Slayer Farewell Tour Explained

Concert Tour Name:Slayer Final World Tour
Location:North America
Europe
Oceania
Asia
South America
Artist:Slayer
Start Date:May 10, 2018
End Date:November 30, 2019
Number Of Legs:12
Number Of Shows:87 in North America
47 in Europe
5 in Oceania
2 in Asia
6 in South America
147 total
Last Tour:Repentless Tour
(2015–2017)
This Tour:Final World Tour
(2018–2019)

The Final World Tour (also referred to as The Farewell Tour) was the final concert tour by American thrash metal band Slayer, which began on May 10, 2018, and ended on November 30, 2019. The tour, consisting of 147 shows worldwide, served as a conclusion of the band's 38-year long career.

Background

The tour was announced on January 22, 2018, through a video featuring a montage of press clippings, early posters and press photos spanning Slayer's entire career. Although the members of the band have never explained the decision to retire from touring, fans believe one of the reasons behind this was due to bassist/vocalist Tom Araya not wanting to tour anymore and a desire to spend more time with his family.[1] The first leg of the North American tour was announced the day after, which took place in May and June 2018 and included support from Lamb of God, Anthrax, Behemoth and Testament.[2] The second leg of the North American tour was announced on March 5, 2018; this leg took place in July and August, and featured four out of five bands from the first leg (Slayer, Lamb of God, Anthrax and Testament) and Napalm Death as the replacement for Behemoth.[3]

On February 20, 2018, Slayer announced the first European date of the farewell tour; it was announced that they would headline the Secret Solstice Festival in Reykjavík, Iceland in June.[4] A European leg of the farewell tour took place in November and December 2018, with support provided by Lamb of God, Anthrax and Obituary.[5] [6] Guitarist Gary Holt had to miss the last four dates of this tour so that he could take care of his father who was nearing the end of his life; he was filled in by former Machine Head and Vio-lence guitarist Phil Demmel.[7]

On June 24, 2018, Slayer was announced as one of the first five bands (alongside Manowar, Carcass, Mass Hysteria and Dropkick Murphys) confirmed to play the 2019 edition of Hellfest. This was the band's first show announced for 2019, and was said to be their last show in France.[8] [9] [10] Slayer also played a one-off show in Mexico at ForceFest in October 2018.[11] [12]

Slayer continued touring into 2019; in addition to international festival appearances, they performed in areas that the tour had not yet visited, including South America, Australia and Japan;[13] Anthrax was the supporting act on most of the dates. Slayer toured North America in May 2019, with Lamb of God, Amon Amarth and Cannibal Corpse as the opening acts.[14] The final North American leg of the tour took place in November 2019, and included support by Primus, Ministry and Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals.[15] [16]

The band's final appearance in Chile on October 6, 2019, at the Santiago Gets Louder festival marked the first time two of the "Big Four" (Slayer and Anthrax) had shared the stage with one of the members of the "Big Teutonic Four" of thrash, Kreator. Megadeth – who had not shared the stage with Slayer and Anthrax since the series of "Big Four" shows in 2010-2011 – was initially scheduled to perform at the festival, but cancelled due to Dave Mustaine's illness and was replaced by Kreator.[17] [18]

On how long the farewell tour would last, Exodus vocalist and Holt's bandmate Steve "Zetro" Souza indicated that it would "take a year and a half or two years to do the one final thing, but I believe it's finished. Everybody knows what I know; just because I'm on the outside, I have no insight on that."[19] Kristen Mulderig, who works with Rick Sales Entertainment Group, said that there would still be Slayer-related activities after the tour's conclusion.[20] Despite being referred to as a farewell tour, the band's manager, Rick Sales, said that the tour was not a foreshadowing of their split, but an end of touring.[21] Former Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo did not attend the band's final show.[22]

After finishing the set from their final show at The Forum on November 30, 2019, the band and crew members hugged each other and took group photos, followed by Tom Araya bidding farewell to the fans.[23] Guitarist Gary Holt expressed his gratitude towards the band members and then thanked the fans for making him feel welcomed since joining in 2011.[24]

