In what year was the band Slayer formed?

The band Slayer was formed in 1981.

Slayer formed in Huntington Park, California, with guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, drummer Dave Lombardo, and bassist and vocalist Tom Araya. The group began by playing covers of bands such as Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and Venom at Southern California parties and clubs.

The band’s early music and visual style helped establish its aggressive identity. Slayer’s first album, Show No Mercy, arrived in 1983 on Metal Blade Records. Later releases, especially Reign in Blood in 1986, made the band one of thrash metal’s most influential acts.

A common misconception is that Slayer was originally called Dragonslayer after the 1981 fantasy film. Kerry King denied that story, although the name has been repeated for decades. Slayer is also grouped with Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax as thrash metal’s “Big Four.”