Slayer frontman Tom Araya's sister, Jeanette Araya has just released a new book called Bloodline: The Araya Story, which tells the story of their late father Javier Araya. The book talks about how Javier immigrated from Chile to Los Angeles and then brought his family along for a better life. It also discusses his struggles and eventually finding God and becoming a preacher in the local community.
In speaking with Blabbermouth about what the book would contain, she offered an interesting anecdote about Javier Araya confronting the satanic imagery that his son's band projects:
"In the late '70s, my brother Tom joined a heavy metal band and disrupted the quiet harmony of our 'normal lives.' Dad was unaware of the aggression and the message in the lyrics of the band and was very supportive and proud of my brother. But when the visual images of the nature of the songs began to surface, he was crushed. He had become a minister at the local church and belonged to many healing and prayer groups. He gave communion on Sundays he assisted in all baptismal [services] and funerals; church had become his life.
"One day, after a prayer group meeting, this lady approached my father with tears in her eyes and asked him for help. She began explaining to him about the difficulties she was having with her teenage son, that he had become satanic and pleaded with my father to come to her house and do a healing prayer session, So my father agreed and took my mother along. When they entered the house, the boy was sitting there and was very upset at his mother for doing this. My father thought he would be more comfortable if they prayed with him in private so he asked the boy if it would be better if they prayed in his room. When they walked into the boy's room, my father's face became pale and my mother was very nervous. The first thing the saw was a poster of Slayer on the wall with my brother's picture dead center. So Slayer was one of my father's biggest challenges in life because of the love he had for his son and the financial support that he needed from him at the time."
The early 80s must have been a rough time in the Araya household, but things have clearly calmed down. Tom Araya, himself, identifies as Christian, even while singing about satanic themes.
This book sort of seems like a must-read and is available now. Additionally, over the weekend, Jeanette confirmed that the book is being picked up to be made into a film under the title The Minister And His Son, and will be produced by Chilean production company VFI Producciones. A 2016 release is expected.
