post by Readers Digest Editorial at May 2,2015 3:49pm
This is an ED OP piece and with that being said.
Dear Jeff,
It has been 2 years since you have left us, and I would like to say things are still the same or shit is great, but it is not. You are hugely missed, gone are the days of listening to people scream SLAYER and it mean something, your old friend Gary Holt is a worthy replacement for you and it must make you smile, but without you, without Dave Lombardo the black magic you helped create is lost. While you were still with us people started to complain about SLAYER not being the same and craved a return to the old sound, and now they complain about how your band should just call it a day and give it up.
I must be honest with you with my feelings about this subject because as a life long SLAYER fan I am somewhat confused. I believe as a musician you have the artistic freedom to do whatever the hell it is you want and fuck the rest, you go into this genre and don't give a fuck, that is what keeps it metal, and defines who you are and the statement you are making. But with you gone from us and not apart of what we embrace I feel jaded to a degree and become the devil's advocate and understand both sides of the conversation. You are not here when we really need you, your guitar style/sound makes a difference and is a voice that can be heard or understood from lots of metal fans or just people who are lost in life but can find common ground through your music. Your sound can silence us, but now we hear nothing but silence from you. I would like to believe if you were still with us your band would still be relevant and influential because you made a difference, but I just don't know.
On a personal level I would like to thank you for the fond memories I had listening to your music in the 80's when my girlfriend and her friends were scared to listen to your music thinking they would go to hell. How I would go to a party and put a SLAYER cassette in the stereo to have the party go into overdrive while drinking beers and smoking a rolled one with friends head banging to the music. Yes thank you Jeff for your contributions in metal, bringing your unique style of controlled chaos on guitars and establishing a sound that we all love. You are missed, you will not be forgotten, cheers.
