Tom Araya of Slayer

Slayer vocalist and bassist Tom Araya gives ARTISTdirect.com an exclusive look at what he’s spinning…

A Taste:

Elvis

“I’ve been listening to Elvis,” laughs Slayer vocalist and bassist Tom Araya.

It’s no surprise that the mouthpiece for the kings of thrash metal cops to being a fan of the king of rock n’ roll. They’re both music royalty in their own right! What better way to unwind during the Mayhem Tour than a little Elvis?

There’s always music playing in the Araya home too. Tom explains, “My kids listen to new music all the time. They’re hip to MTV, VH1 and all that crazy stuff. They go through phases though. My daughter liked The Jonas Brothers, but I don’t think she does anymore. They liked My Chemical Romance at one time and Fall Out Boy at another time. They like one or two songs from each and that’s about it.”

He continues, “It’s sad because I always ask them, ‘Aren’t the other songs on these records any good? You should listen to the record as opposed to just one or two songs.’ They honestly admit that the other songs aren’t great. I tell them, ‘If you really enjoy music, you should enjoy the entire record instead of listening to one song and discarding the rest.’ That’s the joy of iTunes though, right? You haven’t wasted fourteen dollars; you’ve only burnt two. It’s a whole new world from trading tapes to iTunes [Laughs].”

Check out Tom’s playlist below and be sure to pick up Slayer’s next epic, World Painted Blood when it drops this fall.

Tom Araya’s Playlist:

1. Elvis — “Suspicious Minds”
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Quentin Tarantino

Quentin Tarantino gives ARTISTdirect.com editor Rick Florino an exclusive look at what’s on his playlist while kicking it at Amoeba Music in Hollywood…

A Taste:

Cat Stevens, Elvis, Nas

“I’m moving around a lot musically,” laughs Quentin Tarantino as he shuffles through Amoeba Music—Hollywood’s most famous record store.

Tarantino shifts and bends genres better than anyone—not just on screen either. His soundtracks perfectly bridge the gap between artists and styles that may seem a mile apart. For his chop-em-up action epic Kill Bill, he enlisted RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan for original compositions, while Pulp Fiction paired Dick Dale and Ricky Nelson on the same CD. Tarantino has created some seemingly strange but utterly memorable cinematic musical moments, and Inglourious Basterds is no exception at all.

Deploying David Bowie’s “Cat People (Putting Out the Fire)” on the soundtrack for his WWII masterpiece Basterds is the perfect example of Tarantino’s talent for always giving viewers and listeners something delightfully surprising and ultimately unforgettable.

So what does he listen to?

Of course, Tarantino’s playlist is enigmatic to say the least.

While walking around Amoeba, Tarantino shared his current playlist with ARTISTdirect.com for this exclusive feature. Check it out below, pick up the Inglourious Basterds soundtrack now and catch the film in theaters Friday August 21st!

Quentin Tarantino’s Playlist:

1. Cat Stevens — Harold and Maude

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