Kerry King (Slayer)

Name: Kerry Ray King
Born: 3rd June, 1964 (Los Angeles, California, USA)

Profile: He is a American guitarist, best known as the rhythm and lead guitarist and one of the founding members of American thrash metal band "Slayer". He is also a long time and noted snake breeder, and is known to pop up at Southern California reptile events.

History: He started playing guitar in his early teens, and in early 80's, he was trying out for the position as a guitarist in a band. After the session was over guitarist Jeff Hanneman approached him and the two began playing "Iron Maiden" and "Judas Priest" songs, after a few months together the both of them formed American thrash-metal band "Slayer".

King has also made several guest appearances as lead guitarist for other bands and artist such as "Beastie Boys", "Pantera", "Hatebreed", "Sum 41", "Marilyn Manson", Ice-T and Rob Zombie.

Over the years, Kerry King's guitar style has remained similar, giving him a very distinctive sound. Aside from his strong, often angular rhythm guitar work, King is one of the most distinctive soloists in metal: focusing more on speed and chaos than on melody or typical metal-style technical precision, King typically makes extensive and unorthodox use of whammy bar and uses a very heavy, irregular vibrato.

Some fans and critics have disapproved of King's solo style, but it should be noted that King is an innovator: his solo style had little precedent, but has exerted a strong influence, particularly thrash and death metal bands, where diatonic-ism is less important than in traditional rock and metal.

Influences: Judas Priest, Venom, Iron Maiden, Motörhead, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath

Axology: B.C. Rich KKV Signature V guitar, B.C. Rich Wartribe 7-string guitar and Marshall JCM-800 amplifier

Signature song(s): Angel of Death and Raining in Blood - Slayer (Reign In Blood, 1986)

Link(s):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ayy4KqN9OU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FVBN-xidl8