Kerry King Names His 6 Favorite Guitarists EVER, Some Might Surprise You

Kerry King, the iconic co-founder and guitarist of thrash metal legends Slayer, recently shared the list of guitar players who most significantly influenced his groundbreaking style. As King reflects on his inspirations, Slayer continues to ramp up its live activity for 2025, announcing a major headlining stadium show in Hershey, Pennsylvania, set for this September. Kerry King also made a notable appearance at WWE‘s Wrestlemania 41 on Sunday, April 20, performing live guitar for Damian Priest‘s entrance theme, “Rise For the Night.” You can see the footage below if you have missed it.

Before forming Slayer in 1981 and helping pioneer a genre, King was deeply immersed in the burgeoning heavy metal scene. Discovering bands like Black Sabbath and Judas Priest was pivotal, as was witnessing the rise of Van Halen. These early encounters shaped the aggressive, complex sound King would forge with Slayer. In a recent survey for Consequence, King detailed six guitarists (one more than requested, in true rebel fashion) whose work left an indelible mark on him.

1. Tonny Iommy

King’s list begins with the foundational figure of Tony Iommi. “Yeah, it can’t be anyone else,” King stated. “Realistically, if you are remotely a metal fan… Tony started it all. And without Tony, a lot of us wouldn’t be here… If you like anything metal, you like Black Sabbath. If you don’t, you’re kidding yourself.”

2. Ritchie Blackmore

He also cited Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Rainbow), praising his distinct approach: “The way he wrote music is hard to explain… you can generally tell when Ritchie is playing guitar. He has a very unique style.”

3. Eddie Van Halen

Eddie Van Halen was crucial during King’s formative years. “He did things to the guitar that sounded inhuman,” King recalled, noting he saw early Van Halen “six times on the first three records,” often using binoculars to conduct “guitar homework” from the stands.

4. Glenn Tipton

Representing King‘s self-proclaimed favorite metal band, Judas Priest, is Glenn Tipton. “His style really inspires me,” King said, highlighting Tipton’s innovative techniques and naming his solo in “Beyond the Realms of Death” as a personal favorite.

5. Randy Rhoads

The unique talents of Randy Rhoads also made a huge impact. Hearing Ozzy Osbourne‘s Blizzard of Ozz, King thought: “Where did this guy come from? How did he ever compose songs this way…?” King groups Rhoads with Van Halen as singular talents “taken away far too early.”

6. Dimebag Darrell

Finally, King paid tribute to his late friend Dimebag Darrell (Pantera). King noted Dime‘s over-the-top skill even before Pantera‘s fame and his unique style evident on albums like Cowboys from Hell. He shared a poignant anecdote where Dime advised him against meticulously planning solos: “King, don’t do that. Your fans like it because you go crazy on the whammy bar.” King admitted, “That’s always been kind of a rule of mine ever since.”

While King reflects on his influences, Slayer is actively booking major shows for 2025. The band has announced a massive concert set for September 20th, 2025, at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, PA. This event boasts a stacked support lineup featuring Knocked Loose, Suicidal Tendencies, Power Trip, Cavalera (performing Sepultura’s Chaos A.D.), and Exodus (performing Bonded by Blood). WWE wrestler and noted metalhead Damien Priest is slated to host.

Commenting on recent Slayer performances, King remarked: “When we played our first show last year in Chicago… the reaction was just completely overwhelming… So for the Hershey concert, we’ll play a Slayer show, we’ll have all of our big fire effects, and just burn everything like we used to.” He also expressed enthusiasm about sharing the stage with newer acts, stating, “This will be the first time Slayer has played with bower Trip or Knocked Loose… I’m looking forward to seeing them live.”

This Hershey date adds to Slayer’s 2025 schedule, which includes:

• July 3 – Cardiff, UK @ Blackweir Fields (w/ Amon Amarth, Anthrax, Mastodon, etc.)
• July 5 – Birmingham, UK @ Villa Park
• July 6 – London, UK @ Finsbury Park (w/ Amon Amarth, Anthrax, Mastodon, etc.)
• July 11 – Québec City, CA @ Festival d’été de Québec
• September 18 – Louisville, KY @ Louder Than Life Festival
• September 20 – Hershey, PA @ Hersheypark Stadium (Newly announced w/ Knocked Loose, etc.)