Slayer Wins Grammy for Final Six
Thrash Band Awarded 2008 Best Metal Performance for Reissue Track
Thrash metal band Slayer win second Grammy for Best Metal Performance at 50th Grammy Awards for "Final Six" from the Christ Illusion album reissue.
The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences awarded Slayer their second consecutive Best Metal Perfomance Grammy Award during the pre-telecast ceremony at the 50th Grammy Awards held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 10th, 2008.
Final Six Misses Original Christ Illusion Release
The song "Final Six", written by Slayer vocalist/bassist Tom Araya and guitarist Jeff Hanneman and produced by Josh Abraham, was originally meant to be released in 2006 on the Christ Illusion album. However, "Final Six" was not ready in time for the original Christ Illusion release and did not appear until the 2007 Sony BMG limited edition reissue of American Recording's Christ Illusion.
"'Final Six' was a song that just wasn't finished in time for the record, because Tom [Araya] had to head home for [gall-bladder] surgery", Slayer guitarist Kerry King explained to mtv in June 2007. King added "The track was recorded by the time Christ Illusion came out — we just had to have Tom sing on it."
Tom Araya Accepts Grammy Award for Slayer
Tom Araya attended the 50th Grammy Awards ceremony at the Staples Center with his family. He accepted the award for Best Metal Perfomance on behalf of Slayer.
"Thank you very much. I don't know what to say." Araya said during his acceptance speech, according to Blabbermouth network website. "This is our second time. I have to thank Sony, first off, for reissuing the record and putting this new song on the album, and now I'm here again — we are here again, actually. Most of all, [I'd like to] thank Rick Rubin [producer and head of American Recordings], who's been with us, been there for us for the past 23 years, 24 years. Thank you. My wife, my 2 kids; Sandra [wife], Ariel and Tommy. They're here with me. Of course, my manager, who's been with us for a good 20 years now. Well, thank you very much. Thank the Academy. Thank you."
Original Thrash Metal Band
Formed in 1981 in Los Angeles, Slayer are one of the original thrash metal bands. They are also one of the most popular thrash metal bands, being one of thrash metal's "Big Four" along with Metallica, Anthrax, and Megadeth, and a major influence on many of the new generation of thrash metal bands.
Slayer was formed by guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, bassist and vocalist Tom Araya, and drummer Dave Lombardo. With the exception of a couple of stints when Lombardo left the band (he last returned in 2001), Slayer has retained the same lineup throughout their career.
Slayer won their first Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance last year for the song "Eyes of the Insane", from the original Christ Illusion release.
The Best Metal Performance award was first given out at the 1990 Grammy Awards ceremony. Slayer's win ties them with Nine Inch Nails and Tool for second place with two Best Metal Performance Grammys. Metallica have won the Best Metal Performance Grammy Award 5 times.
Find out who Slayer beat out for the 2008 Best Metal Performance Grammy Award by reading about the nominees.