Setlist

  1. "Repentless"
  2. "Blood Red"
  3. "Disciple"
  4. "Hate Worldwide"
  5. "Mandatory Suicide"
  6. "War Ensemble"
  7. "Jihad"
  8. "Postmortem"
  9. "When the Stillness Comes"
  10. "Payback"
  11. "Seasons in the Abyss"
  12. "Black Magic"
  13. "Dittohead"
  14. "Hell Awaits"
  15. "Chemical Warfare"
  16. "Dead Skin Mask"
  17. "South of Heaven"
  18. "Raining Blood"
  19. "Angel of Death"

Tour dates

DateCityCountryVenueOpening actsTickets Sold/Available
North America
May 10, 2018San DiegoUnited StatesValley View Casino CenterLamb of God
Anthrax
Behemoth
Testament
May 11, 2018IrvineFivePoint Amphitheater
May 13, 2018SacramentoPapa Murphy's Park at Cal Expo13,711 / 13,711 (100%)
May 16, 2018VancouverCanadaPacific Coliseum
May 17, 2018PentictonSouth Okanagan Events Centre
May 19, 2018CalgaryThe Big Four
May 20, 2018EdmontonShaw Conference Centre
May 22, 2018WinnipegBell MTS Place
May 24, 2018MinneapolisUnited StatesThe Armory
May 25, 2018Tinley ParkHollywood Casino Amphitheatre22,176 / 22,176 (100%)
May 27, 2018Sterling HeightsMichigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill
May 29, 2018TorontoCanadaBudweiser Stage
May 30, 2018LavalPlace Bell9,266 / 9,266 (100%)
June 1, 2018UncasvilleUnited StatesMohegan Sun Arena6,391 / 6,391 (100%)
June 2, 2018HolmdelPNC Bank Arts Center
June 4, 2018ReadingSantander Arena
June 6, 2018CincinnatiRiverbend Music Center
June 7, 2018Cuyahoga FallsBlossom Music Center
June 9, 2018BurgettstownKeyBank Pavilion
June 10, 2018BristowJiffy Lube Live
June 12, 2018Virginia BeachVeterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
June 14, 2018CharlottePNC Music Pavilion
June 15, 2018OrlandoOrlando Amphitheater
June 17, 2018Sugar LandSmart Financial Centre
June 19, 2018DallasThe Bomb Factory
June 20, 2018AustinAustin360 Amphitheater
Europe
June 23, 2018ReykjavíkIcelandSecret Solstice Festival
North America
July 26, 2018GilfordUnited StatesBank of New Hampshire PavilionLamb of God
Anthrax
Testament
Napalm Death
July 27, 2018BangorImpact Music Festival
July 29, 2018WantaghJones Beach Theater
July 31, 2018ScrantonThe Pavilion
August 1, 2018AlbanyTimes Union Center
August 3, 2018DarienDarien Lake Performing Arts Center
August 4, 2018SyracuseLakeview Amphitheater
August 6, 2018LondonCanadaBudweiser Gardens
August 7, 2018Grand RapidsUnited StatesVan Andel Arena
August 9, 2018Maryland HeightsHollywood Casino Amphitheatre
August 10, 2018AtlantaCellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood
August 12, 2018NashvilleNashville Municipal Auditorium
August 13, 2018RogersWalmart Arkansas Music Pavilion
August 15, 2018San AntonioFreeman Coliseum
August 16, 2018Oklahoma CityThe Zoo Amphitheatre
