7 to 8 is Morning Edition 8 o'clock is the rebroadcast of tonight's news and 9 am is sweet beats coming up now is your local news for this evening thanks for listening everyone have a wonderful night. This is a k o t community radio news for Wednesday January 23rd I'm Juliet whole field and I'm Kara in today's headlines an update on the CIA expansion new county planner gets reacquainted with her old USA Today names Telluride topped a resort in North America and a mountain weather forecast. The mountain village town council met last week to discuss the future expansion of Village Court apartments mountain village has been working with a Durango based architect and design firm bowing group since October to develop a concept for the project after reviewing 2 possible scenarios the town council decided to move forward with a plan that would add $49.00 new units of affordable housing in mountain village This would include $4022.00 bedroom units and 71 bedroom units the building concept is 4 stories tall and will require approval on a high variance from the town council the biggest 2nd point of the project money the mountain village town council included 9400000 dollars in their budget for the expansion but bound group estimates the cost of the project will be $13400000.00 mountain village could use bank financed loans to cover the rest of the cost the question is how much debt the town wants to carry with the project at the meeting the mountain village town council directed Michelle Haines Planning and Development Services Director for mountain village to move forward with the project by requesting architect bids for the construction a small working group within the council is planning to continue talks on the financing of the project the mountain village hopes to break ground on the expansion by fall. Case I'm in sin is the new county planning director she was officially introduced at the board of county commissioners meeting last week though she is not new to San Miguel County she served as the town of Telluride historic preservation planner from 1902 through 2001 Simons and who officially started work January 7th is getting reacquainted with her old home I appreciate people reintroduce themselves to me and people say hello and I was like hi and I think I recognize Simon's and most recently served as the senior planner for Mesa County she says she was ready for a change you know it was time to find something new and this was just really was a great opportunity I think professionally this is something that I've been moving towards for you know over the last 256277 years so it was just wonderful it was great timing and happy to be here Simon since says San Miguel County and Mesa County share many similarities when it comes to planning but there are a few issues unique to the Telluride area both Mesa County and Sam Eagle County rural west slope counties we have a lot of the same issues with regards to. Natural Resources public lands. In Mesa County there is a ski resort granted not the scale of this one there are some things here that are unique to here because of the level of activity that occurs. Semoga County is small in population but you know big activity Simon son will work closely with current planning director Mike resists over the course of the next few months leading up to his retirement she's got a wide range of experience both with Mesa County more recently and with a number of cities and towns and she seems to have a good grasp of the community and a good. County Planning Simon Hsan who lives down valley says she's grateful for the overlap as resists he is a wealth of knowledge science and grew up in North Dakota she has a bachelor's degree in architecture she studied historic preservation at the University of Oregon and political science at c.u. Denver but she says she really learned the ins and outs of planning Intel you ride when asked what she enjoys about her job as a planner she commented that it's the end result that is most rewarding it's really wonderful to come back here to tell you right here where I spent 9 years you know actively working on helping shape the community and seeing things that I worked on and I think that you know it's there you know really I really contributed to the community and other places that I've been you know I go there and you know to see you know programs or projects that I started still be something that they're using and to this day even some of the older stuff it's a great feeling Mike resists last day on the job is May 24th his 67th birthday USA Today has range Telluride as the number one ski resort in North America the list of the top 11 resorts was released this week resorts were ranked based on things like town seeing variance of terrain lodging base snow quality and more using both hard data and a network of experts scores were then ranked by a metric called p f That stands for peer awesomeness factor Telluride got a p.f. Score of 99 as the article states the combination of charming old buildings striking scenery and proximity to skiing made Telluride the best ski town in North America other resorts that made the list include Jackson Hole steamboat Aspen Snowmass Vale Whistler Blackcomb Beaver Creek big sky and Mammoth. The inbounds avalanche that occurred last week at a Taos key resort has claimed a 2nd life Christopher Bedell with k b u t has the report a 2nd skier buried in an avalanche at a town Ski Valley in New Mexico has died New Mexico donor services confirmed the death of Cory Borg Masson r e a a 22 year old originally from Brainerd Minnesota who was studying at Colorado Mountain College in Vail Matthews on Getty 26 originally of Massachusetts but who had also moved to Colorado was pronounced dead on Thursday a few hours after being pulled from the snow Dave Bird is the director of risk in regulatory affairs for the National Ski areas Association he says the last inbounds avalanche fatality in the United States happened in December 27 teen in Downs avalanches are quite rare within the industry we have had in our last 10 ski season . 