Slayer guitarist Kerry King recently shared which bands he would want to perform at a hypothetical farewell show in his honor, in an interview published by Alcatrazz Metal Festival.
The topic came up when King was asked to reflect on Ozzy Osbourne’s final concert, Back to the Beginning, which brought together many major names from the rock and metal world to celebrate the Prince of Darkness. When asked who would represent the “Kerry King universe” in a similar event, King did not hesitate to name the pillars of thrash metal.
“Well, basically anybody I’ve ever met,” King said. “Metallica, all the Big Four bands, the Exoduses, Testament. All the thrash metal guys, of course.”
The question was posed in the context of Ozzy Osbourne’s passing. The interviewer noted: “We had to say goodbye to the Prince of Darkness far too soon, Ozzy Osbourne, may rest in peace. You were at his final show, Back to the Beginning. Who would be the bands that represent the Kerry King universe for you?”
King’s answer pointed to the tight-knit community of thrash metal that has defined his career, citing longtime peers and fellow Big Four members as the names he would want on such a stage.
King’s connection to Ozzy’s farewell was not merely hypothetical — he was there in person. Slayer performed at Back to the Beginning on July 5, 2025, in Birmingham, playing “Raining Blood” as part of the historic send-off for Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath. The performance was documented on Slayer’s Instagram. The event marked one of the most significant gatherings of rock and metal royalty in recent memory, making King’s firsthand experience with the format all the more relevant when imagining a similar tribute for himself.
Slayer is the band King co-founded in 1981 alongside guitarist Jeff Hanneman, drummer Dave Lombardo, and vocalist Tom Araya. It has long been a cornerstone of the thrash metal movement. As noted on Wikipedia, the band is one of the Big Four of thrash metal alongside Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax — the very names King invoked when painting a picture of his ideal farewell lineup.
The band’s legacy has only grown more prominent in recent years following their return to the stage. After previously being considered finished, Slayer came back for select shows in 2024 and expanded into a full 2026 schedule. Their upcoming dates include headlining slots at Rocklahoma, Sick New World Texas, and a Latin American tour in December alongside Power Trip and Kreator — a run that underscores just how wide the “Kerry King universe” truly stretches. This was reported by Wikipedia.
Adding further weight to the anniversary moment, Slayer is currently celebrating the 40th anniversary of Reign in Blood, with a series of live dates kicking off in October 2026. This includes a headline appearance at the inaugural Sick New World Texas at the Texas Motor Speedway on October 24, as detailed on Slayer’s official Facebook. The milestone further cements Slayer’s place as one of the defining forces in heavy metal history — and gives King’s hypothetical farewell concept an even more fitting backdrop.
