Kerry King to record his second solo album next month

This April, Slayer guitarist Kerry King is scheduled to return to the recording studio to complete his second solo album, as per theprp. Independent Artist Group, a talent agency that King, Slayer, and Mastodon recently partnered with, spread the word about the renowned thrash guitarist’s ambitions. King‘s first record, “From Hell I Rise,” marked the beginning of his project of the same name in 2024. He is joined in that endeavor by fellow Slayer veteran Paul Bostaph on drums, Death Angel‘s Mark Osegueda, guitarist Phil Demmel (formerly Machine Head/Vio-lence), and bassist Kyle Sanders (HELLYEAH, bloodsimple).

Born and reared in Los Angeles, California, King was the youngest of three children. His mother was employed by a telephone firm, while his father was an inspector of airplane parts. At the age of thirteen, he began taking guitar lessons at his father’s encouragement, stating, “My dad was trying to get me out of the wrong circles and give me a hobby.” King had excellent grades and attended three different high schools. In junior high, he even won an honor for being the top math student at his school. King claims he was “spoilt” as a child because he was the youngest. He started a long-lasting love with BC Rich guitars after learning to play the guitar on his father’s Gibson ES-175. Later, he owned a Fender Stratocaster, which he sold for a BC Rich Mockingbird.

Ted Nugent’s “Cat Scratch Fever” was the first song he ever learned. He quickly grew to love Van Halen and Judas Priest, which had a big impact on his guitar playing. Together with another guitarist who had been teaching him lessons, King established his first band. It was via this guitarist that he met Tom Araya. After learning that Araya and he lived just a block apart, they decided to start jamming together. Regarding Slayer‘s beginnings, King has stated that “everything began from that point.“