The Backstage Incident That Made KERRY KING Call a Rock Icon a 'Complete Jerk'

Not everyone in the world of music gets along, and that includes some of its biggest stars.

Even in heavy metal, a genre known for its intensity and larger-than-life personalities, there are musicians who just don’t click. One example: Kerry King, guitarist and founding member of Slayer, who once called out another well-known name in the scene.

In an interview with Bizz magazine from June 2000 (resurfaced by LOUDLEGENDS.com), King didn’t hold back when asked to name the first unpleasant person he met in the music business.

He named Blackie Lawless, guitarist and vocalist for W.A.S.P., and didn’t mince words.

“Blackie Lawless. He’s a jerk […] a son of a [expletive]. We were on the ‘Reign in Blood’ tour opening for W.A.S.P. The rest of the band wanted to hang out with us, but Blackie wouldn’t let them. He was definitely a jerk,” King said.

The Slayer album he mentioned, Reign in Blood, came out in 1986 and became one of the band’s most iconic records.

Decades later, the two musicians ended up on the same bill again. This time, it was at Bangers Open Air, held from May 2 to 4 this year at the Memorial da América Latina in Brazil.

Has anything changed between them after all these years?

It’s hard to say for sure, but considering both artists have voiced similar political views, especially critical takes on the current U.S. president, it seems likely that their personal tension hasn’t gone away.

About Kerry King

Kerry King is a guitarist and songwriter from Los Angeles, California, recognized primarily for co-founding the thrash metal band Slayer in 1981 alongside Jeff Hanneman.

His distinct playing style, marked by rapid alternate picking, dissonant solos, and aggressive riffing, helped define the sound of thrash metal through the 1980s and beyond.

Slayer’s third album, Reign in Blood (1986), is often cited as a landmark release in the genre, and King’s guitar work was central to its intensity.

Beyond his role as a musician, King has maintained a visible presence in metal circles due to his blunt, often confrontational opinions on other artists, politics, and the state of the music industry.

He has never been known for diplomacy in interviews and often draws attention for his candid remarks, both praised and criticized within the metal scene.

King has also consistently emphasized his commitment to heavy music and his disdain for trends he views as commercial or inauthentic.

After Slayer disbanded in 2019, he took a few years off from performing before launching his solo band in 2024. The project includes members from other well-known metal acts and continues the fast, aggressive style associated with his previous work.

While he’s no longer touring under the Slayer name, his approach to music and his role as a metal veteran remain largely unchanged.

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