During a recent episode of the Osbournes podcast, the Osbourne family shared their thoughts on the announcement of Slayer’s reunion, suggesting that five years apart for a band isn’t really that long.
Kelly Osbourne opened the discussion with excitement about Slayer’s news, saying:
“Oh my God, here’s some really good news. Did you hear about Slayer?”
Jack Osbourne stepped in to ask:
“What about Slayer?”
Sharon Osbourne responded to his son with the following words:
“Joining back up together again.”
Kelly then added:
“For the first time in five years, they’re going to be playing a show.”
The Osbournes’ Perspective On Band Hiatus
Sharon continued, referring to the band’s short gap from performing live:
“They broke up, but like… 5 years isn’t long [laughs].”
Kelly didn’t hide her surprise as she noted:
“But I didn’t think they were going to come back.”
The conversation took a humorous turn as the family compared band reunions to the process of moving on from a divorce, eventually finding your way back to speaking terms. Sharon stated:
“Everybody does. It’s like the natural progression. It’s like yeah, you break up, it’s like a divorce, and then a few years later, you’ll speak to the ex, and that’s it.”
Slayer Announces Return To The Stage
Following a five-year hiatus, Slayer confirmed their return to live performances with announcements for two major festival appearances last month. The band is set to perform at Riot Fest from September 20 to 24, 2024, and at the Louder Than Life festival on September 27.
The band expressed their excitement to reconnect with fans and experience the unique energy of live shows. Tom Araya said in a press statement:
“Nothing compares to the 90 minutes when we’re on stage playing live, sharing that intense energy with our fans, and to be honest, we have missed that.”
Kerry King also added:
“Have I missed playing live? Absolutely. Slayer means a lot to our fans; they mean a lot to us. It will be five years since we have seen them.”
Behind The Scenes Of The Reunion
Sandra Araya, Tom Araya’s wife, played a role in the reunion. Through social media, she revealed her persistent efforts to convince her husband to return to the stage. After a year of persuasion, Araya finally accepted, leading to the band’s official announcement.
Slayer’s breakup in November 2019 came without explicit reasons, though drummer Dave Lombardo hinted that Tom Araya had been contemplating retirement for some time, partly due to his health concerns.
Watch the full podcast below.
