Kerry Fuckin’ King has crafted a career at the epicenter of the thrash metal universe for 43 years. Without question, he reigns as the undisputed king of thrash metal. King’s guitar work rises from the depths of hell. It bursts forth into the universe like a swarm of demon spawn. With over 20 million records sold worldwide, King is a living legend and there is little left for him to prove. Of course, that’s not stopping him from further cementing his legacy in the music world.
In 2024, Kerry King released his first solo album, “From Hell I Rise.” It’s a blistering journey into fire, aggression, and speed. With the lineup featuring Mark Osegueda on vocals (Death Angel), Paul Bostaph on drums (Slayer), Phil Demmel on guitars (formerly Machine Head), and Kyle Sanders on bass (ex-Hell Yeah), a formidable force is born that summons something unique and impressive. It’s a mind-searing 46-minute/13-track ripper that offers more of King’s legendary guitar work bolstered by the fiercely talented people who have joined him.
In speaking to King, he immediately presents himself as an authentic and inimitable figure. He’s unabashedly outspoken, steadfastly principled, and refreshingly direct: he lives life on his own terms. What you see is what you get. If you’re going to step into his world, it will be his way and you better be ready to keep up.
Throughout the lengthy career of Slayer (Kerry is a co-founding member), he’s had a long-standing love of Jägermeister. For the uninitiated, Jägermeister is a German digestif made from 56 herbs and spices. For 90 years, the recipe has remained unchanged and has been produced in the idyllic town of Wolfenbüttel, Germany. The history, ingredients, and production process of Jägermeister offer many fascinating parallels to whiskey. More to come on this at a later date!
Enter Jack Carson, the Director of Innovation at Jägermeister, who was gracious enough to be included as a part of this discussion. Jack comes with a lengthy set of credentials of his own, including a lot of time in the trenches with King on tour with Slayer. Carson is buoyant and engaging, with a glowing passion for all things Jägermeister. Without question, he’s been there to keep the partnership alive and well, between King and the brand. In fact, for their farewell tour, Slayer and Jägermeister teamed up for a special bottle to commemorate the moment. It’s a 1.75-liter bottle with an engraved box and it’s a true collector’s item. On top of that, Kerry King has designed his own dispenser for the product.
Kerry King and Jack Carson are an engrossing duo with a unique partnership where Jägermeister flows unabated, and legendary moments happen freely.
This is where Hell rises up to meet ice-cold Jägermeister.
The new album, From Hell I Rise, is amazing, dark, and heavy. Mark Osegueda is a brilliant choice on vocals. How did that partnership come about?
KFK: I’ve known Mark for the better part of 40 years, and we’ve become tighter over the last 10. After the last Slayer tour in 2019, he texted me and put his name in the hat to sing for my solo project. At the time, I didn’t want to put a record out that would get lost in the mix, so I kept that in my back pocket.
I put down some demos with Paul (Bostaph) with me on scratch vocals and would send that to Mark. When he had down time on tour, he would record sing over it. Then he’d come down five to six weeks later and better the performances. He’s the only one who came and sang with me and Paul. I pulled the trigger because he was touring with his band (Death Angel) and I didn’t need to sidetrack him.
It’s amazing to see him working with you and the final product is well worth it. How has it been working to build on-stage chemistry for the live shows?
KFK: It’s been pretty easy. However, we’ve recently been dealt a big bottle of adversity at the last show. Not only was it hot, but the sun was also in our faces, and we had pyro for the show. This is a lot going on for dudes only in their third show. It’s still a little ‘fish out of water’ for me. I just need to get used to playing, knowing when to hit the pedals, and stay out of the way of the fire again.
Your first live show took place at Reggies in Chicago, Illinois, which is a considerably smaller stage than you may be used to. Are getting adjusted to maybe working a bit less space as this project ramps up?
KFK: It was meant to be a true warm-up show, so this was expected. It holds about 400 people and has a tiny stage. Basically, we didn’t go side-to-side because there was nowhere for us to go. Welcome to Rockville was big and so was Sonic Temple, though.
Some of the shows we are doing in Europe will be big, and our headline shows will be in thousand-seaters. I haven’t looked at capacity yet, but there will be a learning curve. Hopefully, this catches fire quickly and we can get up to 3,000-5,000 seat venues regularly. That would be cool.
JC: Welcome to Rockville down in Daytona, Florida broke a record this year with more than 250,000 people in attendance over the weekend. It’s a four-day weekend, and we were happy to be out there celebrating Kerry.
