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Slayer 66 2/3: The Jeff & Dave Years. A Metal Band Biography.: Including the Thrash Kings' Early Days, the Palladium Riot, the Seat Cushion Chaos ... Mosh Memorial, and More Scenes From the Abyss
Slayer 66 2/3: The Jeff & Dave Years. A Metal Band Biography.: Including The Thrash Kings' Early Days, The Palladium Riot, The Seat Cushion Chaos ... Mosh Memorial, And More Scenes From The AbyssThis timely rock biography answers burning questions, shatters popular myths, and uncovers new truths about Slayer, the iconic group that became the embodiment of heavy metal. The full-length, exhaustively researched account of the thrash kings' career recaps and reevaluates the years guitar hero Jeff Hanneman and drum legend Dave Lombardo were in the group. Over the course of 59 chapters, 400 footnotes and three appendices, it profiles the members and presents dramatic scenes from 32 years in the Abyss: A fresh look at the group's early days. Reign in Blood tours. A European invasion. The Palladium riot. The seat cushion chaos concert. Newly unearthed details from Lombardo's turbulent history with the band. Historical artwork and photos never seen in public before. The entire diabolical
- GenresMusicNonfictionBiography
353 pages, Paperback
First published November 24, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
July 11, 2022
The cover says it all. Reeeaaally fun book. If you enjoy Slayer to any extent, you gotta check it out.
March 1, 2020
A very brief but cool little book about the greatest Metal band not named Black Sabbath. Ends when Lombardo leaves for good, just like the band should have.
RIP Hanneman and Slayer. Thanks for the memories xx
RIP Hanneman and Slayer. Thanks for the memories xx
July 8, 2020
Informative and easy to read, written in a conversational style and sprinkled with the author’s personal stories and opinions. Despite the band’s avoidance of the limelight, he manages to sketch up a decent picture of the members and the behind-the-scenes goings-on. Dave Lombardo’s difficult relationship with his on-and-off band mates is of particular interest, as is the mysterious character of the late Jeff Hanneman.
F*ckin’ Slayer!!!!
See also my article on Medium, Twenty-Twenty in Books …so far.
F*ckin’ Slayer!!!!
See also my article on Medium, Twenty-Twenty in Books …so far.
May 21, 2014
In 1986, Slayer released Reign in Blood, an album that became so seminal in heavy metal that 22 years after its release, D.X. Ferris wrote a book about its creation.
In 2013, Ferris wrote a second book about Slayer (as part of the 33 1/3 series), but while the first installment celebrated a legendary release, Slayer 66 2/3: The Jeff & Dave Years is tinged with fatality. With Dave Lombardo out of the band for the third (and probably final) time, and Jeff Hanneman in his grave, The Jeff & Dave Years looks at the meteoric rise and uncertain future of one of the heaviest bands of all time.
If only that was the book's focus. D.X. Ferris is, first and foremost, a Slayer fan, and he wastes no opportunity writing about it. Whether this means constantly ameliorating Slayer's foibles by comparing them to Metallica's (and always finding in favor of Slayer, naturally), or even saying that "Dissident Aggressor" winning the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance was a victory for Slayer because it's technically a Slayer song (even though it was written by Judas Priest before Slayer were even formed), the book delves into downright cringe territory with how emphatic and determined Ferris is to sing Slayer's praises at every turn.
Where the book succeeds is as a compendium on the band itself. Slayer fans don't want to read about why Slayer having their name on an array of merchandise is excusable (but God help Metallica for doing the same). Slayer fans want to read about Dave Lombardo always being the outsider within the band, and how his first exit in 1986 drove a wedge between him and his bandmates. Slayer fans want to read about the early onset of Jeff Hanneman's arthritis, and how the only treatment he sought was in alcohol. Slayer fans want to read how, for better and for worse, Kerry King has made the band in his vision. I'm sure some Slayer fans want to know the minute details of Lombardo's divorce from his wife, but what they're doing in a book about Slayer is slightly puzzling.
