RANDY BLYTHE Says 'It's Pretty Cool' KERRY KING's First Solo Tour Will Be As Support Act For LAMB OF GOD

In a new interview with Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show, LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe spoke about his band's upcoming summer 2024 co-headlining tour with MASTODON. Support on the trek will come from SLAYER guitarist Kerry King's new solo group, which features in its ranks guitarist Phil Demmel, a former member of MACHINE HEAD and VIO-LENCE, who has previously filled in for LAMB OF GOD on both guitar and bass. Asked if he was aware of Phil's involvement with Kerry's band before it was officially announced, and whether he has hear any of King's new music, Randy said: "Phil did a really good job of keeping his mouth shut. We were on the bus and we talked, but we inferred, after a while, what was going on. He did not say, 'I'm doing Kerry King's band,' so I'm not gonna throw Phil under the bus, 'cause he did a good job [of keeping it under wraps]."

He continued: "Yes, of course, I've heard [Kerry's new] music. I've heard about half the album. [It was] sent to us before we even had the offer [to have Kerry on the tour]. Management came to me, like, 'Yo, Kerry's recorded some stuff. He wants you to hear it.'

"We have a long-term friendship with Kerry and the SLAYER guys," Blythe explained. "Of course, now it's him and [SLAYER drummer Paul] Bostaph [who are involved in King's solo band]. We're friends with everyone in his band and it's pretty cool, I think, that he's gonna be coming out. I believe this is gonna be the first tour he's gonna be doing. I know he's doing some festivals maybe before that, I think, but this is gonna be the first tour, to my knowledge. So we're pretty stoked on that. We've played all over the world with Kerry when he was in SLAYER. So, for us, it's pretty special to have him out on the road with us on his first run. And, of course, all the other dudes in the band; we know everyone. And the [fellow support band] MALEVOLENCE guys are great as well. And then, of course, we've been friends with MASTODON for well over 20 years. So it's a great time."

King's debut solo album, "From Hell I Rise", will arrive on May 17 via Reigning Phoenix Music. Joining King, Bostaph and Demmel on the record are bassist Kyle Sanders (HELLYEAH) and vocalist Mark Osegueda (DEATH ANGEL).

The LAMB OF GOD/MASTODON North American "Ashes Of Leviathan" co-headline tour will launch on July 19 in Grand Prairie, Texas and will wrap on August 31 in Omaha, Nebraska.

Four years ago, Blythe dismissed suggestions that LAMB OF GOD is the natural successor to the thrash metal throne previously occupied by SLAYER.

Ever since SLAYER completed its final tour in November 2019, there had been talk about which younger act is best equipped to follow in the legendary Californian act's footsteps, with LAMB OF GOD mentioned by some as the most likely candidate.

Asked in an interview with Metal Injection how he feels about LAMB OF GOD being linked to SLAYER in that way, Blythe said: "I've heard that from other people. We were the main support for every leg of their final tour except for the last one. I mean, we did, like, four legs or something — we went everywhere. And it's, like, [people have said] 'They're passing the torch. They're handing you the crown.' And it's, like, there was no secret ceremony where we all sat down and Kerry King was, like, 'I give you the place of SLAYER. Here's the SLAYER throne. Here's the keys to all our unholy wonders in our secret SLAYER vault.' There was none of that.

"I'm not really worried about taking SLAYER's place, because we never will take SLAYER's place," he continued. "No one will ever take SLAYER's place. SLAYER was an entity unto themselves — they helped create this style of music that we descend from. They're forefathers of ours — but so is BLACK SABBATH, so is Elvis [Presley], so is Robert Johnson, and all the way back to the blues. And I haven't taken Robert Johnson's place. I'm not worried about taking SLAYER's place."