Slayer's first public performance occurred at a Battle of the Bands competition at South Gate Park Auditorium in South Gate, California, on October 31, 1981. Admission was just one dollar. Jeff Hanneman recalled the event: "I was nervous as fuck before we went on, but as soon as we started playing, I loved it because I loved showing off. Once I got up there, I was like, 'Yeah! This is great!’”