12 avalanche fatalities occurring at ski areas and that's less than 5 percent of the total Atalanta's fatalities in the us towns Ski Valley says they are investigating the incident as is the u.s. Forest Service whose office we were unable to reach due to the partial government shutdown in Colorado Pitkin County Sheriff's confirmed Monday night that earlier in the day a skier had died from an avalanche in the back country and near Aspen avalanche forecast from around Colorado say the danger is a considerable to high reporting for k.b. You'd see I'm Christopher Bedell. Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly or in Denver Tuesday to help launch Colorado gun owners for safety as k o t o Scott Franz reports the group is a boast to some gun owners who are urging state lawmakers to pass stronger gun laws the Group of $25.00 hunters and gun collectors says it represents the quote moderate middle on the issue of gun control its members want to so-called red flag bill which would allow guns to be taken away from people who pose a risk to themselves or others but Kelly says there are hurdles to overcome you know in a lot of cases the people we elect to office hesitate to act on this issue and that's because you know there is a corporate gun lobby that has worked really really hard for a long time to try to prevent new legislation from being passed Giffords and Kelly say red flag bills have saved the lives in other states they lead a national organization that has pushed for stronger gun laws around the country they started the group after Giffords survived a shooting in her Arizona district back in 2011 I'm Scott front's the National Weather Service forecast for the Western San Juans calls for snow showers tonight with the low attended group the chance of precipitation is 70 percent and new snow accumulation of less than a half inches possible Thursday will see scattered snow showers with a high of 30 degrees and a 30 percent chance of precipitation Friday will be sunny with a high of 30 this has been the news for Wednesday January 23rd thanks for listening if you have a story idea or news to call the News Team 728-3206 now a personal commentary. Hey this is trees that the tyrant circle museum with their miners men have you ever experienced the screaming bar fees Well if you've never heard of it the screaming bar fees refers to intense often scream inducing pain and nausea as a result of blood flow returning to cold numb hands which is experienced by many ice climbers. And did you know that the San Juans provide the perfect environment for both Alpine ice and water ice in fact our region is a haven for ice climbing and busiest Alpine ice is something that occurs from precipitation and is generally present for only portions of the mountaineering or hiking route while water ice is a frozen flow of liquid water from a waterfall or other source which will generally encompass the entire climbing rope and it's also common to have mixed routes of both rock and ice so in addition to these natural types of roots a revolutionary man made ice park in your Ray has also earned international fame in our region in the early 19 $190.00 s. Bill White and Gary Wilde started farming frozen water falls out of an aqueduct about the canyon by letting that water freeze down the canyons link despite years of water rights issues frozen houses and other obstacles the array ice Park has thrived changing both ice climbing as a sport and the town of the race today the park boasts one mile of vertical terrain and over 200 ice and mixed climbs. Each winter the rice festival which takes place this weekend in $21000.00 is the main fundraiser for the rice park and it brings together the ice coming community with come competitions vendors and exciting roots well you get to try your hand at ice climbing during a special program which is about brought to you by the museum and about the trip so be sure to mark your calendars for Saturday Feb 9th we're going to climb some ice and learn about the unique history of the Ames area all at once or start off the adventure with a special behind the scenes tour of the Ames power plant and following the tour mountain trip will provide an entered auction to ice climbing while explore the history and the basics of this intense sport. A ticket includes transportation routes and gear and is $150.00 or only $80.00 if you're a museum member. There are only limited spots available so participants must r.s.v.p. And provide their shoe size ahead of time to purchase tickets contact me at t h e r s a at Telluride museum or give us a call. Those outings going to be about 5 hours long and will meet at the tired historical museum that Saturday February night that 9 am The super unique up to opportunity so don't miss out this matters when it is brought to you by the Telluride Historical Museum were grateful for the support of our many members the citizens of Telluride mountain village and our generous partners including Alpine Bank and of course. A rare medium well done thanks Kota opinions broadcast over k o t o r those of the speakers you are also invited to express your views after the news or on access each weekday at around 4 pm If you would like to comment please contact the staff