The Jeff & Dave Years is a vastly-researched work, turning a bright spotlight on the darkest of the big metal bands. Had Ferris trimmed the fat and just stuck to the facts, this could well be required reading for journalists and fans alike. Unfortunately, Ferris' insistence on flying the Slayer flag at every chance he gets drags down what is an otherwise fascinating and sobering story.
In 2013, Ferris wrote a second book about Slayer (as part of the 33 1/3 series), but while the first installment celebrated a legendary release, Slayer 66 2/3: The Jeff & Dave Years is tinged with fatality. With Dave Lombardo out of the band for the third (and probably final) time, and Jeff Hanneman in his grave, The Jeff & Dave Years looks at the meteoric rise and uncertain future of one of the heaviest bands of all time.
If only that was the book's focus. D.X. Ferris is, first and foremost, a Slayer fan, and he wastes no opportunity writing about it. Whether this means constantly ameliorating Slayer's foibles by comparing them to Metallica's (and always finding in favor of Slayer, naturally), or even saying that "Dissident Aggressor" winning the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance was a victory for Slayer because it's technically a Slayer song (even though it was written by Judas Priest before Slayer were even formed), the book delves into downright cringe territory with how emphatic and determined Ferris is to sing Slayer's praises at every turn.
Where the book succeeds is as a compendium on the band itself. Slayer fans don't want to read about why Slayer having their name on an array of merchandise is excusable (but God help Metallica for doing the same). Slayer fans want to read about Dave Lombardo always being the outsider within the band, and how his first exit in 1986 drove a wedge between him and his bandmates. Slayer fans want to read about the early onset of Jeff Hanneman's arthritis, and how the only treatment he sought was in alcohol. Slayer fans want to read how, for better and for worse, Kerry King has made the band in his vision. I'm sure some Slayer fans want to know the minute details of Lombardo's divorce from his wife, but what they're doing in a book about Slayer is slightly puzzling.
The Jeff & Dave Years is a vastly-researched work, turning a bright spotlight on the darkest of the big metal bands. Had Ferris trimmed the fat and just stuck to the facts, this could well be required reading for journalists and fans alike. Unfortunately, Ferris' insistence on flying the Slayer flag at every chance he gets drags down what is an otherwise fascinating and sobering story.
September 20, 2019
Some great inside info about the band that is really interesting, but Ferris' impartiality towards Slayer can be quite overpowering at times. And despite the book being amended there are still some quite obvious errors regarding grammar and anyone other than Slayer. I also found his style jarring at times. Still, worth a read for any fan of Slayer and metal in general.
December 25, 2021
This one's been on my to-read list for years so I finally broke down and bought a copy (16.66 on amazon, the lowest/same price it's always been as long as it's been on my wish list). There's a lot of great anecdotal information here, particularly in the book's first half and it's written well enough. As others have often mentioned regarding this book, there are a bunch of typos--and that's annoying primarily because this thing has been revised several times including as recently as 2018 with the bonus "Repentless" album and farewell tour information. How difficult would it have been to give this thing a full edit review? Your subject and your writing are important enough to warrant it. Other than that, the author's critical opinions on later-period Slayer albums and Metallica in general are annoying and unnecessary (for a better, more even-handed evaluation of post-"Divine Intervention" albums read McIver's "Bloody Reign of Slayer" who rightly understood the quality and importance of the "Disciple" song from GHUA and the entire "Christ Illusion" album. Seriously, "flat", Ferris? And for a less knee-jerk stereotypical sharting upon Metallica, check out the two episodes Yasi Salek did on the band on her wonderful "Bandsplain" podcast which finally re-contextualizes their later-career in an honest way). Anyway, if you're a Slayer fan you'll want to read this and it's worth your time despite its faults.
August 28, 2021
Slayer slays!
I have read 100s of biographies of rock bands some great some terrible!