August 18, 2018Greenwood VillageFiddler's Green Amphitheatre
August 19, 2018West Valley CityUSANA Amphitheatre
August 21, 2018NampaFord Idaho Center Amphitheater
August 23, 2018RidgefieldSunlight Supply Amphitheater
August 24, 2018AuburnWhite River Amphitheatre
August 26, 2018San JoseSAP Center
October 7, 2018TeotihuacanMexicoForceFest
Europe
November 1, 2018DublinIreland3ArenaLamb of God
Anthrax
Obituary
November 3, 2018LondonEnglandWembley Arena10,749 / 11,081
November 5, 2018CardiffWalesMotorpoint Arena Cardiff
November 7, 2018BirminghamEnglandArena Birmingham
November 9, 2018ManchesterManchester Arena
November 10, 2018NewcastleMetro Radio Arena
November 12, 2018GlasgowScotlandSSE Hydro
November 14, 2018DortmundGermanyWestfalenhallen
November 15, 2018ZwolleNetherlandsIJsselhallen
November 17, 2018MadridSpainPalacio Vistalegre
November 18, 2018BarcelonaPalau Sant Jordi
November 20, 2018MilanItalyMediolanum Forum
November 22, 2018ZürichSwitzerlandHalle 622
November 23, 2018ViennaAustriaWiener Stadthalle
November 24, 2018FreiburgGermanyStadthalle
November 26, 2018HamburgBarclaycard Arena
November 27, 2018ŁódźPolandAtlas Arena
November 29, 2018MunichGermanyOlympiahalle
November 30, 2018ErfurtMesse Erfurt
December 2, 2018BerlinMercedes-Benz Arena9,218 / 13,322
December 3, 2018CopenhagenDenmarkRoyal Arena
December 5, 2018StockholmSwedenHovet
December 6, 2018OsloNorwayOslo Spektrum
December 8, 2018HelsinkiFinlandHelsinki Ice Hall
Oceania
March 7, 2019BrisbaneAustraliaRiverstageAnthrax
Behemoth
March 9, 2019SydneyDownload Festivalrowspan="2"
March 11, 2019Melbourne
March 13, 2019AdelaideAdelaide Entertainment CentreAnthrax
Behemoth
March 15, 2019AucklandNew ZealandEventfinda StadiumAnthrax
March 17, 2019ChristchurchHorncastle Arena
Asia
March 21, 2019ChibaJapanDownload Festivalrowspan="2"
March 23, 2019Quezon CityPhilippinesAmoranto Stadium
North America
May 2, 2019PhoenixUnited StatesAk-Chin PavilionLamb of God
Amon Amarth
Cannibal Corpse
May 3, 2019AlbuquerqueIsleta Amphitheater
May 5, 2019El PasoDon Haskins Center
May 7, 2019EdinburgBert Ogden Arena
May 8, 2019IrvingToyota Music Factory
May 10, 2019TampaMidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre
May 11, 2019West Palm BeachCoral Sky Amphitheatre
May 13, 2019HuntingtonBig Sandy Superstore Arena
May 14, 2019ColumbiaMerriweather Post Pavilion
May 16, 2019NoblesvilleRuoff Home Mortgage Music Center
May 17, 2019Bonner SpringsProvidence Medical Center Amphitheater
May 19, 2019ClarkstonDTE Energy Music Theatre
May 20, 2019YoungstownCovelli Centre
May 22, 2019OttawaCanadaCanadian Tire Centre
May 24, 2019CamdenUnited StatesBB&T Pavilion
May 25, 2019MansfieldXfinity Center
Europe
June 4, 2019GliwicePolandGliwice ArenaBehemoth
