Exodus have split with Steve ‘Zetro’ Souza and welcomed back their former singer Rob Dukes.
“Announcement! EXODUS have parted ways with Steve ‘Zetro’ Souza,” the band wrote on Facebook. “We thank Steve for his years fronting the band and all the killer music we made during that time. We wish him only the best in the future and much success with anything he does.”
They continued, “And please help us welcome Rob Dukes back to EXODUS! We are beyond stoked to have Rob back ripping up the stage with us and he’s looking forward to crushing everything like only he can.”
“Next chapter begins, new record rolls along as planned and the beatings will continue. See you soon, EXODUS,” the group concluded their message.
Dukes joined Exodus in 2005 and was part of four albums: 2005’s ‘Shovel Headed Kill Machine,’ 2007’s ‘The Atrocity Exhibition… Exhibit A,’ 2008’s ‘Let There Be Blood,’ and 2010’s ‘Exhibit B: The Human Condition.’
In June 2014, Exodus announced Dukes’ departure and the return of Souza, who had been their singer from 1986 to 1993 and 2002 to 2004.
Dukes talked about his relationship with Exodus in a June 2022 interview with Scott Penfold on the Loaded Radio podcast. He said, “When Exodus fired me, it took me about a year to not be angry about it. It was unexpected — I didn’t see it coming — and it was a hard time in life.”
“I’d just moved; I’d just gotten married. It was a heavy burden. And it took me a while. And about a year later, after Gary [Holt, Exodus guitarist] called me and we spoke, they flew me up to San Francisco and I sat down with them,” the rocker explained.
He went on to say, “And we laid it out on the table. And it made it better — just to clear the wreckage of that. And I moved on with my life, and they moved on with their life. I did one show with them — I did a few songs up in San Francisco — and then I just started living my life.”
Three years after being fired, Dukes joined Exodus on stage in July 2017 at a show in San Francisco. He sang several songs during the band’s second night at The Chapel, their first headlining Bay Area club shows since 2013.
