Gary Holt of Exodus confirmed no contact with Kerry King post Slayer’s final concert in a recent interview with Full Metal Jackie’s syndicated radio show.
Holt initially revealed that he hasn’t listened to any music from King’s new band, saying:
“First, I’ll say I’ve heard none of it. Not a note. I’ve heard it’s really, really, really good. So, I can’t wait to hear it.”
The guitarist continued, sharing his experiences working with King in Slayer:
“Kerry, the time I spent playing with him was remarkable. He’s just one of the world’s most crushing rhythm guitar players. People don’t realize how punishing he is with his right-hand picking technique. And just playing with him, it was a joy; it was awesome. So I can’t wait to see it.”
Life After Slayer’s Last Show
Later in the conversation, Gary disclosed:
“I haven’t seen a single Slayer member since the last show. It’s kind of crazy. We all scattered and haven’t seen anybody. We text, but I haven’t laid eyes since bro hugs and ‘I’m out.'”
He also talked about his time with Slayer, adding:
“The farewell tour was really incredible. I really tried not to think about the finality of it all until it got to that last show.”
Memories Of Slayer’s Farewell Tour
Not long ago, Holt also shared a post on Instagram to reflect on his last concert with Slayer. He shared how it felt with the following words:
“Four years ago today…. The final show. Such a moment, one I’ll never forget. I always post this photo because it’s the final band shot ever taken, on our way to the stage, and we look nervous as f*ck. Because we were. We look like we are headed to our own funerals. It never hit me until this day, the end drawing closer. What a ride it was.”
Kerry King’s Post-Slayer Ventures
King planned to launch his new band in 2020, but the pandemic delayed it. Over the past three years, he has often hinted that the band will resemble Slayer and assured it will be great. In the summer of 2022, he announced that former Slayer drummer Paul Bostaph was part of the group. Speaking to Metal Hammer in 2022, the musician revealed the details of his music with his new band, explaining:
“Well, you know me, so you know what it’s going to sound like. I don’t need to elaborate on that any further. I remember I was playing this new song for a buddy […], and he said to me, ‘That sounds like you could have pulled it off of any Slayer record!’ And, like, yeah, sure. Me and Jeff [Hanneman] wrote all of that stuff, so what else am I supposed to write?”
Holt, on the other hand, also started writing songs for Exodus’ upcoming album, a sequel to ‘Persona Non Grata’ released in November 2021. In June, he posted a photo on Instagram of his guitar setup at home, sharing that he’s working hard on the new album’s opening track.
