Exodus guitarist Gary Holt shared his musical heroes and dream collaborations in a recent interview with Loudwire.
In response to a question about artists he would like to meet or perform with, Holt discussed several legendary musicians, including AC/DC’s Young brothers and Rainbow’s Ritchie Blackmore.
“There’s a million. Unfortunately he’s no longer with us, but the Young brothers. Angus is still here. I’d love to meet Angus someday. Malcolm is not. So that’s off the table,” Holt said.
Holt then addressed the potential risks of meeting one’s musical idols, focusing on his admiration for Ritchie Blackmore.
“Sometimes you don’t want to meet your heroes. My favorite guitar player of all time, Ritchie Blackmore, his reputation precedes him,” he explained. “Maybe if I met him, I might not feel so hot, I think so highly of him. What if he’s in a bad mood, I don’t know. I’ll just go about my life and listen to Rainbow Rising over and over and Gates of Babylon and everything else and the debut and all the Deep Purple stuff and just be happy with that.”
Holt concluded by expressing his desire to meet Ted Nugent. “I’d love to meet Ted Nugent. The guy made me want to play guitar,” he revealed.
These reflections on his musical influences emerge at a significant point in his career. Holt continues to make his mark in the metal scene while sharing his experiences with fans.
Based on information from Floyd Rose, Holt has served as a cornerstone member of Exodus since 1981. He has contributed as the main songwriter and appeared on all thirteen of the band’s albums.
His influence extends beyond Exodus. As documented by Metal Storm, Holt completed a notable stint with Slayer from 2011 to 2019. This experience further established his status as a respected figure in the thrash metal community.
The veteran guitarist recently documented his journey in a memoir. CBS News reported on the book, titled “A Fabulous Disaster: From the Garage to Madison Square Garden, the Hard Way.” The memoir chronicles his path from the early days of the Bay Area thrash scene to his current position as a metal legend.
This detailed account of his career provides valuable context for his current reflections on musical influences and the artists who shaped his journey in the industry.
