Tom Araya
Tom Araya | |
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Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
Genres | Thrash metal |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instrument(s) |
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Years active |
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Member of | Slayer |
Website | slayer |
Tomás Enrique Araya Díaz (Spanish pronunciation: [ton aˈɾaʝa]; born June 6, 1961) is a Chilean-American musician, best known as the vocalist and bassist of thrash metal band Slayer. He was ranked 58th by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Metal Vocalists of All Time. Araya, along with Kerry King, are the only members who stayed in the band since its inception.
Araya was employed as a respiratory therapist in the early 1980s and used his earnings to finance Slayer's debut album Show No Mercy (1983). Much of Araya's lyrical content is about serial killers, a subject he finds interesting; his first credited lyrical contribution was the vampire-themed track "At Dawn They Sleep" from 1985's Hell Awaits.
Early life
Tomás Enrique Araya Diaz was born in Viña del Mar, Chile, but his family moved to the U.S. when he was five. He grew up in Los Angeles.[2] His older brother, Cisco, played guitar. This inspired Araya to pick up bass at age eight. The two played Beatles and Rolling Stones songs, which he would later cite as an influence on his own music.[3]
In the early 1980s, Araya's eldest sister suggested he enroll in a program to become certified as a
Career
In 1981, Araya was approached by
In 2006, Araya underwent
On January 7, 2010, Slayer announced on its official website that back surgery had been scheduled for Araya and that the planned tour would be canceled through April of that year. The site assured fans, "Slayer camp working hard to reschedule dates for later this year." Araya is known for his aggressive headbanging and began experiencing back problems while the band was on tour in Australia/New Zealand/Japan in October 2009. He had an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. "The surgeon opened up my throat from the front", he explained. "Apparently it's easier that way. They pushed my oesophagus over to one side and did the repair work. It seems to have done the trick but I can't headbang anymore."[8] As a result of his surgery, Araya has significantly tempered his once aggressive on-stage movement and headbanging; now remaining relatively still during performances.
On March 12, 2010, Metal Hammer magazine published an interview with Slayer's Dave Lombardo about Araya's recovery. Lombardo stated, "He's recovering extremely quickly and really well. He is just moving forward and doing all the treatments and post operation stuff that he has to go through. He's doing good."[9]
On May 20, 2010, Slayer confirmed that they would play two songs on TV for Jimmy Kimmel Live![10]
On June 3, 2011, Araya received the
In 2014, Araya made a cameo in the heavy metal horror film Hairmetal Shotgun Zombie Massacre: The Movie, directed by Joshua Allan Vargas.
From May 2018 to November 2019, with the last show being in their hometown Los Angeles, Slayer embarked on what they called their final world tour[12][13] and eventually dissolved.[14]
Following the conclusion of Slayer's farewell tour, Araya remained out of the public eye for several years.
In February of 2024, just weeks after Kerry King stated that he had not spoken to Araya since the conclusion of Slayer's farewell tour, Slayer announced that they would be reuniting for two reunion shows in the fall of that year. Araya stated, "Nothing compares to the 90 minutes when we're onstage playing live, sharing that intense energy with our fans."[15]
Lyrics
Araya's interest in
Araya wrote the lyrics for the
Personal life
Araya has a brother, Juan "Johnny" Araya, who currently plays bass in the
Araya resides in Texas, where he owns a ranch with his wife Sandra Araya and two children, daughter Ariel Asa Araya (b. 1996) and son Tomas Enrique Araya Jr. (b. 1998).[7] He and his wife run a family ranch that includes 60+ head of cattle among other ranch animals. Araya reports that he sings country songs to help keep his "singing chops up".[21] Araya and his wife enjoy horror films such as The Amityville Horror and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. The two allowed their children to watch horror films, but made it clear to them that it is just a movie when they asked "Is this real?"[22] His children were homeschooled.[23]
Araya suffers from sleep apnea and uses a CPAP machine regularly at home and on tour.[24]
In 2010, Araya underwent neck surgery after years of headbanging. The operation went well but he could no longer perform the dramatic motions he used to display, which was something he really missed doing.[25] While on tour, his brother made a special "weight belt" for Araya to play the bass without straining his neck. After the recovery period ended, he reverted to using standard bass straps.[26]
Religion
Araya is a practicing
Araya commented about the misconception of the band labeled as Satan worshippers, "Yeah, yeah I think that's one of the biggest misconceptions towards the band, but next to that just the fact that we're normal." If guitarist King writes a good song, Araya puts his beliefs aside, "I'm not one that's going to go, 'This sucks because it's contrary to my beliefs.' To me it's more like 'This is really good stuff. You're going to piss people off with this.'"[29]
In 2016, Araya further explained that the main reason Slayer used satanic imagery was to scare people, in particular, the "Hollywood people", wanting to separate themselves from the "androgynous Sunset Strip metal scene of the 1980s".[30]
Discography
Slayer
- 1983: Show No Mercy
- 1984: Haunting the Chapel
- 1985: Hell Awaits
- 1986: Reign in Blood
- 1988: South of Heaven
- 1990: Seasons in the Abyss
- 1994: Divine Intervention
- 1996: Undisputed Attitude
- 1998: Diabolus in Musica
- 2001: God Hates Us All
- 2006: Christ Illusion
- 2009: World Painted Blood
- 2015: Repentless
Guest appearances
- Dirt with Alice in Chains (1992)
- Primitive with Soulfly (2000)
- Rise Above: 24 Black Flag Songs to Benefit the West Memphis Three with Rollins Band (2002)
Equipment
Araya endorses Marshall amplifiers and ESP guitars which are currently marketing Tom Araya signature bass guitars.[31] He was one of the first bassists to have a signature ESP bass series.
