Watch Slayer Dominate Studio 54 During Their 1985 Combat Tour: “That Was Definitely the End of the Disco Era”

Today, Slayer is one of the most iconic metal bands in the world. Even those who don’t listen to thrash—or any other heavy music—know the band’s name. However, in 1985, they were a group of young guys from Southern California who were trying to make a name for themselves in the underground music scene. That year, they joined Exodus and Venom for a one-month trek across North America. On April 3, 1985, the bands took over the iconic disco club Studio 54.

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Studio 54 started its life as a high-profile disco club in the ’70s. Disco was mostly dead by the mid-’80s but the club retained its high-profile status, catering to celebrity guests and the most beautiful people in Manhattan. So, it’s easy to imagine that the staff was shocked when the Combat Tour rolled into town and the three bands staged what has gone down in history as the Ultimate Revenge for Disco. Watch Slayer perform “Hell Awaits” to a crowd of denim-and-leather-clad fans below.

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The show took place around the release of the band’s sophomore album Hell Awaits. The video above shows Slayer’s original lineup—Tom Araya (bass/vocals), Kerry King (guitar), Jeff Hanneman (guitar), and Dave Lombardo (drums) when they were incredibly young. King hadn’t bulked up, shaved his head, or been covered in Paul Booth’s tattoo work in the video. However, the massive spiked leather gauntlet he wears gives him away. At the same time, seeing the late great Hanneman working his dark six-string magic on the stage is a treat for longtime fans of the band.

Dave Lombardo Recalls Slayer’s Combat Tour

Members of Slayer, Exodus, and Venom spoke to Decibel Magazine about the Combat Tour in a 2017 interview. During their conversation, Dave Lombardo discussed playing the gig captured in the video above. “Playing Studio 54 was a real treat,” he recalled. “I had heard about that club and the whole Saturday Night Fever disco era, so for the band to play that club was pretty damn cool. For it to be Venom, Slayer, and Exodus, that was definitely the end of the disco era and the beginning of the thrash metal era,” he added.

Featured Image by Chris Walter/WireImage