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A Slayer<\/a><\/strong> reunion after their final shows in 2019 seemed impossible. Kerry King<\/strong> was gearing up for his new band, Gary Holt<\/strong> went back to Exodus<\/a><\/strong>, and Tom Araya<\/strong> had wanted to retire for years leading up to the end of the band. So the metal community was a little shocked when Slayer<\/strong> all of a sudden announced two festival dates<\/a> for later this year.<\/p>\n But what the hell happened? Why now? According to Tom Araya<\/strong>‘s wife Sandra Araya<\/strong> on social media, she had a lot to do with it. Sandra<\/strong> said Tom<\/strong> was absolutely done playing, but she harassed him for the past year to get back into it, and now we are.<\/p>\n “Let’s clarify for the trolls: Tom<\/strong> was done with playing,” she wrote. “I have harassed him for over a year. He agreed FINALLY. We shared that news with Slayer<\/a><\/strong>‘s awesome managers and they did the rest! So yes without Tom<\/strong> it wouldn’t have happened.. without me BUGGING HIM it wouldn’t have happened. But go ahead with your drama! I however will be enjoying a few shows and I’m thankful he loves me and the fans enough to do this.”<\/p>\n I’m not really sure how this clears up any of the drama surrounding the situation, but apparently it does. I think the “drama” is twofold, and neither has to do with Araya<\/strong> \u2013 one, Slayer<\/a><\/strong> has been broken up for barely five years; and two, Kerry King<\/strong> has a solo thing that’s now overshadowed by Slayer<\/a><\/strong>. But uh\u2026 there you go.<\/p>\n Tom Araya<\/strong> himself hasn’t commented further on the reunion outside his initial, brief statement: “Nothing compares to the 90 minutes when we’re on stage playing live, sharing that intense energy with our fans, and to be honest, we have missed that.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n