The Final World Tour for GRAMMY-winning metal icons Slayer has been extended with 16 new dates in May 2019 across North America. "We want to assure our fans that we'll be on the road through 2019," guitarist Kerry King said previously, "and will get to as many places around the world as possible to make it easier for everyone to come and see us one last time."

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King's remarks were in response to dramatic anecdotes of fans' extreme-travel experiences, to see the band on their farewell tour.

The tour encountered another challenge when Slayer guitarist Gary Holt was pulled off tour by news of his father's failing health. Their GRAMMY-nominated new recruit is Phil Demmel, formerly of Machine Head.

"I wrapped up the Machine Head tour," he said. "I quit Machine Head, did our last show, and the next day I got a text from Kerry King saying, 'Do you think you can learn 19 Slayer songs and be out here in two days?'"

The response from Demmel, his wife and concert audiences has been an enthusiastic "yes," but Demmel warns that it's nothing to smile about. Because "there's no smiling in Slayer," he said. "You can't smile onstage."

The thrash metal legends' GRAMMY wins were both in the Best Metal Performance category at the 49th and 50th GRAMMY Awards, for "Eyes Of The Insane" and "Final Six" respectively.

Tickets are available at the Slayer website. The added dates begin on May 2 in Phoenix, Ariz., and wrap on May 25 in Mansfield, Mass.

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