While Kerry King is best known for his legendary contributions to Slayer, fans often wonder if he has other metal bands on his radar that he would be interested in collaborating with. Recently, the iconic guitarist, who has also formed a solo band, shared three significant metal acts that have caught his attention, including one band he almost became a part of. This revelation adds an intriguing layer to his storied career and highlights his passion for the metal genre.

During a fan Q&A with Metal Hammer, King reflected on his past and immediately mentioned his near-joining of the fellow “Big 4” band, Megadeth, which has sparked much speculation among fans and music historians alike.

Kerry King’s Near-Collaboration with Megadeth: A Game-Changer in Metal

In response to queries about his potential involvement with Megadeth, King stated, “I was almost in Megadeth.” He elaborated, “If myself and Dave Mustaine could have co-existed for four years, it would have been a very different band.” While he humbly suggests that he wouldn’t necessarily have improved their sound, he acknowledges that his presence would have undoubtedly altered their musical direction significantly.

King has often revisited his brief interactions with Megadeth, expressing curiosity about how their personalities would have meshed. In an exclusive interview with Loudwire, he noted, “His stuff is definitely more … I don’t want to say intricate ’cause we’ve got intricate parts too, but he writes riffs from a very different perspective and after playing with him for a number of months, I just wouldn’t do it. It’s not my style,” indicating the complexities of their differing musical approaches.

READ MORE: Kerry King Reveals Slayer’s Most Challenging Songs to Perform

Interestingly, King played alongside Megadeth during the band’s initial five shows, before deciding to focus solely on his commitments with Slayer. This unique experience provided insight into the early dynamics of one of metal’s most influential bands.

Kerry King Explains His Decision to Decline Joining Megadeth

Exploring Kerry King’s Dream Collaborations with Metal Icons

Kerry King reminisced about a memorable backstage encounter at a Mercyful Fate concert in Las Vegas, where he had a conversation with guitarist Hank Shermann. King humorously recalled suggesting that he thought Mercyful Fate might reach out to him, to which Shermann responded with shock, exclaiming, “It never fucking occurred to me!” As a devoted fan of Mercyful Fate, King expressed that he would have jumped at the opportunity to collaborate with them without hesitation.

Another band that piques his interest is Judas Priest. King reflected on a moment when Richie Faulkner fell ill, and the band considered touring with only one guitarist. He candidly admitted, “If they called me and said, ‘Can you be that one guitarist?’, I honestly don’t think I could, because they’re such a dual guitar band. Thankfully they never did it, but if they’d have asked, I think it would have been the hardest ‘no’ of my life!” This sentiment shows his respect for the band’s musical structure and his own artistic integrity.

Kerry King’s Musical Journey in 2024 and Beyond

Although none of these potential collaborations materialized beyond mere interest, King has embraced his role with his current solo band, which released their debut album, From Hell I Rise, earlier this year. This album marks a significant milestone in his ongoing musical journey, showcasing his evolution as an artist.

Looking ahead, King is set to hit the road again in December, taking his solo project to Australia for a series of performances. Following this, another leg of his North American tour will commence in January. Fans can find ticketing information for all upcoming shows on the official Kerry King website, ensuring they don’t miss out on this legendary guitarist’s live performances.