June 6, 2019SölvesborgSwedenSweden Rock Festivalrowspan="3"
June 8, 2019NürburgGermanyRock am Ring
June 9, 2019NurembergRock im Park
June 11, 2019BudapestHungaryLászló Papp Budapest Sports ArenaAnthrax
June 13, 2019LeipzigGermanyArena LeipzigAnthrax
Alien Weaponry
June 14, 2019NickelsdorfAustriaNova Rock Festivalrowspan="2"
June 16, 2019Castle DoningtonEnglandDownload Festival
June 19, 2019GenevaSwitzerlandSEG Geneva ArenaAnthrax
June 21, 2019DesselBelgiumGraspop Metal Meetingrowspan="2"
June 23, 2019ClissonFranceHellfest
June 25, 2019PragueCzech RepublicTipsport ArenaAnthrax
June 28, 2019OsloNorwayTons Of Rockrowspan="6"
June 29, 2019HelsinkiFinlandTuska Open Air
July 3, 2019ViveiroSpainResurrection Fest
July 5, 2019LisbonPortugalVagos Open Air
July 7, 2019VeronaItalyRock the Castle
July 10, 2019BucharestRomaniaMetalheadmeeting
July 11, 2019SofiaBulgariaSofia Airport ParkSatyricon
July 13, 2019AthensGreeceAthensRocksRotting Christ
Suicidal Angels
Leprous
North America
July 26, 2019EdmontonCanadaChaos AB Festivalrowspan="2"
July 28, 2019MontrealHeavy Montréal
Europe
August 2, 2019WackenGermanyWacken Open Air
August 3, 2019StuttgartHanns-Martin-Schleyer-HalleAnthrax
Alien Weaponry
North America
September 13, 2019ChicagoUnited StatesRiot Fest
South America
September 27, 2019QuitoEcuadorColiseo General RumiñahuiProfecía[25]
September 29, 2019Buenos AiresArgentinaEstadio Luna Park
October 2, 2019São PauloBrazilEspaco das AméricasClaustrofobia[26]
October 4, 2019Rio de JaneiroRock In Rio
October 6, 2019SantiagoChileGets Louder FestivalAnthrax
Kreator
Pentagram Chile
26,000 / 26,000 (100%)
October 8, 2019Viña del MarSporting ClubAnthrax5,000 / 5,000 (100%)
North America
October 11, 2019ManchesterUnited StatesExit 111 Festival
November 2, 2019AshevilleExploreAsheville.com ArenaPrimus
Ministry
Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals
6,014[27]
November 3, 2019RaleighPNC Arena7,011[28]
November 5, 2019SalemSalem Civic Center3,861[29]
November 6, 2019HersheyGiant Center
November 8, 2019SpringfieldMassMutual Center5,913[30]
November 9, 2019New York CityMadison Square Garden
November 11, 2019LouisvilleKFC Yum! Center
November 12, 2019ColumbusNationwide Arena
November 14, 2019MolineTaxSlayer Center
November 15, 2019Sioux FallsDenny Sanford Premier Center
November 17, 2019FargoFargodome
November 18, 2019OmahaCHI Health Center
November 20, 2019Colorado SpringsBroadmoor World Arena
November 22, 2019BillingsRimrock Auto Arena
November 24, 2019SpokaneSpokane Arena
November 26, 2019OaklandOakland Arena10,999 / 13,729 (80%)
November 27, 2019Las VegasMGM Grand Garden Arena
November 29, 2019InglewoodThe Forum23,029 / 23,029 (100%)
November 30, 2019

