Kerry King

Kerry Ray King was born on June 3, 1964, in Los Angeles, California. As a teenager, Kerry began learning guitar at Calvano's music in South Gate, California. Russ Dismuke was his teacher. Kerry went to Warren High School in Downey, Ca, where he practiced during lunch hour and played on weekends at the Woodstock in Buena Park, with Slayer, covering songs by Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. Kerry started in the cover band Boone Pat. As an adult, he moved to Phoenix, Arizona. In 1981, King applied as a guitarist in a band: at the end of the audition, Jeff Hanneman approached him and the two began playing songs by Iron Maiden and Judas Priest with the session drummer. Hanneman then suggested starting their own band.