Tom Araya recieves the key to his hometown, Vina Del Mar

Tom Araya, vocalist/bassist for Slayer, was presented with the Key to the City in his birthplace of Vina del Mar, Chile, on Friday, June 3 by the city's Mayor Virginia Reginato. As part of the band's current South American tour, Slayer headlined a show in Santiago on June 2, about an hour's drive from Araya's hometown. Araya and his family lived in Chile until he was about five years old, at which time they immigrated to the United States.

About the honor, Araya said, "I think it's awesome. I'm kind of speechless, I don't know what to say. They're probably going to change the locks when they give me the key (laughs). It's an honor, I think it's great. I'm more speechless than anything, it's not something I expected. That's never happened before. You see other people receive awards like this, but it's usually people of political status or someone who'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."