Tom Araya Slayer

Tom Araya (born Tomás Enrique Araya June 6, 1961 in Viña del Mar, Chile[1]) is a Chilean American musician, best known as the bassist and vocalist of the American thrash metal band Slayer.

Araya was employed as a respiratory therapist in the early 1980s, and used his earnings to finance Slayer's debut album Show No Mercy. Much of Araya's lyrical content is about serial killers, a subject he finds interesting, first making his lyrical contribution 1985's Hell Awaits with the track "At Dawn They Sleep".

Araya was born in Viña del Mar, Chile as the fourth child in a family of nine. At the age of five, his family moved to South Gate, California. Rumors circulating the internet state he left because of political unrest; Araya denied this claim, stating that "that happened in ‘71 and we were already in the United States by that time." Araya's older brother Cisco played the guitar, leading Araya to pick up the bass at the age of eight. The two played Beatles and Rolling Stones songs, inspiring his musical interest. In the early 1980s, Araya's eldest sister suggested he enroll as a respiratory therapist. Araya's father stated he either find a job or enroll in the course. Araya enrolled in a two year technical course, learning about air mixture ratios, drawing blood, and how to intubate.


In 1981, Araya was approached by Kerry King, who asked Araya to join his band Slayer. Araya accepted, using his earnings as a respiratory therapist to finance the band's 1983 debut album Show No Mercy. Araya requested that the hospital allow him time off for Slayer's first European tour in 1984, Araya was denied; “We need you to come in today.” They’d call me at 5:00 in the morning and wake me, "Someone’s not coming in, we need you to come in to work." After a month of not turning up to work the hospital stated they would fire him; Araya replied "Well, I guess I’m fired."

Araya resides in Buffalo, Texas on a ranch with his wife and two children.Has a daughter Ariel Asa Araya (b. 11 May 1996) Has a son named Tomas Enrique Araya Jr. (b. 14th June 1999) He helps his wife Sandra run the farm, including looking after five cows and chickens, and often sings country songs to help keep his "singing chops up". Araya and his wife are fans of scary movie remakes; such as The Amityville Horror and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The two allow their children to watch the movies, making it clear to them that it is just a movie when they ask “Is this real?” In 2006, Araya underwent gall bladder surgery, which made alterations to The Unholy Alliance tour. Originally set to launch on June 6, the tour was postponed to June 13. Araya was also unable to finish the vocals for a song entitled "Final Six", which was to be included on Slayer's 2006 album Christ Illusion; later released in the album's special edition. Araya took his children on the tour stating it is "kind of cool to expose them at such a young age. My first concert, I was, like, 17." one of his quotes is "We have been fortunate, fortunate enough to have lasted as long as we have because a lot of bands don't last that long."