Personnel

Touring musicians

Notes and References

  1. Web site: SLAYER To 'Make Its Exit' After One 'Final' World Tour. Blabbermouth.net. January 22, 2018. March 5, 2018.
  2. Web site: SLAYER Announces North American Tour Dates With LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX, BEHEMOTH, TESTAMENT: BLABBERMOUTH.NET Presale. Blabbermouth.net. January 23, 2018. March 5, 2018.
  3. Web site: SLAYER Announces Second North American Leg Of 'Final' Tour. Blabbermouth.net. March 5, 2018. March 5, 2018.
  4. Web site: SLAYER To Play Festival with GUCCI MANE, BONNIE TYLER, STEVE AOKI For Their Final Show In Iceland. Metal Injection. February 20, 2018. March 5, 2018.
  5. Web site: SLAYER To Tour Europe With LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX And OBITUARY. Blabbermouth.net. May 8, 2018. May 8, 2018.
  6. Web site: SLAYER Announces Final European Tour With LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX And OBITUARY. Blabbermouth.net. May 11, 2018. May 14, 2018.
  7. Web site: SLAYER Announces Final European Tour With LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX And OBITUARY. Blabbermouth.net. December 2, 2018. December 2, 2018.
  8. Web site: Les premiers noms de l'édition 2019 du Hellfest dévoilés. hornsup.fr. June 24, 2018. June 24, 2018.
  9. Web site: Slayer Announce First Show of 2019. Ultimate-Guitar.com. June 25, 2018. June 25, 2018.
  10. Web site: SLAYER To Play 'Last French Show Ever' At Next Year's HELLFEST. Blabbermouth.net. June 25, 2018. June 25, 2018.
  11. Web site: ASESINO To Celebrate DINO CAZARES's 52nd Birthday At Los Angeles Concert; Mexican Festival Appearance Announced. Blabbermouth.net. July 6, 2018. July 22, 2018.
  12. Web site: ForceFest 2018 lineup announced. lambgoat.com. August 4, 2018. August 4, 2018.
  13. Web site: SLAYER's Final World Tour Will Extend Into 2019. Blabbermouth.net. August 27, 2018. August 27, 2018.
  14. Web site: SLAYER Announces North American Tour With LAMB OF GOD, AMON AMARTH, CANNIBAL CORPSE; BLABBERMOUTH.NET Presale. Blabbermouth.net. December 13, 2018. December 10, 2018.
  15. Web site: SLAYER Prepares To Announce Last-Ever U.S. Leg Of Final Tour. Blabbermouth.net. July 4, 2019. July 1, 2019.
  16. Web site: SLAYER Announces 'The Final Campaign' Tour Dates With PRIMUS, MINISTRY And PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS. Blabbermouth.net. July 9, 2019. July 9, 2019.
  17. Web site: SLAYER, MEGADETH And ANTHRAX To Share Stage At SANTIAGO GETS LOUDER Festival. Blabbermouth.net. June 7, 2019. May 30, 2019.
  18. Web site: KREATOR Replaces MEGADETH At SANTIAGO GETS LOUDER Festival. Blabbermouth.net. July 4, 2019. July 4, 2019.
  19. Web site: No New EXODUS Album Until End Of 2019 At The Earliest. Blabbermouth.net. February 22, 2018. February 9, 2019.
  20. Web site: Farewell Slayer: Thrash Pioneers To Reign In Blood Forever. Borba, Ryan. Pollstar. October 2019 . October 1, 2019.
  21. Web site: Massachusetts-born Slayer manager Rick Sales finds end bittersweet. Dondoros, Chris. MassLive.com. November 8, 2019 . November 8, 2019.
  22. Web site: Talkin' Rock with Drummer Dave Lombardo and Mobile Deathcamp-former GWAR member Todd Evans. 101 WRIF. November 20, 2019.
  23. Web site: Watch TOM ARAYA Bid Emotional Goodbye To Fans At Last-Ever SLAYER Concert. Blabbermouth.net. December 2019 . December 1, 2019.
  24. Web site: GARY HOLT: I Am 'Forever Honored To Have Been A Part Of' SLAYER. Blabbermouth.net. December 2, 2019 . December 2, 2019.
  25. Web site: Profecía: "Nuestro último disco nos ayudó a tocar con Slayer". eltelegrafo.com.ec. September 25, 2019 . es-spa. September 25, 2019.
  26. Web site: Slayer: show em São Paulo terá Claustrofobia como banda de abertura. whiplash.net. pt-br. October 3, 2019.
  27. News: Slayer give all at Final Campaign kickoff. revolvermag.com. Dan Epstein. November 4, 2019. November 11, 2019.
  28. News: Slayer says 'goodbye' to raleigh. rockatnight.com. Gus Samarco. November 4, 2019. November 11, 2019.
  29. News: Slayer, on a final tour stop in Salem, plays with fire. roanoke.com. Tad Dickens. November 6, 2019. November 11, 2019.
  30. News: Slayer gives thunderous final New England performance in Springfield. masslive.com. Ray Kelly. November 9, 2019. November 11, 2019.