Tom Araya

Early Life

Tomás Enrique "Tom" Araya Díaz was born on June 6, 1961, in Viña del Mar, Chile. At the age of five, his family relocated to the United States, settling in Los Angeles. Growing up in a bilingual household, Araya learned English with the help of a tutor. His older brother, Cisco, played guitar, which inspired Tom to pick up the bass at the age of eight. The siblings often played songs by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, which would later influence Araya's musical style. He graduated from high school in 1979 and briefly pursued a career as a respiratory therapist before fully committing to music.

Career

In 1981, Araya joined the thrash metal band Slayer, co-founded by guitarist Kerry King. He financed the band's debut album, "Show No Mercy," with his earnings from his job as a respiratory therapist. Despite initial challenges balancing work and music, Araya chose to focus on Slayer, which became a defining force in the metal genre. Over the years, he and King remained the only constant members of the band, achieving significant success with two Grammy Awards and over 20 million albums sold worldwide. Araya is known for his intense vocal style and raw energy on stage, having been recognized as one of the greatest metal vocalists of all time.

Personal Life

Araya resides in Texas with his wife, Sandra, and their two children, Ariel and Tomas Jr. The family runs a ranch that includes over 60 cattle. Araya is a practicing Catholic and has a strong belief system, which he maintains despite the often dark themes of Slayer's music. He enjoys horror films and has trained in karate, achieving a black belt. In 2011, he was honored with the keys to the city of his birthplace, Viña del Mar. Araya also manages sleep apnea with a CPAP machine, which he uses regularly at home and on tour.