Slayer frontman Tom Araya’s Irish jig on mandolin

Tom Araya plays mandolin in Dublin
Araya plays mandolin in Dublin

Slayer frontman Tom Araya was recently caught on video as he tried playing an Irish jig on mandolin.

The thrash icon took the opportunity of the band’s tour stop in Dublin to visit the city’s Music Minds store, where he jammed along to a bodhran beat.

The shop owner said: “I think you can agree he’s found his true calling in music – irish jigs will never sound the same to us again. The man’s a legend.”

Chilean-born Araya, who was brought up on a diet of latin music, has an interest in all kinds of traditional music.

He told The Quietus in 2012: “I really enjoy country blues, country folk, like Hank Williams. Paul Simon’s Graceland album, you know, musically and lyrically it’s just a really good album. The Robert Johnson tapes, I find them really fascinating.

“I’m not embarrassed – that’s something I would tell anyone who asked. It doesn’t really matter where it’s from, as long as it has a folk orientation to it.”

Slayer’s European tour continues. They return to the UK for this year’s Bloodstock Open Air in Derbyshire on August 14.

Tour Dates

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Saturday, July 9, 2016 at 1:00PMJarocin FestiwalJarocin, Poland
Monday, July 11, 2016 at 7:00PMSabbiadoro Arena Alpe AdriaLignano, Italy
Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at 7:00PMRock in RomeRome, Italy
Thursday, July 14, 2016 at 1:00PMBang Your Head FestivalBalingen, Germany
Friday, July 15, 2016 at 7:00PMMasters Of RockVizovice, Czech Republic
Sunday, July 17, 2016 at 7:00PMBarcelona Rock FestBarcelona, Spain
Thursday, July 21, 2016 at 7:00PMHouse of BluesSan Diego, United States
Sunday, August 7, 2016 at 7:00PMLokerse FeestenLokeren, Belgium
Wednesday, August 10, 2016 at 5:30PMThéâtre de plein airColmar, France
Friday, August 12, 2016 at 7:00PMInto the Grave FestivalLeeuwarden, Netherlands
Sunday, August 14, 2016 at 10:00AMBloodstockCatton, United Kingdom
Wednesday, August 17, 2016 at 7:00PMBratislava Aegon ArenaBratislava, Slovakia
Friday, August 19, 2016 at 7:00PMSummer Breeze FestivalWilburgstetten, Germany
Saturday, August 20, 2016 at 7:00PMElb-Riot FestivalHamburg, Germany
Friday, September 9, 2016 at 7:00PMJacobs PavilionCleveland, United States
Saturday, September 10, 2016 at 7:00PMFreedom Hill AmphitheaterDetroit, United States
Monday, September 12, 2016 at 7:00PMSound AcadmeyToronto, Canada
Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 7:00PMMetropolisMontreal, Canada
Thursday, September 15, 2016 at 7:00PMSatge AEPittsburgh, United States
Sunday, September 18, 2016 at 7:00PMRock Allegiance FestivalChester, United States
Tuesday, September 20, 2016 at 7:00PMEgyptian RoomIndianapolis, United States
Thursday, September 22, 2016 at 7:00PMThe PageantSt. Louis, United States
Saturday, September 24, 2016 at 1:00PMHouston Open AirHouston, United States
Sunday, September 25, 2016 at 7:00PMOzzfest Meets KnotfestSan Bernardino, United States
Tuesday, September 27, 2016 at 7:00PMHard Rock LiveOrlando, United States
Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at 7:00PMFillmoreMiami, United States
Friday, September 30, 2016 at 7:00PMHorseshoe Casino TunicaTunica, United States
Saturday, October 1, 2016 at 7:00PMLouder Than Life At Champions ParLouisville, United States
Monday, October 3, 2016 at 7:00PMNorvaNorfolk, United States
Wednesday, October 5, 2016 at 7:00PMTabernacleAtlanta, United States
Friday, October 7, 2016 at 7:00PMGas Monkey LiveDallas, United States
Saturday, October 8, 2016 at 7:00PMACL Moody TheaterAustin, United States
Monday, October 10, 2016 at 7:00PMFillmoreDenver, United States
Tuesday, October 11, 2016 at 7:00PMThe ComplexSalt Lake City, United States
Thursday, October 13, 2016 at 7:00PMWilma TheaterMissoula, United States
Monday, October 17, 2016 at 7:00PMENMAX CenterLethbridge, Canada
Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at 7:00PMSouth Okanagan Events CentrePenticton, Canada
Thursday, October 20, 2016 at 7:00PMAbbotsford CentreAbbotsford, Canada
Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 7:00PMAftershock Festival at Discovery ParkSacramento, United States
Sunday, October 23, 2016 at 7:00PMReno Events CenterReno, United States
Thursday, October 27, 2016 at 7:00PMEl Paso County ColiseumEl Paso, United States
Saturday, October 29, 2016 at 7:00PMColiseum of Puerto RicoSan Juan, Puerto Rico

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Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.