Tom Araya (born Tomás Enrique Araya June 6, 1961 in Viña del Mar, Chile) is both the bassist and vocalist of the American thrash metal band Slayer. Araya's family moved to the United States in 1966, and at the age of eight Araya started playing bass guitar, performing renditions of songs by the Beatles and The Rolling Stones with his older brother.

Araya was employed as a respiratory therapist in the early 1980s, and used his earnings to finance Slayer's debut album Show No Mercy. Much of Araya's lyrical content is about serial killers, a subject he finds interesting, first making his lyrical contribution on 1988's South of Heaven.

BIO
Araya was born in Viña del Mar, Chile as the fourth child in a family of nine. At the age of five, his family moved to South Gate, California. Rumors circulating the internet state he left because of "political unrest", Araya denied this claim; "that happened in ‘71 and we were already in the United States by that time."

Araya's older brother played the guitar, leading Araya to pick up the bass at the age of eight. The two played Beatles and Rolling Stones songs, inspiring his musical interest. In the early 1980s, Araya's eldest sister suggested he enroll as a respiratory therapist. Araya's father stated he either find a job or enroll in the course. Araya enrolled in a two year technical course, learning about air mixture ratios, drawing blood, and how to intubate.

In 1981 Araya was approached by Kerry King, who asked Araya to join his band Slayer. Araya accepted, using his earnings as a respiratory therapist to finance the band's 1983 debut album Show No Mercy. Araya requested that the hospital allow him time off for Slayer's first European tour in 1984, Araya was denied; “We need you to come in today.” They’d call me at 5:00 in the morning and wake my ass up, "Someone’s not coming in, we need you to come in to work." After a month of not turning up to work the hospital stated they would fire him; Araya replied "Well, I guess I’m fired."

Slayer was headlining the ill-fated 1991 "Clash of the Titans" tour, with Megadeth, Anthrax and Suicidal Tendencies (with Alice in Chains as openers). Backstage Megadeth guitarist Dave Mustaine proceeded to tell Araya that he "Liked it when Tom was sucking his dick." Araya rebutted by calling him a "homo". The exchange of words resulted in a long running feud between the bands. Araya became friends with Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell, which lead to Araya's guest appearance on the track "Iron Gland", off the 1992 album Dirt. "I just screamed on it. Jerry asked me to come in and scream, “I am Iron Gland!” and that was it."

Araya resides in Buffalo, Texas on a ranch with his wife and two children. He helps his wife Sandra run the farm, including looking after five cows and chickens, and often sings country songs to help keep his "singing chops up". Araya and his wife are fans of scary movie remakes; such as The Amityville Horror and Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The two allow their children to watch the movies, making clear it's just a movie as one will ask “Is this real?” In 2006 Araya underwent gall bladder surgery, which made alterations to The Unholy Alliance tour. Originally set to launch on June 6, the tour was postponed to June 13. Araya was also unable to finish the vocals for a song entitled "Final Six", which was to be included on Slayer's 2006 album Christ Illusion, the song was later released on the CD/DVD version of Christ Illusion. Araya took his children on the tour stating its "kind of cool to expose them at such a young age. My first concert, I was, like, 17."