person here at photo we encourage you to speak out on important public issues at the movies this week will discover a long awaited superhero rematch. Thanks for joining me for another real discovery I'm Kristen dryer Kramer 1000 years ago m. Night Shyamalan released unbreakable the follow up to his career making thriller The 6th Sense and he quickly became one of the fans' other favorites now with glass shot on Connect the characters from unbreakable what the characters from 2017 split to create his own a cinematic superhero universe glass catches up with Bruce Willis is David Dunn who now patrols the streets as a cave to vigilante his latest case leads him to an abandoned factory where Kevin Wendle Crum and the rest of the Horde played by James McAvoy are holding 4 teenage girls when the police arrive on the scene both men are taken to a nearby psychiatric hospital the long time home of allies appears played by Samuel l. Jackson when I meet with Sara Paul zones Dr Ellie staple who works with those who has delusions of grandeur or make them believe they're super heroes now everyone seems to be taking on superhero stories these days so it seems like the perfect time for Sean to reunite his real world super's for a thorny new thriller glass once again gives the idea of comic book super. Uro's a twist playing with villainous Mr glasses theory that comic books and real life are more connected than most people realize but joining the characters from unbreakable and split feels more like a gimmicky t.v. Crossover episode than a real connection and in the end of the newer story eclipses the older one McAvoy is once again absolutely mesmerizing as the different personalities that make up Kevin Wendle Crum and perhaps that's why the horde seems to get the spotlight here Wilson Jackson are both likeable action stars in their own way yet they don't get much of a chance to shine so all glass makes for a tense and often thoughtful take on superhero thrillers it isn't really the unbreakable sequel that fans have been waiting to see what is it worth catching up with these real life heroes and villains they could be if you love split you'll enjoy another visit with a horde of the characters don't seem to fit within the same universe as David Dunn and Mr glass glass is definitely an intriguing film but it doesn't live up to its potential It gets a b. Minus And finally this week our real quick discovery glass is the 5th movie in which Bruce Willis and Samuel l. Jackson have appeared together but this is their 1st collaboration since working together on unbreakable in 2000. Well that's it for another real discovery for more abuse and updates on the latest films including the every day drama of all these small moments visit real discovery dot org and nights and weekends dot com until next week take some time to catch a movie or 2 you never know what you might discover. Thanks to me I am. I She says still. You can come in. Support for This American Life comes from square space make your website your own with the ability to customize look and feel settings products and more for a free trial of your new website visit squarespace dot com slash American and enter American Squarespace think it dream it make it and from quip one of the 1st electric toothbrushes accepted by the American Dental Association has a built in support system to help you stick with good brushing habits go to get quipped dot com slash American and get your 1st refill pack for free a quick warning there are curse words that are unbe ped In today's episode of the show if you prefer a beep version you can find that at our website This American Life dot org. This is per hotline that a group called the satanic Missionary Society of Olympia Washington started it like a regular perhaps line except of course instead of praying to God you leave a voicemail message and then the pray to Satan for you if you want to post a message to the Internet so others will also pray to Satan for you and with almost no publicity like from the very start people called like this is serving a need that was just waiting for some forward thinking devilish entrepreneur they would have only had stuff that they wanted that you can turn to God for. A spell and. Basically all month or so ago my apartment got robbed I still don't see anything out of where any of my stuff is that. Is Greg just want to be able to you know so my shit here do you know. Fair enough from banks. Banks. Saying. The greatness is everywhere I'm calling to print a Hax on the 1235 in the went to Washington because they just passed almost as I said laughingly musical where we have you know I need and I and there are giving starting at 6 in the evening aims to make the Top 30 go out of business make sure everybody that works there goes down like from a 96 on that 1st Hail Satan. I would like all of my enemies to suffer. Thank you really does not get more concise in that last one. The people calls joke one got called to ask for one more Shrek sequel is in Cajun and drunk dial to Satan has a very safe catch. And if you don't seem to understand the difference between the step should be asking Satan for the stuff you ask God for so. I'm calling you to help. I'm sorry that I 1st thought of was this. Is great or of. Course we have Mike. To get that paid to our Dark Lord and hopefully I might get this job thank you cause. There's a teenager who calls a passer hex on a tattletale name at the phone message ends with the most cheerful Hail Satan I have ever heard thank you hail Satan I mean one of my favorite things about these causes to hear people just toss it off so casually like that's a thing we say thank you and