Sandra Araya, married to Tom Araya, the bassist and vocalist of SLAYER, recently spoke out in support of the band’s decision to hit the stage once again for a few headlining festival performances, five years after their so-called “farewell” tour concluded.
On a recent Wednesday, the news broke that Tom Araya, alongside guitarist Kerry King, guitarist Gary Holt, and drummer Paul Bostaph, would grace the stages of Chicago’s Riot Fest on September 22 and Louisville’s Louder Than Life on September 27. These shows mark SLAYER’s first live performances since their last gig in November 2019.
Sandra addressed critics and fans alike on her Facebook and Instagram pages three days following the announcement, saying, “For those wondering, Tom was ready to hang up his guitar. After over a year of me nudging him, he’s finally agreed to perform again. I shared our decision with SLAYER’s incredible management team, who made it all possible. So, while Tom’s participation was crucial, my persistence played a role too. Despite the negativity, I’m looking forward to the concerts and am grateful for Tom’s love for me and the fans.”
Lisa Holt, Gary’s wife, was among the many who showed support for Sandra’s post on Instagram, responding with heart emojis to express her affection.
In statements confirming their return, Tom shared his longing for the live performance connection with fans, noting the band’s absence from the stage. Kerry King echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the significance of live performances to both the band and their supporters, highlighting the five-year hiatus since their last audience interaction.
Lisa Holt also addressed skeptics on social media, challenging critics with doubts about the band’s motives and lineup changes to simply stay away from the shows, while encouraging those who enjoyed the final tour to look forward to the upcoming performances. She emphasized that these are not tour dates but special performances, urging fans to relish in the opportunity to see SLAYER live once again.
Kerry King, in an interview with Rolling Stone just weeks before the announcement, had expressed doubt about SLAYER’s reunion for tours, distinguishing between touring and potentially playing individual shows. He revealed his focus on launching his solo career, leaving the door open for any future SLAYER appearances without actively seeking them.
SLAYER’s final world tour, which kicked off on May 10, 2018, was aimed at providing fans worldwide one last opportunity to witness their performance, culminating in over 140 shows across 30 countries and 40 U.S. states by its conclusion at the Forum in Los Angeles in November 2019. Despite previous assertions from Kerry’s wife Ayesha that SLAYER would not reunite for live shows, the upcoming festival gigs have proved otherwise, offering fans new opportunities to see the band perform live.
