would play Sabbath all the time, so I am a big fan.
“Black Sabbath were the originators. People call them the godfathers of Metal music. I think it’s going to be an amazing experience, from the beginning to the end. I’m really, really honoured to be a part of this. It’s going to be great.”
“I remember when we played with Black Sabbath at Ozzfest in 2004,” Kerry King said. “It was when Rob Halford came back to Judas Priest and we were third on the bill. You couldn’t give me a better bill. I’ll never forget that.”
Slayer play on 11 July at the Quebec Festival d’été de Québec City, Quebec. 18 September finds the band playing Louder Than Life at the Highland Festival Grounds, Louisville, KY.