he'll say Have a great day everyone of your health and good night. In the end the meat and potatoes of this public service online is the engines and relief at least the level of vengeance you can get with a phone call than a relief you get by wishing for something else this is and I would like what I had on this is a really big ass on my friends Hey and and he told me that he was going to kill me my daughter and my cat any more to have all of my car and my front porch and just a piece of shit. Leave what I had found him till saying. I'm a teenager and I am really in this situation. I need you now and. Well I think I'm pregnant and I need you to pray against pregnancy and if there is a baby inside of me for failing to kill it because I can't have. A baby now so on. So I'm trying to see is going on now so. I'm just. Down. Thank you so much air station right. Thinking. About this tenet provide Ok See I ws podcast here be monsters and thanks them for that every step of the guy who started the program on the phone and he did night after his kids were in bed he's the primary caretaker once for 117 man his name is Chris our this is a pearl I'm really started as a lark if you got annoyed with the local Christian group you know Libya where he lives that wouldn't let up with the proselytizing doesn't believe in God or in Satan he started this out of curiosity to see who would call and then when the voicemail started rolling in you know people are taking this really seriously and really it wasn't so clear what to do with that yeah there are of a like saying I mean like one of the girls that called that said she didn't want to have a baby and I was like. Like I didn't. Post that sounds like. A psychological really like and I don't know I never. Happened or anything yeah when you heard that did you feel like oh maybe maybe I went too far yeah i'd I still think about that and that she's like a teenager or something to her she was. You know I just remember like on the top posting but then it's like she asked me to know that and feeling like I would feel guilty about not posting it because she really like Wanted I don't know when people put their faith in something it's like. I you know if you don't one of them down but then you don't actually have any way to help. That might be part of the reason I haven't really kept up because I really still listen to people like 20 hours a day on that thing and him unless they count I really like people that say that. In fact it's been years his 1st daughter was born and he's posted any calls to the website people calling hoping someone is going to pray to Satan for them he never ever delivers that nobody does f.d.r. People they are like they actually do feel really guilty about. Hitting it. And then usually the problem when you start talking about the devil is that for some people Satan is real but it's no joke he is out there nothing could be more serious ever nonbelievers like nothing could be sillier this cartoonish with horns and even bring the subject up divides people sense and aspiring caps which. Is exactly what they want or doesn't if he doesn't exist. And Chris is one of the few people have ever heard of who's in the middle even though he doesn't believe in Satan he can't bring himself to shut down the per line he was like he seen that people need it they need a post card. Doesn't feel right to take Satan from you have a go and why don't I quit doing it if I don't know it like I think I understand it like when I understand it better obvious other just let it go there just and understand it myself and understand it's just like you not totally understand why this has a hold over people and why it has a hold over you now are over me yeah like it mattered way that if I haven't figured out. Of Chicago it's This American Life and Ok all this talk of Satan that is because today's show is kind of a milestone for us not a milestone that when a story proud of anything just the odometer of our lives and our weeks has picked over and gotten to the point where like we did 100 episodes of our show and then our 200th episode in our 300 episode week after week show after show past episode 600 and finally here we are episode 666. To commemorate or 666 episode Is it Ok to commemorate our 666 episode of stories about Satan in his many surprising forms here on earth I'm your host Ira Glass to paraphrase No I would rather host a show on hell than just be somebody who gets quoted for a minute or 2 in a show on have and stay with us. A. Record deal with the devil. So let's begin today by returning to a recent moment in this country when lots of secular people suddenly got worried about the devil this back in the 1980 s. There was a whole satanic panic t.v. Specials with Geraldo and Oprah and Sally Jessy Raphael about Satanic murders satanic rituals attend a cults and the thing I want to talk about in today's story satanic music. This was kind of a low point I would say of the what are kids listening to today's sort of freak outs among adults it got so heated the Senate held hearings on this might actually has changed since Elvis same thing Lee innocent times this is Senator Paul Hawkins in 1905 settled a suggestions and innuendo have given way to overt expressions and descriptions of often violent sexual acts drug taking and flirtations with the outcome out Hawkins Party members of the Parents Music Resource Council the p.m.r.c. Testified to the dangers of rock music I remember Tipper Gore remember those days they're the ones who eventually got parental advisory stickers put on tapes and C.D.'s record the hearing of course included the obligatory embarrassing to watch moments