Slayer Announce Dates For First Leg Of “One Final World Tour”
Legendary thrash metal band Slayer have announced that the band intends to “make its exit” after playing “one final world tour.” The band broke the news via a video (which can be viewed below) featuring a compilation of press clippings, early posters and press photos spanning the group’s entire career. The band have since released details of the tour’s first leg in North America which runs during May and June 2017.
Slayer bassist/vocalist Tom Araya talked about his possible retirement in a 2016 interview with Loudwire. He said: “At 35 years, it’s time to collect my pension. [Laughs] This is a career move.” He continued: “I’m grateful that we’ve been around for 35 years; that’s a really long time. So, yeah, to me, it is. Because when we started off, everything was great, because you’re young and invincible. And then there came a time where I became a family man, and I had a tough time flying back and forth.
“And now, at this stage, at the level we’re at now, I can do that,” he added. “I can fly home when I want to, on days off, and spend some time with my family, which is something I wasn’t able to do when [my kids] were growing up. Now they’re both older and mature. So now I take advantage of that. Yeah, it just gets harder and harder to come back out on the road. 35 years is a long time.”
Araya also revealed another reason for his diminished enjoyment of the touring life. He said: “There’s things that have gone on in my life that have made me change how I play as a bass player. I had neck surgery, so I can’t headbang anymore. And that was a big part of what I enjoyed doing what I do — singing and headbanging. I liked knowing that I was one of the f_ing badass headbangers. That played a big part. Now I just groove with the music, which is cool, because I’m grooving with the music and the feel of the songs, so that’s changed a little for me.”
Since the announcement, Slayer have released details of the first leg of their farewell tour, for which Lamb Of God, Anthrax, Behemoth and Testament will support. The dates are as follows:
10 May: Valley View Casino Center, San Diego, CA
11May: FivePoint Amphitheatre, Irvine, CA
13 May: Papa Murphy’s Park at Cal Expo, Sacramento, CA
16 May: PNE forum, Vancouver, BC
17 May: South Okanagan Events Centre, Penticton, BC
19 May: Big Four, Calgary, AL
20 May: Shaw Centre, Edmonton, AB
22 May: Bell MTS Place, Winnipeg, MB
24 May: The Armory, Minneapolis, MN
25 May: Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, Chicago, IL
27 May: Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre @ Freedom Hill, Detroit, MI
29 May: Budweiser Stage, Toronto, ON
30 May: Place Bell, Montreal, PQ
1 June: Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, CT
2 June: PNC Banks Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ
4 June: Santander Arena, Reading, PA
6 June: Riverbend Music Center, Cincinnati, OH
7 June: Blossom Music Center, Cleveland, OH
9 June: KeyBank Pavilion, Pittsburgh, PA
10 June: Jiffy Lube Live, Bristow, VA
12 June: VUHL Amphitheatre, Virginia Beach, VA
14 June: PNC Music Pavilion, Charlotte, NC
15 June: Orlando Amphitheatre, Orlando, FL
17 June: Smart Financial Center, Houston, TX
19 June: The Bomb Factory, Dallas, TX
20 June: Austin 360 Amphitheatre, Austin, TX
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