Kerry King knows a thing or two about metal. Lead guitarist in since 1981 and now an established solo musician in his own right with 2024's he's had a firm hand in how the genre has developed over the past 40 years. But when it comes to the genre's future - and the state of the scene as it stands right now - he doesn't share the same concerns as others who worry about metal's health.
In fact, asked about the topic for a Q&A event in Germany, he seemed pretty cheerful about it all. “I think metal music is fine," he says. "There’s a lot of everyone’s heroes still playing – a lot of heroes still play.
Most of the Big Four still play, still playing...
There’s lots of new bands too. I don’t get CDs as much now so it tends to be a lot of satellite radio when I’m on the West Coast rehearsing and renting cars, but I hear a lot of bands doing interesting shit that is important." "Because I’m driving I don’t take notes," he admits.
"But it’s good for the future of metal that it’s not just old bands and fans. The metal community is pretty unique – there’s a lot of camaraderie, not just between the bands but between bands and fans. I’ve said it a bunch today – if I’ve ever given someone a bad experience, apologies.
I take care of people wanting photos, autographs...
the thing is to make people walk away with a happy experience. I’ve walked away from some unhappy experiences, thinking ‘why was that so fucked up?’” As part of the interview, King was .
