Kerry King has revealed that his solo band’s management team was eager to bring in PANTERA frontman Phil Anselmo, but he dismissed the idea. According to King, Anselmo‘s vocal style wouldn’t be a good fit for the material on his debut album.
Rumors of a King/Anselmo collaboration have been circulating since SLAYER‘s retirement tour, but King insists it was never a serious possibility. While his management team was keen on the idea for its potential to attract large crowds, King felt that Anselmo‘s style would not align with the music he was creating.
In a new interview with Nikki Blakk of San Mateo’s 107.7 The Bone, King was asked why the rumors have been around for so long, to which he responded (as transcribed by Ultimate Guitar): “Without knowing any of the interior stuff business-wise, it just makes sense. I’ve known Phil since before [PANTERA‘s breakthrough album] Cowboys From Hell. I don’t know a lot of people that have known him that long, and he was coming off of our opening spot on our tour.”
“You don’t have to think very hard to see how that could have happened,” he continued. “But you know, the record I made isn’t conducive to a good Anselmo performance.”
To justify his decision, King explained why he believed Anselmo wasn’t the ideal fit.
“There’s too much fast stuff going on. He’s gotten slower over the years,” Kerry said. “All the DOWN stuff, super slow. He’s been in 1000 other bands too. But, you know, business wise, all the suits wanted it to happen. My manager, my record company, my booking agent, everyone, because, immediately, you’re doing arenas. And at the end of the day, the PANTERA thing came up, and I just said, ‘Well, whatever. Go do that.’”
King released his debut solo album, From Hell I Rise, on May 17. In addition to King, the album features DEATH ANGEL vocalist Mark Osegueda, longtime SLAYER drummer Paul Bostaph, former HELLYEAH bassist Kyle Sanders, and ex–MACHINE HEAD and ex-VIO-LENCE guitarist Phil Demmel.