S.A. Slayer

I

t was a dispute in the early 1980s in the heavy metal magazines as to who was the real "Slayer" for not only was this Texas band playing under the name, but there was also a same-named band in California operated by the now famous Tom Araya and crew. Although this version of the name never achieved the same fame, they would nonetheless be noteworthy for their membership going on to bigger and better things. Under the original line up of Steve Cooper (vocals), Bob Catlin (guitar), Don Van Stavern (bass), Dave McClain (drums) and Art Villareal (guitar) they would release their thrash debut EP Prepare To Die in 1983. Ron Jarzombek took over from Villareal for their album proper Go For The Throat (1984). It was the album where things went wrong for the act when their label, 'Rainforest Records', did not want to release an album that may result in legal action from the Los Angeles Slayer, backed by a much larger label at the time. The only way to do it was to tack on "S.A." on their name. Nonetheless, the act then split up with Cooper going on to Juggernaut, Van Stavern joining Riot and Pitbiull Daycare, while McClain had stints with Machine Head and Sacred Reich.