SLAYER bassist/vocalist Tom Araya received the key to his birth city ViГ±a del Mar, Chile on Friday, June 3rd from Mayor Virginia Reginato for Musical Career Recognition.

This is the first official recognition of Chile to Tom Araya, who left Chile at five years of age with his family for the US.

When asked about the honour at a Q&A session the night before in Santiago, Chile (with drummer Dave Lombardo) Araya commented: "I think it's awesome. I'm kind of speechless, I don't what to say. They're probably gonna change the locks when they give me the key. (Laughs) It's an honor. It leaves me speechless. I don't have a reply. I'm more speechless than anything. It's not something I expected. It's cool. That's never happened before. You see other people receive rewards like that, but usually it's people of political status or someone that's really done something for the community or done something important. I'm excited. I don't know what to expect. All I can say is: thank you. That's about it."