This book is amazing I knew very little about the band as I have only recently started to get into thrash having been in to metal and heavy rock as it used to be called for most of my 59 years.
During lock down I started to look for something different and decided to check out the big 4 plus other thrash legends. I soon realised that slayer stood out as not only the best of the 4 but actually one of the best rock bands of all stripes ever.
I purchased most of their albums starting with the obvious 3 and loved them all cannot understand what's not to like about Diabolos ?!!
Anyway as I tend to do when I love a band I want to know all about them!
It's all here well written fairly unbiased and hard to put down!
Really wish I'd listened to the band before Jeff passed still better late than never !!
If you love thrash and slayer in particular you need to own this book I have loved listening to this band on my overnight shifts while reading this great book.
Hope they decided to do another tour.!!!
I have read 100s of biographies of rock bands some great some terrible!
This book is amazing I knew very little about the band as I have only recently started to get into thrash having been in to metal and heavy rock as it used to be called for most of my 59 years.
During lock down I started to look for something different and decided to check out the big 4 plus other thrash legends. I soon realised that slayer stood out as not only the best of the 4 but actually one of the best rock bands of all stripes ever.
I purchased most of their albums starting with the obvious 3 and loved them all cannot understand what's not to like about Diabolos ?!!
Anyway as I tend to do when I love a band I want to know all about them!
It's all here well written fairly unbiased and hard to put down!
Really wish I'd listened to the band before Jeff passed still better late than never !!
If you love thrash and slayer in particular you need to own this book I have loved listening to this band on my overnight shifts while reading this great book.
Hope they decided to do another tour.!!!
January 8, 2022
This book was ok. But it really seems like it was writen by a hollywood music "industry" professional more than a metal fan. Too many setlists and acknowledgments of who Slayer's producers and managers worked with, I dont care if their producer or whoever worked with madonna or whatever other pop crap. So what.
The advertized "unreleased artwork" is crap and hype..a few doodles that look like something I scribbled on my notebook in 6th grade. Was pretty disapointed about that. Some things are unreleased for a very good reason.
This is more like a vhi behind the music than a metal book.
The advertized "unreleased artwork" is crap and hype..a few doodles that look like something I scribbled on my notebook in 6th grade. Was pretty disapointed about that. Some things are unreleased for a very good reason.
This is more like a vhi behind the music than a metal book.
July 3, 2021
Not great. If you're looking for great stories from the band regarding this time period, they're not here. This is poorly written recollections of the author's often second-hand anecdotes concerning the band. Quite tedious to get through. A shame as this is one of my all time favorite bands at their best.
January 30, 2018
A history of one of my favorite metal bands that was written after the death of founding member Jeff Hanneman. A decent history of the ups and downs through the years as well as some of the less well known stories regarding the on-again off-again membership of iconic drummer Dave Lombardo.
March 16, 2021
Greatest metal band ever. This book takes you through the story, the rise to greatness with all the pitfalls, infighting and business hassles therein.
I don't know who made the decision to print this with 5-point font size, but motherfuck you.
I don't know who made the decision to print this with 5-point font size, but motherfuck you.
November 23, 2017
Great insight on the band and very well-researched, but there was a typo on just about every other page. Did anyone even edit this?
November 11, 2018
Informative
Good read. Too critical of god hates us all album. A little too much opinion to make this an amazing work.
Good read. Too critical of god hates us all album. A little too much opinion to make this an amazing work.
June 4, 2019
Exceelent read
Well written book on Slayer. All relevant parties were spoken to first-hand. A great balance between fact amd fandom. Great.
Well written book on Slayer. All relevant parties were spoken to first-hand. A great balance between fact amd fandom. Great.
March 11, 2022
Good informative book. There really aren't any books about Slayer out there other than this one, and I feel like this one covers a lot of ground. Definitely would recommend.