Pretty sure this will catch on quickly and you’ll be filling bigger venues quite easily. Let’s talk about your history a bit. Was there a song or record that made you want to pick up a guitar and learn?
KFK: Not really, I was already playing because my dad had me learn guitar when I was about 13. I didn’t want to learn more from books and wanted to learn from what was on the radio. Off hand, I’d have to say maybe something like Cat Scratch Fever.
If I was to browse your music collection and review bands that have influenced you as an artist, would there be something that stands out? What are some awesome and unexpected things that you like?
KFK: Hard to say, because I don’t have music on my phone. It’s just whatever my wife has on her apps. It’s a lot of heavy stuff, 70’s rock, 60’s rock opera, and soft rock like Elton John. When you’re having a good time at a party, you stumble across all kinds of things you liked over the years.
JC: For me it’s classic rock, hard rock, and metal. That’s what I listened to growing up. To this day, if an AC/DC song comes on, I’m going to crank it. I also love English-style metal bands, because I spent some time growing up there. Now more than ever, I love all kinds of music. If you’d asked me ten years ago if I’d be listening to country…the answer would have been no. Now, there is some awesome stuff that I love coming from that genre.
However, the stuff my 13-year-old son plays, I can’t wrap my head around.
It’s amazing to hear when people like you are influenced by a wide range of styles and bands. Can you reveal your plans for the rest of 2024 and into 2025?
KFK: There is a rumor of Australia later in 2024, which I am hoping for because I love that place. There is also a big Mexico City show planned this year. In 2025, we’re doing a headline tour of Europe and the US. We’re just waiting to see where the pieces fall to determine what we will get into next year.
JC: Regarding the Jägermeister brand, we’ve got quite a few festivals on tap this year. We’re a German brand, so that translates to OktoberFest.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk about Jägermeister. You are a big fan and have a long-standing partnership with them. How did you get turned on to it?
KFK: Probably not in a good way (laughs).
I know our first tour with Jägermeister was in 2003 and then we followed it up again in 2004. For the trifecta, we also toured in 2010. When I met the people who ran the Jägermeister tour, we started talking about working together and we ended up at their house. I don’t think they had the tap, but it was frozen. I thought to myself that it is good frozen, but I wouldn’t wish it on anyone at room temperature.
JC: Kerry was involved with the brand before we met. Early in my career as a tour manager, I was lucky enough to get hooked up with some great people in Los Angeles. They asked me to come manage the Jägermeister tour. It was an immediate yes and a massive boost to my career. It was also exciting to meet Kerry and the band, also to jump on with them for a while.
How has the partnership evolved over time?
KFK: I’ve become tight with Jack. He came to our recent show at Welcome to Rockville, and he sets me up with anything he’s got. Also, I have my own KFK bottle freezer and people can purchase that if they want (Go here for more information). They were at the Welcome to Rockville and Sonic Temple shows.
It’s a one-bottle dispenser, so it doesn’t take up much room on the counters.
JC: The business aspect progressed naturally. Kerry legitimately loves Jägermeister. If you go out with him, you’re going to be drinking it. At some point, we always say, “drink responsibly.” But we just check that at the door when we’re out with him. He is an absolute legend for that.
The dispenser that Kerry designed is the greatest thing ever. We sold it as a limited edition and it’s his design from the ground up. He wanted it to look like it was on fire, and it does from top to bottom. It also has his logo.
Kerry, have you ever been to the factory in Wolfenbüttel, Germany?
KFK: Back in the early 2000’s we did a commercial and I went there then. If I have time off when we are in Europe, I’d like to go back again and visit.
JC: Wolfenbüttel is a bucolic German town with cobblestone streets and small houses. It’s Hansel and Gretel all over the place (laughs). Jägermeister has been made in the same place, in the same town, since it was created.
Wolfenbüttel, Germany – Photo Credit: Jägermeister
The backstory is very interesting and there’s a lot to unpack about the ingredients and the process. Is that part of it interesting to you?
KFK: Yes, it would be. Like I said, if I had time off and we were near there I would check it out. When I’m on tour and have down time, I do all kinds of weird things. When we were in Chicago, I visited the Stern Pinball factory. I like pinball and it was cool to go there. The place is massive and I’d never in a million years have thought what goes into making a pinball machine.
When I was in Germany for the listening party of the new album, we went to the Mercedes-Benz Museum. It’s eight stories of Mercedes history. It was pretty rad and having the opportunity was fun.
JC: In general, I love getting nerd about stuff like this, whether it’s our products, whiskey, or craft beer (…and I do love whiskey!). The story of the brand, how it comes to life, and the care in which it is made adds enjoyment for when I’m having a sip. I think to myself that this was in a cave 400 meters underground with bats mating above it, all the details.