of serious looking adult reading where it's not written for sober people in suits and sensible dresses to enjoy this next clip is a member of the council reading lyrics from a band called pile driver his performance is very different from the original recording of the song the song is called Lost the lyrics a howl on fire lust desire the devil wants to stick you the devil wants to lick you he wants your body he wants your spirit naked twisting body sweating Prince of Darkness prince of evil spread your legs and scream this is no dream degradation humiliation thrusting shoving animals humping He's like a dog in heat you're just another piece of meat craving become very obscure bands got great publicity from this hearing the band that recorded that song pile driver says the hearing gave them a bump in record sales maybe $10000.00 albums they told us they would have sold otherwise and it's right around this time that a religious crusader one of the most vocal devil hunters in the country dove deep into this controversy of Iraq where x. And this kind of incredible thing happened where he went on tour he went on tour with one of the thrash metal bands that sings about Satan to figure out just how evil and dangerous it was it was a sincere attempt to try to see what the other side was doing. A very unusual encounter between big names in the 2 opposing camps the Christians and the rockers and this is not like a superficial drop in drop out the preacher spent a week with them travelled on the bus with the band got to know them all this happened in 1909 not many people remember this weird momentary mash up between the nonbelievers in the believer's reporter Caliph Assane takes us back to tell what happened this warrior in the fight against Satanism his name was Bob Larson he used to play in small time rock bands then he switched sides and became a preacher with a taste for spiritual warfare he started doing a nationally syndicated radio show called Talk Back in 1902 good afternoon America welcome to Talkback Live Bob Larson I'll be here the next hour talking about what's on my mind and hearing from you about what's on your mind in studio today warned about the spread of Satanism told parents about the say tannic messages in the music their children were listening to he had Satanists on the air to argue with him about satanism including 2 guys from a band called Asheron's that let him come and take me where is your Where is. The devil could kill you right now he would you see the devil got you where he wants you damn to do right now and he began Jesus Christ. To me to meet you gentlemen being here today is an incredible testimony to the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ really when we sometimes he would offer to perform an exorcism he's really into exorcisms and I did something that was pretty revolutionary at the time this is Bob Larson today I would play you know sound bites of songs and sometimes I would start my show well with some really thrash music and let it play just long enough for some kid who was surfing across the dial to land on it before he realized what what kind of horror show he was actually listening to bait and switch Yeah. Well it wasn't my intent but but in fact it happened so I would end up having some pretty profound spiritual discussions with kids who had no idea that they just happen onto a religious station even now and clearly loves talking about this music he loves. Being fluent in the language of metal even though he insists he's not a fan of it just a researcher with an unusually high tolerance for it everybody tried out to everybody else with landed antiques of sorts whether was Ellis Cooper on stage with a snake or you know the death ration metal bands trying to do themselves with Satanism motifs cattle corpse Deicide I mean it's right at the top of my list that's late eighty's right yeah yeah Morbid Angel groups like that one guy who sometimes called into Bob Larson Show was Bob Jr and I was just about the time the only person in the rock media music media that wanted to debate these guys he was the publisher of Spin magazine and he's also the son of that other Bob Guccione the one who founded Penthouse magazine you know growing up in my household with my father who is constantly at war with the religious right and he published penthouse they were sailing it I knew you had to debate these people or else their opinion generally took I. Argued the case against anyone who wanted to argue. Became a regular guest on Bob Larson Show he became one of Larson's favorite antagonists I would be on a show in his studio in Colorado and he would be a sailing you are the son of state not my readers my listeners I'm sitting with the son of Satan here I was basically a devil incarnate and he begged me beg me on the air on air he begged me to exercise me and I said Oh nice pics of. You are going to be born again as I was born once. So anyway he would say on me and especially when his listeners would call in and say you know he's got a point you know his hands I got he would a stale me further cut me off in the commercial break you say where you want to go for dinner. These 2 guys named Bob They were both performers they both knew the value of a good spectacle maybe it wasn't pro wrestling exactly but it was a show. Behind the scenes they became fairly close friends for both of them it was a transgressor friendship and they like that and at some point you get the idea to invite Him into your secular rock that's been what it was a long. As I want to know what it once they saw going away so get away get away. From the music you expound all the lives you're dating