Certain prerequisites had to be met to get the show on the road. Kerry had to be in shape: he reckons the young Kerry would approve of the look and feel of this new project. Pandemic delays would have to be overcome: original plans to get going in 2020 got put on ice with the rest of the world, and were further delayed due to the logjam of releases as music came back up to speed. A new label needed to be set up to facilitate working with the people he wanted to: the album appears on the newly minted Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM). But pivotally, he needed a band of players – and this ‘Kerry King’ is a band – who could fulfil the vision, personally and professionally.
“The most important thing to me was to be able to have a bunch of my friends – not just random musicians,” he underlines. “We can all get on the bus together, have a bunch of drinks and hang out. No drama. At our age we just want to get out there, entertain people and have a good time!”
Notoriously hard-hitting Slayer drummer Paul Bostaph was always going to be foundational. He and Kerry worked together to write this music, and the pair continue to be the backbone of the new band. Ex-Machine Head guitarist Phil Demmel had joined them for four European Slayer dates in late-2018 when Gary Holt had to fly home to take care of his ailing father.
“While he was out for those shows, Phil told me that he wanted to be a part of my future,” Kerry smiles at the memory. “I took that and put it in my back pocket.”
The third otherwise “out-of-work” member was to be ex-HELLYEAH bassist Kyle Sanders, who Kerry always considered a great player and even better dude. Then there was Death Angel vocalist Mark Osegueda. Having been an acquaintance of Kerry’s for the best part of four decades, the pair grew close in the mid-2010s, and Mark initially tracked over his scratch demo vocals just as a friendly favour. Only 15 months ago did he join the band.
“I always knew that Mark was a great singer,” Kerry enthuses, “but even as we were going into the studio, I don’t think any of us realised what he would bring to the table. From the early days, I told him I wanted to recreate him: ‘Nothing against Death Angel, but Mark from Death Angel is dead!’ I needed something above and beyond. I’d keep nudging him or giving him advice, ‘Every time you open your mouth – whether singing a song or doing an interview – it’s got to be an event. People have to pay attention.’ I guess over the months it really sunk in, because he’s transformed!”