A Night at the Library

It has been 15 years since SLAYED’s last tour that ended with the band’s messy split. Rumors have been flying about a reunion, and 99.6 WHPL is lucky to present SLAYED’s first show of the reunion tour, live at the Main St. Stage, the band’s hometown venue.

SLAYED was an actual overnight success story – one of the first crowdsourced bands – their fanbase, known as SLAY NATION, funded them to stardom raising over $75,000 to send the band on their first cross-country tour. In return, the band promised to play at least one gig each year on the small stage in their hometown where they started – the Main St. Stage. In addition, they were very available to their top funders (like REALLY available). Knocks often jokes in interviews that the band would have been better off making a pact w/ Satan for fame instead of being indebted to their rabid fanbase – a fanbase that feels emboldened & empowered because they had such a huge part of the band’s rise.

After a string of hits from 1996 through 2007, the band stagnated a bit. They appeared on television shows in masks, acted as judges on talent shows, wasted a ton of money, and eventually quit touring – except for their annual gig in their hometown.

On Oct 18, 2010, the band announced that they were taking a break to pursue other opportunities, but everyone knew that this was really due to Knock’s desire for a solo career. Oct 18 is known as Rubbish Day to SLAY NATION.

Exactly three weeks ago, a message went out to SLAY NATION fans inviting them to the SLAYED Reunion on Oct 18, 2025. “You, our top fans, are invited to an intimate, exclusive, meet and greet with the band followed by a reunion interview and the first performance of our new album VULNERABILITY. Let’s turn Oct 18 into The Best Day of All Time! Doors open at 6:45 PM”

Die-hard fans and critics alike are dying for a chance to attend the exclusive preshow interview hosted by WHPL’s beloved morning show hosts Ronnie and Lee. Rumor has it that those lucky fans in attendance will not only be the first to hear the band’s first new song since the split – they might appear in the song’s video!

SLAYED’s charismatic, multi-talented, gorgeous front man, Jon Knocks. Knocks was Slayed’s lead vocalist, bass player, and celebrated lyricist. He was the consummate front man for the band and the rumored instigator of the band’s messy break-up when he decided to pursue a solo career. Jon’s star rose for a few years, but without his bandmates for inspiration and energy, his career tanked. Jon has a penchant for practical jokes and has earned himself a bad rap by performing cruel pranks on his trusting fans.

One of WHPL’s morning hosts and expert at finding Local News of the Strange to share with her listeners, Ronnie feels that her investigative journalism skills make her the perfect person to solve this crime. After all, this death has it all – it’s strange, it’s local – and she’s on the scene. Ronnie Breeze is not happy that her interview, and of course the historic reunion show, have been ruined by murder. Even worse, her cohost is a suspect; hopefully she is wrong about Lee’s guilt.

Veneno is a well-respected radio DJ and well-loved radio host. He has spent his entire 30-year career with WHPL, much to the surprise of his early fans. In the early days of Lee’s career there was a lot of talk that the big, worldwide satellite radio stations were scouting him, yet he’s committed himself to the significantly less glamorous local radio scene. Lee is not a fan of SLAYED, and especially unimpressed with Jon Knocks. Breeze expected to have a fun, light-hearted interview, but Lee had other plans. 

Blues is the owner of the Main St. Stage, and likes to think of himself as the patron saint of SLAYED, as their longtime benefactor. He can often be heard saying “SLAYED would never be where they are without me and the Main St. Stage.” The agreement that SLAYED could host their annual hometown show at the Main St. Stage was initially a win-win, the drink sales more than covered what Blues was losing in ticket sales. But, as SLAYED’s fame grew, so did the cost of every hometown show. 

Rabina is THE number one SLAYED fan. She was literally there from the beginning: Their first show at the Main St. Stage all those years ago. She was immediately hooked and showed up to every single one of their shows at their home venue. Even when they started touring, she hopped in her car and followed the tour bus around. She started the SLAYED fan club, runs that website and coined the term SLAY Nation. She knows everything about the band. Any books written about them? She owns (and has corrections written in the margins). All their albums? Multiple copies in any format they’ve been released. She was DEVASTATED when the band broke up. SLAYED was her life! What is she without them? 

The special sound that SLAYED is known for is thanks to the musical genius of their lead guitarist and songwriter. However, not being as flamboyant as their frontman, Paula’s light has been eclipsed, and the media and fans put a lot more of the band’s success on Jon. Jon and Paula have had several clashes over creative differences and who “deserves” credit, which finally led to Jon breaking away and breaking-up the band. Paula’s solo career never took off, but she did continue writing music--just for other pop stars and still getting little to no recognition. 

He got his start as the drummer for SLAYED, but after the break-up he explored his penchant for songwriting and vocals. His new band, The Revue Writers, gained quick fame and is still well-loved today, with a new album planned for December. It’s actually amazing that SLAYED convinced Parker to return for the reunion.

The rhythm guitarist for SLAYED, Pix is well-known due to her very public relationship with Jon Knocks. The pair were never really serious, Knocks continued his rendezvous with the band’s groupies, but you wouldn’t know it based on the songs Pix released as a solo artist in the aftermath of their split.