danger in the souls you're losing. I said look if you're actually been to a concert the 7 mil going to do a scene these guys are met these people of course aren't going to get that at all statements. And so I said well look for your own edification. And it be great publicity for you wouldn't you Conan. Yeah what are you going to tour with Slayer. Slayer thrash metal band from California that was basically designed to freak out people like Bob Larson Reign In Blood their 1906 masterpiece 29 minutes of sickness and brutality fast and mean and scary one of the songs altar of sacrifice is actually about say tannic human sacrifice. Bob Larson agrees immediately Slayer's manager says Ok fine and the next thing I know in a taxi and on my way to the concert it turns out Bob Larson makes a pretty good rock journalist the article he wrote and actually appeared in spin the main 1989 issue. It was accompanied by a maniacal family portrait Larson smiling in a suit and the 4 guys from Slayer howling behind him the headline was desperately seeking Satan. And it's kind of great The Diary of a man who had spent years demonizing this band literally demonizing them and then got a chance to see if they were as bad as he thought. Before he went to meet Slayer Larson told his listeners about the assignment he says some of them wanted him to give Slayer the full treatment exercised them convert them baptized them but Larsen told them No this was a different kind of mission a journalistic one the mission was is it in. Satanism or is something that can do that or how much of it is a genuine expression of belief system from the members of the band I was allowed to save their souls I was out there to observe that was a little bit hard for some of my hard core religion. His followers to accept because they thought I should return triumphantly with confessions of spiritual faith from every one of them but that of those 4 guys that was asking a lot so the Germany shows up at the venue it's a Slayer show and it sounds like it was epic are you. Going these big flat floor standing room only type things nobody was in a chair it was your typical thrash audience everybody stands and you know does their whole tryst thing was that exciting of course the environment was just you know very very dramatic because I mean it's just intense I mean these guys you know they've they never saw a ballad that they didn't hate I mean there was no such thing could ever slow down it was speed guitars costly it never let up so Larson is there he's not wearing a clerical collar he's not even wearing a tie but still he's older a normal seeming guy roaming around with a pad of paper interrogating the metal bits. And I walk around I start interviewing people and asking them now I think the thing that was most interesting is that I did find hardcore Satanists there at least they said they were I would ask them you know do you believe in what these guys are doing yes. You see that upside down cross behind them what does that mean to you worshipping Satan nowise is cool that's great we worship Satan. I mean if you're at a metal show and I guy who looks like a dentist comes up to you asks you if you're Satanist he'd probably say hell yeah but Bob felt like these fans at least some of them were telling him the truth they saw this as their demonic liturgy their place of worship and they took it very seriously so my 1st conclusion was whatever these guys on stage believe or don't believe this is what their audience at least a portion of their audience believes I think what makes Slayer great isn't the say tannic stuff in fact the lyrics are kind of secondary What makes Slayer Slayer is the atmosphere the sense of mayhem those furious galloping drums the way Jeff Hanneman and Carrie Kane the 2 guitarists block into the same churning riff and then go hurtling off in different directions the music sounds wild and evil and for the whole thing to work the words need to be pretty sick too so of course these guys end up singing about the devil. If you're not into this sort of he is a it's easy to miss the sheer physical joy of big players a rock band playing an exceptionally visceral form of rock n roll and when Larson went backstage he found more or less what you'd expect a bunch of exhausted musicians 0 satanic rituals Well backstage of course is just you know a typical rock n roll show and everybody's telling down and just you know having a couple of beers and just trying to relax for a little bit trying to figure out if there were any new boil young ladies in the audience that would be of interest to them but actually these guys were too much into the girls they were just more into the dope was that in the back of your mind that maybe one of these people will be possessed and I'm going to have to perform an exorcism right here backstage in germ. Yes I did think about that I absolutely did but I also knew from a practical standpoint that this was a show business environment and even backstage they're still playing a role they're still being the bad guy I say tennis to their fawning fans so they weren't going to get real with me the only chance for that would be on the bus Larson spent a lot of time on that tour bus and in the article the thing he notices most is how bored the guys were there's a collage of little snippets of conversation I thought I'd freeze my butt off before we went on stage my drum solo just to make it to me something wasn't right ice or the ice you just can't get ice in Europe. Says Kerry King one of the guitarists was literally counting down the days until he could go home King told Larsen about his Toyota 4 by 4 and his hobby breeding