Shots That Rock: One Photo, One Story: Kerry King of Slayer​ 2009, Rockstar Mayhem Festival

Kerry King | Slayer
Rockstar Mayhem Festival – July 26, 2009
First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre | Tinley Park, Illinois
Photo by Evan J. Thomas Photography

To me, this photograph freezes one of those moments where everything that made Slayer legendary came together in a single frame. Kerry King isn't simply playing guitar, he's unleashing absolute chaos. Mouth wide open screaming, muscles tense, fingers flying across the fretboard, he's completely consumed by the music.

That was the beauty of seeing Slayer live for the first time. There was no pretending. No choreographed dance moves. No polished arena rock smiles. No backing tracks, Just four musicians delivering one of the most relentless live performances heavy metal has ever known and I have ever witnessed.

I captured this moment during the now defunct Rockstar Mayhem Festival on July 26, 2009, this image takes me back to a scorching summer day at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park. The Rockstar Mayhem Festival was one of metal's biggest annual gatherings, bringing together fans from every corner of the heavy music world. But when Slayer took the stage, everything else seemed to disappear. The Legendary Motorhead played just before this so I was in awe and in anticipation of Slayer.

Then, the atmosphere changed. The lights dimmed. The opening notes hit. And thousands of fans erupted into a sea of raised fists, flying hair, and circle pits.

What I love most about this photograph is the expression. Kerry King's face tells the entire story. That's not a pose for the camera, I don't think he even saw us photographers right in front of him. What we see in this image is his passion.

That's decades of dedication to one of the most influential thrash metal bands of all time. The black and white presentation strips away every distraction. Without color, your eyes go straight to the intensity the veins in his arms, the signature tribal tattoos, the unmistakable silhouette of his guitar, and the raw emotion pouring from the stage. You can literally feel this image.

In the background, I had framed it so you can just make out the Slayer logo, almost ghost like through the haze of smoke and lights. It's subtle, but it completes the image, reminding you exactly where this moment belongs.

Concert photography has always been about more than documenting a performance for me. It's about preserving emotion.

For a fraction of a second, this photograph captured everything Slayer represented: aggression, precision, power, and an unwavering commitment to their craft.

More than 15 years later, the image still feels loud. You can almost hear the guitars. You can almost feel the kick drum shaking the barricade. You can almost smell the smoke from the fire, pyro, and summer air.

That's what makes a great concert photograph for me, It doesn't just show you what happened. It takes you back to the exact moment it happened. It shows the passion, the moment itself.