Exodus guitarist Gary Holt recently discussed his decade-long role as Slayer’s replacement for late guitarist Jeff Hanneman and revealed the band’s upcoming live performance plans in an interview with Kerrang.
Holt addressed his unique position in metal history when asked about deputizing for Hanneman in the 21st century and whether it was a role he was destined for.
“Only Jeff was born to it. If I was born to anything it was to keep his seat warm until he could return, which unfortunately never happened,” Holt said. “My time in Slayer was awesome. Of course, I got to see a little bit how the other half live, and they treated me like family from the jump, which they still do.”
The guitarist explained his specific role within the legendary thrash metal band. He also described how the temporary arrangement evolved into something much longer.
“I had one job in that band which was just to go out and shred. I get to play the ‘guitar hero’ role because there’s a lot of solos in Slayer – a lot – especially on Jeff’s side of things,” he continued. “Back when it started, I thought it would only be a couple of tours, but it turned out to be almost 10 full years and now it’s the occasional show.”
Holt confirmed upcoming performances while maintaining uncertainty about long-term plans regarding Slayer’s future live activities.
“In fact, we have two coming up this year. But we’ll see how it goes. I think it’s a year-to-year thing,” he said. “Coming back, I think the two most important things were: A) Are we going to be good? and B) Are we going to enjoy it? And we were killer. We had fun, too. Everybody was there for the right reasons.”
Holt’s journey with Slayer began under tragic circumstances. It evolved into one of metal’s most significant lineup changes in recent history.
Last.fm reported that Holt initially joined Slayer as a touring member in 2011 before becoming a permanent co-guitarist in 2013, following Jeff Hanneman’s death. The transition marked a pivotal moment for both Holt and the legendary thrash metal band, as he stepped into the shoes of one of metal’s most influential guitarists.
The reunion shows that began in fall 2024 brought together the classic lineup of bassist/vocalist Tom Araya, guitarists Kerry King and Gary Holt, and drummer Paul Bostaph. However, Vice noted that even Holt himself was surprised by Slayer’s reunion announcement, admitting he was “absolutely” not expecting the band to play together again after their retirement in 2019.
Despite the successful reunion performances, Holt has made his priorities clear regarding his musical future. Guitar World revealed that Holt has stated he is “not ready to put Exodus on hold anymore.” He also confirmed that there will be no full tours or new albums from Slayer going forward. This decision reflects his commitment to his original band, where he has experienced both the highs and lows of the metal scene.
The contrast between his experiences with both bands has been stark. After Slayer’s farewell tour ended in 2020, Holt returned to touring with Exodus in smaller, more modest venues—a significant change from Slayer’s more luxurious touring setup. Yet he has embraced this return to his first band’s grassroots experience, demonstrating his dedication to the music rather than the lifestyle that comes with it.
