# Kerry King's Pinball Journey **Source:** Stern Pinball **Type:** video **Published:** 2025-11-10 **Duration:** 2m 5s **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcf_xwLDmCQ --- ## Analysis Kerry King, guitarist from Slayer, discusses his pinball journey from playing Pinbot in his teens to owning a modern collection in New York City. He highlights his close relationship with Stern Pinball, his appreciation for music-themed games featuring bands like Metallica and AC/DC, and expresses interest in a hypothetical Slayer pinball machine. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Kerry King's oldest pinball machine is South Park, approximately 25 years old — _Direct statement about collection age_ - [HIGH] Kerry King has known the main Stern Pinball contact for approximately 20 years through a friend named Gerardo at Raining Phoenix Music — _Personal relationship history disclosed_ - [MEDIUM] Stern Pinball doesn't typically endorse people, but Kerry King considers himself unusually close with the Stern team — _Opinion about Stern's endorsement practices and his unique position_ - [MEDIUM] Kerry King attributes his pinball skill partly to being a guitar player, as both require simultaneous independent hand coordination — _Personal observation linking musical skill to pinball ability_ - [HIGH] Kerry King owns and plays Family Guy, AC/DC, Metallica, Iron Maiden, and Aerosmith pinball machines — _Specific collection items mentioned_ ### Notable Quotes > "Stern Pinball isn't somebody that like endorses people, but I'm as close with those guys as I think a musician can be." > — **Kerry King** > _Indicates unusual relationship between Stern and King; highlights Stern's selective endorsement approach_ > "I think it probably helps that I'm a guitar player because I'm used to using both my hands at the same time to do different things." > — **Kerry King** > _Reveals King's perspective on crossover skills between music and pinball_ > "The music ones are special to me cuz I'm a fan of AC/DC. I'm a fan of Metallica... you can actually rock out to songs that you'd just be playing without a pinball game." > — **Kerry King** > _Explains appeal of music-themed pinball machines to a musician collector_ > "like a Slayer pinball game with pentagrams and very anti-religious things going on. And I know I don't expect it, but it's just fun to see." > — **Kerry King** > _Expresses interest in hypothetical Slayer pinball machine; reveals personal brand aesthetic he'd expect_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Kerry King | person | Guitarist from Slayer, pinball collector and enthusiast, speaks about personal collection and Stern relationship | | Stern Pinball | company | Major pinball manufacturer; subject of Kerry King's relationship and source of games in his collection | | Gerardo | person | Friend of Kerry King at Raining Phoenix Music, connection to main Stern contact | | Raining Phoenix Music | company | Music-related company where Gerardo works; connection point for Kerry King to Stern | | Pinbot | game | Original game Kerry King played in his teens at miniature golf places | | South Park | game | Oldest machine in Kerry King's collection, approximately 25 years old | | Family Guy | game | Pinball machine owned by Kerry King that he and his wife enjoy playing | | AC/DC | game | Music-themed pinball machine owned by Kerry King; artist is a fan of the band | | Metallica | game | Music-themed pinball machine owned by Kerry King (remake version); artist expresses preference for remake | | Iron Maiden | game | Music-themed pinball machine owned and played by Kerry King | | Aerosmith | game | Music-themed pinball machine played by Kerry King | | Slayer | person|organization | Band Kerry King plays in; subject of his interest in a hypothetical pinball machine | ### Topics - **Primary:** Celebrity collector perspectives on pinball, Music-themed pinball games and their appeal, Stern Pinball relationships and endorsements - **Secondary:** Skill transfer between music and pinball, Personal pinball collection composition, Hypothetical Slayer pinball machine concept ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.85) — Kerry King expresses enthusiasm and fondness for pinball, Stern, and his collection. He speaks positively about the music-themed games and his relationship with Stern. The tone is casual, appreciative, and nostalgic. ### Signals - **[community_signal]** Stern Pinball content featuring prominent musician Kerry King discussing personal collection and brand relationship suggests celebrity/influencer marketing outreach (confidence: high) — Official Stern Pinball video featuring Kerry King interview - **[design_philosophy]** Music-themed pinball machines (Metallica, AC/DC, Aerosmith, Iron Maiden) highlighted as attractive to musicians and fans; appeal lies in gameplay synchronized with band music selection (confidence: high) — Kerry King emphasizes music-themed games as special and fun due to ability to play with favorite songs - **[announcement]** Implicit confirmation that Stern has Metallica remake in production/available; Kerry King played it and expressed preference over original (confidence: high) — Kerry King states: 'Played the remake of the Metallica. I like those better' --- ## Transcript I'm sure was in my teens when you used to go to little miniature golf places, they had pinballs and like that. And the game that we were really into back then was the original Pinbot. But, you know, we played all of them. Well, the Stern guys, I probably got close with them because my friend Gerardo at Raining Phoenix Music was friends with one of the main guys at Stern, you know, now it's just like I've known this guy 20 years. And Stern Pinball isn't somebody that like endorses people, but I'm as close with those guys as I think a musician can be. I think it probably helps that I'm a guitar player because I'm used to using both my hands at the same time to do different things. Being able to isolate ball coming this way, hit it with his hands. It's their own individual operation system to help me crush the out of that game. Our pinball collection is small cuz I live in New York City now. Mine are all more modern. I think my oldest one is South Park and that's probably 25 years old. They're games that me and my wife are into. Like we enjoy playing Family Guy. You know, we we like the show. The music ones are special to me cuz I'm a fan of AC/DC. I'm a fan of Metallica. The ones with the bands that you can pick your own music to play your game. I think that's pretty cool. It's like I mentioned AC/DC or Metallica. Iron Maiden. I played the Aerosmith one. Same thing. Super fun. Played the remake of the Metallica. I like those better because you can actually rock out to songs that you'd just be playing without a pinball game. like a Slayer pinball game with pentagrams and very anti-religious things going on. And I know I don't expect it, but it's just fun to see. _(Acquisition: youtube_auto_sub, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 6cb3d3fb-4533-4ba4-911c-1b5ba24489a5*