Slayer Farewell Tour

…and so it begins. The beginning of the end.

This past Thursday, May 10, 2018, Slayer commenced their farewell tour, and the show was nothing short of epic. It took place at Valley View Sports Arena in San Diego, on a beautiful marine layer-y overcast day. The doors were at 4pm out of necessity, as 5 huge, and well known bands were playing.

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As per the usual, there were lots of lines even before the 4pm open door time. Parking-lot pre-gaming and scalpers trying to make that buck. Lines went fairly quick, excitement in the air! Where do you plant yourself? Are you a floor person, or an “I’d prefer a seat” person? Once that’s determined, it’s all about that merch booth! You want to get there early to have the best choices. I can’t tell you how often, a “I’ll just get it after the show” bit me in the ass. Merch is all expensive at $40 a shirt, but it’s the last tour. The shirts have dates, and WE ARE THE FIRST ONE! Can’t pass it up. Plus, it’s Slayer.

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Back to seats with fine craft beer (thanks Pizza Port!), and the show runs like a well-oiled machine. Testament is up first with 30 minute set, then Behemoth, and Anthrax, who opens with the always appropriate Caught In A Mosh.

Scott Ian

Jonathan Donais

Joey Belladonna

Scott Ian

Joey Belladonna & Scott Ian

Frank Bello

Frank Bello

Joey Belladonna

Charlie Benante

Jonathan Donais

Jonathan Donais

Frank Bello

Joey Belladonna

Frank Bello & Joey Belladonna

Joey Belladonna

Scott Ian

Frank Bello

Joey Belladonna & Scott Ian

Scott Ian

Joey Belladonna

Joey Belladonna

Joey Belladonna

Anthrax are always high-energy, and positive! Joey Belladonna and Frank Bello are the happiest guys in metal, always smiling, and pumping up the crowd! Scott Ian & Jonathan Donais always wailing, with Charlie Benante keeping the clock ticking. At the end of I Am The Law, the third song of 7, Joey picks up one of the photographer’s pro cameras, and snaps pictures of the crowd. As a photographer myself, my anxiety shot right up – these camera’s ain’t cheap! But wow, what a memory, and no equipment was harmed in the process. Whew!

Lamb of God’s set was STRIKING! Black and bright white steps span the stage, with a large backdrop proclaiming “Pure American Metal” behind the set. Each pit for each band is bigger than the last, just for the sheer number of people in the venue! This is when the first Shark – yes, a man in a blue Shark costume, surfaces as one of many, but most unique crowd surfers during Lamb of God’s Still Echoes. They killed it!

Call time for photogs is 15 minutes before Slayer’s set. Things seem normal, but then they aren’t. There’s what looks like a Fire Department head – tall, muscular man, walking with determination to make sure everything is in place for the start of the show. More delay, and more delay until Jose Mangin takes the stage behind Slayer’s cloth screen, and implores the crowd to keep the fire aisles clear for safety.

A few minutes later, things seem to be ok, the music starts, the fire starts, then the curtain drops to Repentless!

Kerry King

Tom Araya

Tom Araya

Gary Holt

Gary Holt

Kerry King

Kerry King

Kerry King

Tom Araya

The crowd was crazy, this kid was awesome, and there was blood everywhere on the floor. The fire was delightfully hot, and there was a lot of it! Just about every song contained some type of pyrotechnics, and EVIL!

Tom Araya & Kerry King

Gary Holt, Tom Araya, & Kerry King

Tom Araya & Kerry King

Kerry King

Gary Holt

Gary Holt & Paul Bostaph

Tom Araya

Tom Araya

Tom Araya

The shark has re-surfaced! Two things I’ve learned about shooting a show is to be aware of your surroundings, and look for signals so you can properly protect yourself. As a veteran front-row concert dweller, you hone these skills, and the one that has protected me the most is observing the signals of security. When they start pointing behind you, cover your head so you don’t get kicked! In this case, I was in the photo pit, so that opportunity to spin around and capture someone on their way over was a cool shot to get!

The pits were HUGE. During the solo of Hate Woldwide, one of the guys helping muscular fire man goes on the stage, talking to Tom Araya as he plays his bass. After the song, Tom addresses the crowd asking them to please clear the aisles once again. First he was met with boos, but then the crowd wisen’s up. No show until the aisles are clear, as the god of thrash states. People start cheering and then quickly comply, so we can get on with the brutality!

Angel of Death closes out the show, and afterwards, on behalf of Slayer, Tom gives a genuine, heart-felt “Thank You” speech to the crowd, just before he whips out his phone to record the beginning of the end of Slayer.

Do not miss this show, I implore you! You’ll regret it if you do.

Metal Love,

*All Photos are Copyright Natalie Wiser-Orozco. No use without permission