Kerry King (Guitar)

Details
Birth Name: Kerry Ray King
Born: June 3rd 1964
Current Age: 47
Place of Birth: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Residence: Anaheim, CA, USA
Instrument: Guitar
Slayer member: 1982 - present

Biography
He was the one to start the whole thing. He was the one to start Slayer. He got together with Jeff at first. Then they met with Dave Lombardo, who they could use, because they were looking for a drummer. In 1983, Kerry helped out Megadeth a few times, during concerts, because Megadeth had some problems with a guitarist.

One of Kerry's hobbies is breeding snakes and show-dogs. It has even envolved into some sort of a business for him. Kerry is a man who isn't afraid to open his mouth and sometimes that causes trouble. He says what he wants to, completely. In 1995, he was the one to say, in an interview to Kerrang, that Kirk Hammet was the most overrated player ever to grace the pages of a guitar magazine. Many readers couldn't deal with that, and Kerrang received tons of letters about that. After that incident, the relationship between Metallica and Slayer has not been the best.

He was married in 1990 but was later divorced. His current wife is Ayesha King, he also has a daughter from his first marriage named Shyanne Kymberlee King. He lives in Anaheim (California).

Kerry King and Lars Ulrich, have been described as the most influencial persons in heavy/thrash metal. Because Kerry started Slayer and Lars Ulrich started Metallica. Those two bands, have influenced countless other bands. The entire thrash generation, was build on Show No Mercy and Kill'em all.

Kerry is a big fan of hockey and football. Usually he wears a sports shirt, when performing. He also has a sister but I don't know her name.

Equipment
Guitars

Kerry has been a major endorsee of B.C. Rich guitars for many years. He is best known for playing his signature model guitars (many are all maple with ebony fingerboards), with EMG pickups, Fernandes Sustainer Systems, and Dunlop strings.

When performing live and in studio recordings, King favors neck-thru guitars.

Kerrys guitars:

B.C. Rich KKV Signature V
B.C. Rich KKW "Metal Master Warlock"
B.C. Rich KKV "Speed V Handcrafted G2"
B.C. Rich KKV "Beast V N.T."
B.C. Rich KKW "Wartribe" 7 string

Amplifiers and cabinets

Throughout Slayer's career, Kerry has used mainly the same equipment. He has been an endorser of Marshall amplifiers since the 1980s. Today, he uses his signature amplifier, through 4x12 cabinets with Celestion G12K-100 and Vintage 30 speakers.

Marshall JCM-800 2203KK Signature Model
Marshall Mode Four 4x12 Cabinets (x4)

Effects

To avoid problems with pedals being damaged during live performances, Kerry keeps his effect pedals in a rack along with his amplifiers and rack effects. He controls them through a pedalboard onstage. The pedal controller allows him to change between different effect pedals and amplifiers.

Fernandes Sustainer
Boss GE-7 Graphic EQ
Boss TU-2 Chromatic Tuner
Dunlop DCR-1SR Crybaby Rack Wah
Dunlop KFKQZ1 Kerry King Q-Zone Pedal
MXR Kerry King Signature 10 Band EQ Pedal
Shure UHF Wireless System
Voodoo Lab Ground Control Pro floorboard
Eventide H3000S Harmonizer
MXR Smart Gate Pro
Radial Tonebone Trimode Classic Tube Distortion

Accessories

Jim Dunlop Signature Strings (.009-.042 for Standard E Flat), (.010-.046 for C Sharp), (.010-.052 for Dropped B)
Monster Cable
In Tune 1.14 MM Guitar Picks
Kahler Tremolo System model 2315
TKL Cases
For the 6 string:
EMG 81 in bridge position
EMG 85 in neck position
For the 7 string:
EMG 81-7 in bridge position
EMG 707 in neck position