In 1985, as Slayer was gaining momentum in the international underground metal scene, the band teamed up with Venom and Exodus for a one-month North American tour. Decibel magazine later hailed it as "The Greatest Metal Tour of All Time."
Tom Araya reflected on the experience of touring during this era: "We did our first tour in the US in a car with a paper with addresses and a map...you had to pull over and get on a public telephone and say 'hey, we're gonna be there in about twenty minutes'...The first tour in Europe was the same way."
1. Jeff Hanneman's International Metal Monster Tour t-shirt, 1985. From the Collection of Kathryn and Jeff Hanneman
2. Slayer and Exodus on the road, 1985. From the Collection of Kathryn and Jeff Hanneman
3. Slayer's legendary "Death Puke Van," 1985. From the Collection of Doug Goodman
4. Original document listing Venom and Slayer's Combat Tour stops for March and April 1985. From the Collection of Tom Araya
5. Tour manager Doug Goodman's handwritten tour itinerary notebook, 1985. One page details the band's stop at Striders in Columbia, South Carolina, on March 15, 1985. Slayer played with Florida's Tempus Fugit, both bands performing an early and a late show. From the Collection of Doug Goodman
6. Ticket for Slayer's performance at Striders in Columbia, South Carolina, March 15, 1985. From the Collection of Tom Araya
7-8. Slayer in performance at the Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois, April 5, 1985. From the Collection of Kerry King
9. Venom backstage pass for the Combat Tour. From the Collection of Tom Araya
10. Flyer promoting Slayer, Venom, and Exodus "mind frying" shows in Sacramento and San Jose, California, April 1985. From the Collection of Doug Goodman
11. Ticket for Venom and Slayer at Albert Rousseau Hall, Quebec, Canada on March 28, 1985. From the Collection of Tom Araya
VIDEO: Footage from the Combat Tour Performance at Studio 54, April 3, 1985. From the Collection of Slayer
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