pythons he said he didn't know much about satanism he got most of his ideas from horror movies there's a stack of them on the bus next to the v.c.r. You guys were really into gremlins I didn't like the bus. Was a my kind of place because I didn't appreciate having to inhale has because. That was the drug of choice and that was not my thing but I was on a mission you know I was always on an assignment I had to do my job so I wanted to faithfully do that did you have any kind of late night moments where those conversations became more like real conversations yes yes yes I did particularly with. That's Tom Araya the bass player and lead vocalist I mean the very bright guy very smart guy. If I may say so a little bit more than the others I don't mean to insult him but he was kind of the intellectual of the group and he. Deeply thought about this he. Came from South America he was raised in a Catholic culture so to him it was serious business and we had some pretty serious philosophical discussions about God about whether there is a hell of a heaven and there is a devil and if he is the devil real is singing about the devil such a good idea can you just dismiss it as show business. I reached out to Tom and the band but they declined to comment. Like the one guy in the band who took these ideas seriously good God in the devil. Doesn't think he actually believed in Satan but Araya went on stage with an upside down cross anyway and to Larson that made him seem reckless maybe even evil or understood what he was doing but he didn't really care if there was one guy who who really needed an exorcism it was him it's like he knew too much and he therefore was accountable for much more as I recall I mean he didn't totally dismiss the idea of personal evil but the idea that he would be an agent of that evil. The idea that Slayer was just going through the motions that this was all a scripted pantomime carefully calculated to separate German teenagers from their marks it offended Larson is a former rock n roll his whole point is that rock n roll is dangerous because rock n roll is powerful. He's a romantic that way he believes in rock n roll. And it drove him nuts to see the guys from Slayer night after night playing the same solos hitting the same marks like actors in a Broadway show nothing was spontaneous he wrote it was a let down kid flown to Germany prepared for battle and now he was all alone on the battlefield like these guys were in his worthy opponents my favorite line in the magazine story is when he's sitting on that bare bones tour bus and he wonders sort of wistfully Where were all the porn videos I mean it seems like here you are you're on tour with the most evil been on the planet you're on the tour bus and it's just a bunch of guys drinking beer there's no Satan behind the curtain. Well yes and no because there's more than one way for Satan to be orchestrating things from the wings Ok if they are speaking the words of Satan doing the things the devil would have them to do the potential disastrous end result is going to be the same whether or not they as the active agents believe it or not they're the conduit mission accomplished his Reverend Bob Larson of course he found Satan Satan was there sate was there every night Satan was on the bus Satan was in the concerts Yes he was there in the form of what was being said it's like saying since I was in Germany. Was the devil there at the Gestapo rallies I'm not comparing them to Nazis I'm just saying that yes of course the devil was there in the same way the devil was here at these concerts. So that's it spin Prince the story Slayer gets even huge or keeps touring keeps raising hell and Larson keeps warning about satanism long after most of the country has moved on they're both on the road right now Slayers in the middle of a 2 year worldwide farewell tour and Bob Larson is leading seminars and conducting exorcisms wherever he can Larson is a performer just like the guys from Slayer he understands the value of good stick. It's easy to think of this is a quaint story from another time the golden age of say can it panic but imagine if an up and coming band today put out a song like Slayer's angel of death it's the 1st song on Reign In Blood and it's about Nazis or specifically it's about Joseph Mengele the Nazi official and doctor who performed horrific operations on prisoners at Auschwitz. Auschwitz the meaning of pain the way that I want you to die slow death immense the k. Showers that cleanse you of your life. Slayer got asked about Angel of Death a lot of people wanted to know whether the band members were sympathetic to Nazis Slayer thought this was ridiculous all the lyrics are about how evil mangle was sadistic surgeon of demise they call him but Slayer is a band of voted to the proposition that evil is fascinating that evil is kind of cool you might even say that Slayer glorifies evil certainly that's what Bob Larsson would say and he'd say that's a terrible irresponsible thing to do even if you don't really mean it especially then. We live in a time when lots of audiences are saying something sort of like what Larson was saying that entertainers of all sorts should be accountable for the messages they spread that they have a duty not to promote evil and to make it clear where they stand. Both Slayer it's not always so clear angel of death is an unsettling song because it feels like you're not just listening to a song about evil You're listening to a song that is itself evil that's part of what makes the song good I think but I think lots of people today would be worried about that song being put out in the world. Of a lots of peace.