During an appearance on the May 13 episode of SiriusXM‘s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk”, SLAYER guitarist Kerry King was asked if he thinks the band’s upcoming reunion shows will have a positive or negative impact on the promotional efforts for his debut solo album, “From Hell I Rise”, which will arrive on May 17 via Reigning Phoenix Music. He responded: “I see it both ways. We’ve (SLAYER) been turning down reunion offers for the last four years. Unfortunately, when the right offer came around, this one, it was right as my project was releasing. So there’s certainly people, like my management and booking agents, who say, ‘Oh, that’s great. It’s gonna boost your solo thing.’ And I’m, like, ‘Well, I don’t know the business side of it, but it is what it is.’ And every time I talk about it to journalists and magazines and stuff, I say, ‘Listen, SLAYER is not gonna make another record. SLAYER is never gonna tour again.’ May SLAYER do a one-off here or there? Maybe. I told my solo band when the SLAYER reunion shows came up, I’m, like, ‘Listen, this is a blip on the radar to me. This isn’t a solo project that’s gonna recycle musicians every record cycle. You guys are with me till you don’t wanna be.'”

Asked if he envisions SLAYER as the type of thing where the band will do one or two shows a year when a great opportunity comes up, Kerry said: “I’m not even talking yearly. I’m, like, every two years, every three years, every five years. I don’t know. ‘Cause I’m gonna be super busy with my solo band once 2025 rolls around.”

On the topic of whether he has spoken to SLAYER bassist/vocalist Tom Araya since the band’s reunion shows were announced, Kerry said: “I’ll tell you the truth, ’cause you know that’s how I roll. No, we haven’t. But you know what’s weird about that? It’s not weird. (Laughs)”

He continued: “We’ll go probably rehearse off and on for a couple weeks before the first show, ’cause even though me and (SLAYER drummer) Paul (Bostaph, who is also in Kerry‘s solo band) will be sharp from playing, playing with different people, you’ve gotta get sharp together.”

Elaborating on his belief that SLAYER‘s comeback shows will not lead into a full-fledged reunion for the legendary thrash metal act, Kerry said: “The way I look at it, and when I tell you this, it puts it into perspective for a lot of people, I see it as three five-year anniversary shows of our last tour.”

King went on to say that he hasn’t started thinking about which songs SLAYER might play at its upcoming shows. “I got asked for a setlist,” he said. “I’m, like, ‘Man, I haven’t even got my setlist done yet.’ (Laughs)”