David Farrier of New Zealand’s 3 News conducted an interview with SLAYER bassist/vocalist Tom Araya during this year’s Soundwave festival in Australia. You can watch the report at this location.
Speaking about how the band’s live performances have changed since SLAYER‘s inception more than 30 years ago, Araya said: “The only difference with me now is I can’t headbang anymore as I have a plate. I can’t do that which is a bum-out. That’s something I enjoy doing, and now I can’t. It’s an internal struggle, you know what I mean? [But] I can still go out there and scream my ass off, and play a mean bass and smile a lot.”
Asked how SLAYER became so happy, Araya said: “Because everyone is having a good time and smiling, and I start smiling. I can’t help but laugh. I mean, it’s SLAYER, you want, ‘Arrrgh.’ I don’t see that — I see smiles as they are getting hit in the head.”
SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo sat out the band’s Australian tour due to a contract dispute with the other members of the group, while guitarist Jeff Hanneman is still recovering from necrotising fasciitis, a flesh-eating disease which he is believed to have gotten from a spider bite. Filling in for them were Jon Dette (TESTAMENT, ANTHRAX) and Gary Holt (EXODUS), respectively.