January 20, 2014
Comprehensive and well-written biography of the thrash metal pioneers. I've never been a huge Slayer fan, but I received a copy from the author as a thank you for some ebook advice; at 6.66, the ebook is worth at least twice what my advice was worth. Bargain! It's a real testament to the writing here that as a non fan and relative Slayer novice, I was totally sucked in to their story. There's comprehensive information for the fans (wanna know which guy who worked on a Slayer record got an Emmy nomination for his work on a Nickelodeon show? It's in here!), but the story never bogs down in minutiae. What we've got here is a top-shelf music biography that chronicles the ups and downs of a creative career, with a special emphasis on the challenges of growing creatively while still pleasing the fans. It's impressive that Ferris manages to present all sides of still-simmering band controversies without appearing to root for one faction; it's doubly impressive that Ferris managed to weave such a compelling narrative when the Slayer principals don't seem to talk much about either their creative process or their personal lives. They just rock, and so does this book. Four stars only because of me; if this were about a band I loved as Ferris clearly loves Slayer, it's be an automatic 5-star.
October 23, 2024
Mno, co k tomu říct - Slayer jsou moji oblíbenci, na jejich posledním "rozlučkovém" koncertě jsem byl, "Reign in Blood" jsem kdysi k pobavení svých trpících spolubydel na koleji označil za "nejlepší thrashové elpíčko" (a trvám na tom), takže tohle byla povinnost.
Ale trpěl jsem:
a) sral mě jazyk, nejsem si jist, zda to bylo překladem, nebo i originál je fanouškovsky americky uslintaný, ale nebavil mě ten způsob vyprávění, přeskakování časů, útržkovitost.
b) strašně málo informací navíc, strašně moc zbytečných setlistů atp.
c) nelíbil se mi překlad a strašně žádná redakce, takže překlepy, i ve jménech písní i kapel, to je trestuhodný.
Ale trpěl jsem:
a) sral mě jazyk, nejsem si jist, zda to bylo překladem, nebo i originál je fanouškovsky americky uslintaný, ale nebavil mě ten způsob vyprávění, přeskakování časů, útržkovitost.
b) strašně málo informací navíc, strašně moc zbytečných setlistů atp.
c) nelíbil se mi překlad a strašně žádná redakce, takže překlepy, i ve jménech písní i kapel, to je trestuhodný.
December 26, 2013
I've been a Slayer fan since first hearing Hell Awaits in 1985 and, with them being such a private band, there isn't much here I didn't already know. That said there were some interesting revelations about Lombardo's fractious history with the band and it's nice to have a detailed history in one very readable book. I whizzed through this in a couple of days and would highly recommend it to fans. Could have done with a stronger proof read, quite a few spelling and punctuation errors, but not enough to spoil the read.
December 7, 2013
The level of thoroughness this book has is beyond reproach. DX Ferris is a highly skilled writer, and he doesn't let his love for this band cloud his ability to tell the complete story in a true and completely unbiased way. Bravo for a brilliant book.
January 24, 2014
If it weren't for the copy errors (not so much spelling, but incorrect word choices and in one case a whole repeated paragraph), this would be five stars and on my favorites shelf. Exhaustingly comprehensive, unflinching, and totally gripping.
May 26, 2014
Slayer 66 2/3
I am glad I got to read this awesome book! Really sucks how Dave was treated through the years. I still consider him the greatest extreme metal drummer to walk this earth! R.I.P. Jeff Hanneman ...
I am glad I got to read this awesome book! Really sucks how Dave was treated through the years. I still consider him the greatest extreme metal drummer to walk this earth! R.I.P. Jeff Hanneman ...
August 2, 2014
Brilliant! A fitting book covering Jeff's life and untimely death.
September 3, 2014
I disagreed with the author's enthusiasm for God Hates us All, but other than that, I think this is mandatory reading for all Slayer fans.
November 11, 2014
Loved it. Ferris gets Slayer like know other author.
May 25, 2015
Poor writing. Lots of copy errors and dull stats about set lists. Some interesting insights into the band, though.
July 7, 2016
excellent
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews