Exodus guitarist Gary Holt has revealed his unusual approach to consuming his own creative work. He shared insights about his new autobiography in an interview with MusicRadar.
The guitarist explained his reasoning behind not reading his own memoir “A Fabulous Disaster: From the Garage to Madison Square Garden, The Hard Way.” He drew parallels to his relationship with Exodus albums.
“I have not read the book myself,” Holt said. “To me, it’s like albums. I don’t listen to my own albums once they’re mixed, because I’ve heard it a thousand times. I lived this thing.”
The candid admission offers insight into how the veteran musician approaches his creative output after decades in the metal scene.
Holt’s perspective reflects his extensive experience as a foundational figure in thrash metal history. Mabumbe reported that Holt joined Exodus in 1981. He took over primary songwriting duties after Kirk Hammett left in 1983 to join Metallica. His guitar work became the driving force behind the band’s aggressive sound that would define their career.
The guitarist’s creative contributions helped establish Exodus as thrash metal pioneers. CBS San Francisco noted that Exodus’s debut album “Bonded by Blood” (1985) is widely regarded as a thrash metal cornerstone. Holt’s aggressive guitar work propelled the album and influenced countless metal bands.
Holt’s career took an unexpected turn when he joined Slayer following Jeff Hanneman’s death. Guitar World revealed that while honored to join Slayer, Holt felt torn during his nearly nine years with the band. He sometimes missed Exodus shows due to tour conflicts.
Despite the prestige of playing with Slayer, Holt’s heart remained with his original band. He viewed his Slayer tenure as temporary and eagerly returned full-time to Exodus after the Slayer tours ended. This underscored his enduring commitment to the band he helped build from the ground up.
