Kerry King Explains How He Formed His Solo Band: ‘I’ve Got My Friends’

Slayer guitar icon Kerry King recently offered insight into the formation of his solo band during an interview with Nick Bowcott of Sweetwater. King detailed the thought process behind choosing the musicians who would join him in this new chapter: drummer Paul Bostaph (a fellow Slayer alumnus), bassist Kyle Sanders (Hellyeah), guitarist Phil Demmel (formerly of Machine Head), and vocalist Mark Osegueda (Death Angel).

For the 60-year-old guitarist, the primary factor wasn’t just musical prowess, but personal connection and a drama-free environment. King explained his criteria:

“I wanted, first and foremost, it to be a friend of mine, in my age group. I don’t have anything against people like… I don’t even have an example, ’cause I don’t pay attention that much, but somebody my age getting in a band with somebody 25. I’ve got nothing against it; I just didn’t wanna do that. I wanted us to look like a cohesive group of people. And first and foremost, it was a friendship. No divas, no drama backstage. We get done playing, and if somebody messes up, we’ll all make fun of ’em. [Laughs] It’s a good environment, man. I’m having a f**king blast.”

King elaborated on this theme when offering advice to aspiring musicians, emphasizing the importance of camaraderie over the sheer business aspect that music can become, especially after decades in one band:

“Well, after being decades in the same band, and it became work, it becomes a business. You’re not the same person you were when you were 20. People grow up, they grow different. Now that I’ve been able to do this, the importance of playing with your friends and being in a fun environment is more important than I gave it credit for. Of course, practice, get good people, but at the end of the day, get people you dig being around and who like the same music, because if you don’t like the same music, that’s gonna be a problem down the line. [Laughs] But, yeah, for me, my number one thing I talk about in interviews is I’ve got my friends [playing in my band]. And they all happen to be good. [Laughs]”

While focused on this new project built on friendship, King also ensures his formidable legacy with Slayer remains part of the experience for fans. Speaking at a press conference in São Paulo, Brazil, for the Bangers Open Air 2025 festival, he explained why classic Slayer songs are integral to his solo setlist:

“Part of the reason I’m doing Slayer songs in my set is because it’s part of my past, part of our legacy, and if Slayer never comes down here again, I play these songs so people in South America, wherever I play, they can still enjoy the songs that I’ve written over the last 40 years. So, to me, it’s an extension of Slayer because Slayer went away. Slayer got taken away from me as well. I planned on being Slayer forever. And I still am; we’re just not playing that often. But I like to give fans a taste of what I am now, what I was then, songs they’re probably never gonna see again live. I wanna give that to them. I wanna show people that were too young to see Slayer the first time how cool it was, because I think we do the Slayer songs justice. And me moving forward, I’ll have more and more solo material, but I’m not ever gonna forget that I was in Slayer and I’ll always play some of that too.”

This approach follows the release of King’s debut solo album, From Hell I Rise, which came out in May 2024 via Reigning Phoenix Music. The album features material entirely written by King and was recorded in 2023 at Los Angeles’ Henson Recording Studios with producer Josh Wilbur, whose credits include work with Korn, Lamb of God, Avenged Sevenfold, and Bad Religion.