We do offer tours of the facility. It’s an all-natural product that is made from 56 herbs, fruits, and spices. Depending on what is being macerated that day, you’ll smell it in the air. We own a little guest house down the road, and you’ll get the aroma of anise, cardamom, or vanilla.
There is a guy named Dr. Finker, and it’s his job to make sure the product is perfect. On the tour you can get a look into his office and see the massive safe where the secret recipe is kept. The care that goes into making it is something that not a lot of people know about, and we’ve never really been able to tell that story.
What will really blow you away is the barrel room. Every drop of Jägermeister spends a year in oak barrels as a part of the process. This cellar has a giant blast door and then the fumes hit you. It’s like a never-ending corridor of missile silos on Star Trek or something. It’s humbling every time I walk into that room.
What is it about Jägermeister that you like?
KFK: It’s the fun and camaraderie of being backstage, pouring some for you, the crew, and friends. It comes out quick and cold. It ends up being an evening.
JC: The perfect serve is always an ice cold shot in a frozen glass. It’s absolutely lovely. Just like whiskey, craft beer, or wine…the perfect vessel adds enjoyment to the drink. I also love it at room temperature, which makes a lot of people think I’m crazy. If you have it in a nosing glass or brandy snifter at room temperature, then you can take the time to consider how it looks in the glass. Then you take in how it smells.
The one thing I get, that I love, and point out to other people, is orange. It’s a blast of ripe, fresh oranges. We use sweet oranges and bitter ones, including the rind. When at room temperature, all these wonderful things manifest themselves.
Do you have a pre-show ritual with shots?
KFK: No, I don’t. Once in a great while, but it’d have to be a damn good reason. I don’t take any chances with not being the best for people who pay good money to see me. So, I save the partying for the end of the show.
JC: Kerry is one of the greatest people. He is as honest as it gets. I love hanging out and touring with him. Our friendship has afforded me so many things and I’m grateful for that. When he’s on the road and would celebrate a birthday, we’d always bring in these ice sculptures into the dressing room. One time it spelled out “Happy Birthday Kerry King.” Another time, it was like a stack of Marshall amps with several bottles inside.
Always after the show.
At Whiskey Network, we believe that sharing your favorite spirit with friends and family is essential to making great memories. Often, these involve funny stories. With your time on the road and experience, are there any stories that you’d be willing to share?
KFK: The only way to get those is to have drinks and start talking about it. That’s when the stories come out. I have a million of those from the crew, actors, and friends from all aspects of life. One thing that usually carries over is that they think they can party like a rock star, but can’t.
This new band has just gotten started, but we all did a shot after the show at Reggies. It’s backstage and in the dressing room, for sure.
JC: One of my favorite nights of drinking, this one was without Kerry, was a night at the Lost Property bar in Los Angeles, California with our Brand Ambassador Willie Shine. We’d just done an event with a lot of ice cold Jägermeister that night; one of those check “drink responsibly” at the door things. In walks Dave Pickerell.
The dynamic immediately changed. He was friends with a lot of people, and many were in the room.
That night they ran out of ice cold Jägermeister. We drank them completely out. That’s when we got some at room temperature and brought it to everyone. We all had this great tasting, especially Dave who has a legendary palate. At the end of the night, we were drinking shots of Boss Hog, which you should never do.
Just for the record, this was a fantastic night.
These are amazing answers. Kerry, I admire your approach here. Jack, any story with Dave Pickerell is an instant legend.
In 2019, there was a 1.75-liter bottle of Jägermeister released to commemorate Slayer. It’s a massive collector’s item and those who were able to get them were very lucky. I’m sure you have some in your collection.
KFK: Yes, you can’t find those bottles around. I think I had 12 and gave away five or six. It was not distributed in the US. I told the team that they could make a run of 10,000 and they’d sell out just as quickly.
Is there any chance that you’d explore putting your name on another bottle?
KFK: Absolutely. People know that I’m no stranger to liquor. I don’t walk around drunk 24/7. I know what I know in the evening, and if you’re going to have fun, it’s time to have fun. However, when I wake up in the morning, I love my water. Drink responsibly, isn’t that how the commercials go?
Whiskey Network would like to thank Kerry King and Jack Carson for spending time with us. Also, we’d like to welcome them to the Whiskey Network Family. We will keep our audience posted on the latest developments in the partnership. In addition, look for more regarding Jägermeister, as we hope to have them back to discuss more about the process, brand, and the products.
