SLAYER: Photo Of RockHard Helmet Available

SLAYER, the Grammy-winning, undisputed kings of thrash/punk/metal, have joined forces with O'Neal USA, one of the leading manufacturers of motorcycle and BMX accessories, to produce a limited edition of SLAYER helmets (photo) that feature the band's distinguished and celebrated artwork. The helmets will launch under the name of RockHard, and will be sold at all Cycle Gear locations and at finer motorcycle dealerships worldwide. In addition, each helmet will be certified and numbered with its own Certificate of Authenticity. SLAYER's RockHard Helmets go on sale on Monday, February 25 and once they're gone, they are GONE.

SLAYER's RockHard Helmets will be available in three unique shells: Full Face Street (retail from $349),Off Road Dirt ($249 to $269),and Half Shell (Harley style) ($159 to $179). Every helmet will be boxed in a custom-made container patterned after the Anvil road cases, which are used to transport band equipment while on tour. Each helmet passes the highest safety standards from around the world, certified standards in each country in which they are sold. These standards include DOT, SNELL, Australia, EU, Japan and ECE. Each helmet is produced with the finest materials and is made with the most comfortable liners for a perfect fit every ride.

"The RockHard Helmet line, and the SLAYER helmet in particular, has generated a huge amount of buzz with our retail outlet buyers," said Jim O'Neal. "Personally, I'm very psyched about this product as it takes SLAYER to another merch level."

While musical trends have come and gone, the members of SLAYER — Tom Araya/vocals, bass; Kerry King/guitars; Jeff Hanneman/guitars; Dave Lombardo/drums — have continued to stay true to their thrash roots and loudly defied the music industry's standards for the past 27 years. The band is nominated this year for its third Grammy Award (Best Metal Performance for the track "The Final Six" off 2007 limited-edition "Christ Illusion". On "Christ Illusion", SLAYER takes on the Government and God, looking at the World Trade Center disaster from the terrorists' point of view and repeatedly committing lyrical blasphemy, which caused one major daily reviewer to hypothesize, "If Thomas Jefferson were alive today, he undoubtedly would be listening to Slayer.beneath this aggressive veneer is a social, political and interpersonal message that would put proud smiles on our nation's founders."

RockHard Helmets is also producing limited-edition helmets for AC/DC, KISS, LYNYRD SKYNYRD, and Hustler in its current first "Tour" lineup. With nearly 300 artists under contract with the RockHard project, what better way to launch the RockHard line than with the almighty metal icon, SLAYER.