- ESP – Tom Araya signature bass
- B.C. Rich bass guitars
- Fender Precision Bass (seen in early photos of Slayer live performances)
- EMG pickups
- Bartolini pickups
- Dunlop strings 50-110 (heavy, stainless steel)
- D'Addario Picks and straps (he used his fingers before 1988's South of Heaven)
- Marshall VBA400
- Marshall 8x10 cabinet
References
- ^ "Famous birthdays for June 6: Ashley Park, Sandra Bernhard". www.upi.com. June 6, 2022.
- ^ "Slayer's metal music gains popularity"
- ^ a b c d Tom Araya (January 4, 2005). "Interview With Slayer Vocalist/ Bassist Tom Araya". KNAC.COM (Interview). Interviewed by Brian Davis. Seattle: KNAC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2015. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
- ^ "Live chat with Tom Araya of Slayer". ESPguitars.com. Archived from the original on May 9, 2006. Retrieved January 27, 2007.
- KNAC. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- ^ "Slayer Frontman Undergoes Gallbladder Surgery, Band Reschedule Early 'Unholy Alliance' Dates". Blabbermouth.net. May 10, 2006. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved January 9, 2007.
- ^ a b Nailen, Dan (January 26, 2007). "A feel-good, family side to Slayer's heavy-metal assault". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved January 28, 2007.
- ^ Barton, Geoff: "The Big Four reunite"; Classic Rock #148, August 2010, p19
- ^ "Dave Lombardo: "Tom Araya Is Recovering Extremely Quickly". metalhammer.co.uk. March 12, 2010. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
- ^ "Jimmy Kimmel Tonight". slayer.net. May 20, 2010. Archived from the original on May 23, 2010. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
- ^ "Tom Araya Receives Keys to the city of Vina del Mar". slayerized.com. June 6, 2011. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
- ^ Hill, John (December 2, 2018). "BREAKING NEWS: Slayer Announce Farewell Tour". Loudwire. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
- ^ "SLAYER Announces 'The Final Campaign' Tour Dates With PRIMUS, MINISTRY And PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS". Blabbermouth.net. July 9, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
- ^ "There Is 'Not A Chance In Hell' SLAYER Will Ever Reunite, Says KERRY KING's Wife". Blabbermouth.net. December 2, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
- ^ "Slayer Officially Reunite, Announce First Shows". Loudwire.
- ^ Stannard, Joe. "Interview with Slayer". Plan B. Frances Morgan. Archived from the original on December 17, 2006. Retrieved June 15, 2009.
- ^ "Jeffrey Dahmer". ohiohistorycentral.org. Retrieved January 30, 2007.
- ^ Tom Araya (May 3, 2006). "About God and Satan – Part 2: An Interview With Slayer's Tom Araya". KNAC.COM (Interview). Interviewed by Peter Atkinson. KNAC. Archived from the original on June 14, 2015. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
- ^ Loudwire. "Slayer's Tom Araya - Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction?". YouTube. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Premier Guitar. "Rig Rundown - Slayer". YouTube. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ Glessner, David (September 8, 1999). "Slayer attracts a new generation of fans". MySA.com. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved January 30, 2007.
- ^ Tom Araya (January 25, 2007). "LiveDaily Interview: Tom Araya of Slayer". liveDaily (Interview). Interviewed by Paul Gargano. Archived from the original on February 5, 2007. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
- ^ "Slayer". Kids Interview Bands. Archived from the original on November 14, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Hartmann, Graham. "Slayer's Tom Araya Talks Struggle With Sleep Apnea + Ukrainian Zoo Statue". YouTube. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
- ^ Kielty, Martin (April 6, 2016). "Slayer frontman Tom Araya still misses headbanging". Metal Hammer. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
- ^ Premier Guitar. "Rig Rundown - Slayer". YouTube. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
- ^ "TOM ARAYA: SLAYER's Lyrics Are 'Just Words And They'll Never Interfere With What I Believe'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. July 9, 2006. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
- ^ Tom Araya (July 2004). "Slay Ride" (Interview). Interviewed by John La Briola. Archived from the original on August 3, 2004. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
- ^ a b Feniak, Jenny. "Slayer likes bad-boy image". Jam.com. Archived from the original on May 24, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2007.
- ^ Loudwire. "Slayer's Tom Araya - Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction?". YouTube. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
- ^ "The ESP Guitar Company: Tom Araya Signature Series". Espguitars.com. Archived from the original on November 2, 2010. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
External links
- Tom Araya at AllMusic