Kerry King Quotes

At 15, I started listening to hard rock and heavy metal, but I would say it was more hard rock because I liked Kiss, Aerosmith, Ted Nugent, and eventually AC/DC.

When I get 13 or 14 years old, I get crazy with rock music, like, like, deeply crazy. And one of my favorite bands at that moment was, for example, like - bands like Metallica or Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd and Santana, you know? And then I start to play metal, actually, when I was - at the age of 15.

The Wacken festival started more than 20 years ago with just a few hundred people in attendance. Tickets now sell out before the lineup is announced.

Metallica is a big, huge influence and inspiration. That's who Babymetal aspires to become some day.

Motley Crue was actually my gateway to heavy metal.

Metal fans have a connection. There is something there; just like the wrestling world, they are die hard about wrestling, and it's that passion that makes you enjoy what you do. That is why I go to metal shows; you watch these dudes on stage just shredding and letting loose. You can't help but love it.

Anytime rock and metal can get on mainstream TV at all, it's a good thing.

I want to be the Letterman of metal. I want five nights a week, Monday to Friday, 11 to 12, live. I always shoot for the moon.

When I write a film, there's a particular thing I am wrestling with and the question or concern I'm dealing with has to be big enough for me to dedicate a year or two of my life. If the question isn't big enough, or rich enough, I'll lose interest.

People ask you all the time, 'Why do you do this? Why don't you quit, man, take your money and go home?' I just do it because I love making music.

But my favorite work is always my next piece.

I'm inspired to do music. I really can't stop unless I stop being inspired.

I never went to rock concerts when I was a kid. I didn't see any rock & roll bands. I had posters on my wall. I had Beatles records.

Japan has really great fans for all kinds of music. I think they're keeping metal alive.

The guitar influence that affected my songwriting came from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal.

Some of the smartest people I know are metal fans.

I like hard rock, and classic rock, and even metal.

I have tons of friends in the heavy-metal music world, and just going to see them inspires me.

I ask myself all the time, 'Why keep doing this?' If I wasn't exploring or finding something to write about that was personal or meant something, there'd be no reason. If I was ever making a record just to make a record, or ever just like, 'Just put something out there that someone will buy,' I would quit.

Sometimes a book influences me because it winds me up. There'll be something that gets under my skin and makes me think that I can do better.

I have a crazy work ethic. I'll do 20 songs a day. I love music that much.

For me, it is incredible to hear singers in the metal scene telling me I had been their inspiration.

My first concert was Pantera.

I'm a veteran of Ozzfest.

My first records were KISS's 'Love Gun,' Twisted Sister's 'Stay Hungry,' and Motley Crue's 'Shout at the Devil.' That had immense influence on me.