Gary Holt

Gary Holt is known for his influential contributions to thrash metal as a guitarist and primary songwriter for Exodus and a permanent member of Slayer. After joining iconic thrash metal band Exodus in 1981, Gary Holt quickly established himself as a pivotal force, serving as the band’s main songwriter and becoming the only member to appear on every Exodus album. This foundational period yielded groundbreaking albums such as Bonded by Blood (1985), Pleasures of the Flesh (1987), and Fabulous Disaster (1989), solidifying Exodus’s status as thrash metal pioneers. Holt’s distinct guitar playing has garnered widespread critical acclaim, with Loudwire describing him as ‘arguably the best pure thrash guitarist in the genre.’ Holt’s prolific output with Exodus continued through the 1990s and 2000s, delivering influential albums like Impact Is Imminent (1990), Force of Habit (1992), and later Tempo of the Damned (2004) and The Atrocity Exhibition…

His ongoing dedication to Exodus led to the release of their critically praised album Persona Non Grata in 2021. Looking ahead, Holt is set to publish his memoir, A Fabulous Disaster, co-written with Adem Tepedelen and featuring a foreword by Kirk Hammett, through Hachette Book Group’s Da Capo Press in April 2025. He is also a long-standing endorser of ESP Guitars.