Today's throwback clip comes in the form of what is reported to be the first Slayer show ever caught on film in 1983 at The Woodstock Theatre in California!
Some main takeaways from this unreal piece of history include the crazy amount of talent on display, considering every member was either 21 years old or under (Dave Lombardo and Jeff Hanneman are only 18!), and the crowd, who look like they don't understand what they're witnessing (huge Back to the Future II "guess you guys aren't ready for that yet" vibes).
Check it out below - the footage is pretty rough, but the audio quality is surprisingly good for 1983. The setlist is as follows:
Black Magic - 00:21
Die By The Sword - 04:25
Tormentor - 08:36
Simple Aggression - 10:55
Blitzkrieg - 16:50
Ice Titan - 19:41
Assassin - 24:25
Night Rider - 27:03
(Drum Solo) - 28:28
Crionics - 31:01
Aggressive Perfector - 36:33
Interestingly, Possessed vocalist Jeff Becerra left a comment in the comments section back in 2016, which reads:
"Amazing!! Thanks for sharing this Brother. I was lucky enough to have had my band (Possessed) open up for Slayer on several of their Show No Mercy and Haunting The Chapel US Tour Dates back in the 80's and I can tell you they have always been a talented and amazing band. Slayer for Life!!! PS Much Respect to Gary Holt and congratulations Brother!!"
Of course, Slayer went on to become one of the most legendary bands in heavy music, as well as earn a coveted spot in the "big four" of thrash metal. They played their final show in LA in 2019 after 38 years as a band, 12 studio albums and one hell of a legacy!
Listen to Slayer now.
