GARY HOLT Looks Back On EXODUS’s ‘Self-Destructive Behavior’ During 1990s: ‘It F**king Sucked’
In a new interview with the "Talk Toomey" podcast, EXODUS guitarist Gary Holtwas asked if he thinks the band's lineup changes in the early years were largely responsible for EXODUS not achieving the same kind of success as some of their contemporaries. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "From the moment [we released] 'Bonded By Blood', then [after that] we [got] a new singer. And other than a bass player change, we were solid for several years. Yeah, it doesn't help. But nowadays when I look at it, it's not that big of a deal. Shit happens. I know other bands — there's bands out there… I think NAPALM DEATH doesn't have a single original member in it. And NAPALM DEATH are legends, so fuck it. Who cares? But we've been rocking for years, and we're doing better than ever, so I've got no complaints. The only complaint I've got is some of our self-destructive behavior in the past might have inhibited us a little bit."
Asked what he would say that self-destructive behavior was, Gary said: "Oh, God. Meth. [Laughs] When four-fifths of your band — Jack [Gibson, bass] being the only guy who wasn't — was spun out of their minds, it kind of tends to put up some road blocks to success. [Laughs] I laugh about it now. Any former tweaker will tell you this: There are some fun moments, some fun shit that happens when you're sleep-deprived. But I'm so glad [that it's behind me]. I never [wanna] go back there."
According to Gary, drugs weren't "a big problem" for EXODUS back in the 1980s. "We partied. Back in the early days, we'd get a little bag of meth and the whole band would function on it all night. It was in the '90s when we reunited with [singer Paul] Baloff, and that's when we got really fucking spun and started smoking meth," he explained. "And shit got bad then. It fucking sucked. But I laid that cross to bear on the ground a long time ago — 2002. Hell, I'm 90 days sober today. [Laughs] I'm no fun at all anymore — no more meth, no more alcohol. I do smoke a little bit of weed nowadays though. It's much better. It's only an occasional thing for me, though. My wife's a full-on stoner, and occasionally I'll join her, like, 'Hand me that.'"
EXODUS will release its new album, "Persona Non Grata", on November 19 via Nuclear Blast Records. The LP was recorded at a studio in Lake Almanor, California and was engineered by Steve Lagudi and EXODUS. It was produced by EXODUS and was mixed by Andy Sneap. For the third time in the band's history, they returned to Swedish artist Pär Olofsson to create the album artwork.
"Persona Non Grata" is the follow-up to 2014's "Blood In Blood Out", which was the San Francisco Bay Area thrashers' first release since the departure of the group's lead singer of nine years, Rob Dukes, and the return of Steve "Zetro" Souza, who previously fronted EXODUS from 1986 to 1993 and from 2002 to 2004.
Related Articles
-
Billy McFarland Claims Fyre Festival II Is “Finally Happening” [Updated]
news
The disastrous 2017 island event's co-founder fielded applicants via Twitter. Billy McFarland Claims Fyre Festival II Is “Finally Happening” Bryan...
-
-
Hippies in bloomers, army bell tents and Stackridge – the story of the first ever Glastonbury Festival, by those who were there
news
This article was originally published in 2019 Glastonbury Festival is one of the best-known and most-loved musical events in...
-
Gwar Get Animated For ‘Berserker Mode’ Visualizer
news
Gwar have shared a visualizer video for their new single "Berserker Mode".
-
The Sinner Rides Again
news, Rock News
One of the greatest surprises of recent years, 2021's "Sermons Of The Sinner", was such a strong debut that...
-
-
Tirzah Shares New Album trip9love…???: Stream
news
The follow-up to 2021’s Colourgrade will be supported by tour dates in the UK, Europe, and North America. Tirzah Shares New...
-
Shakira has been attacked and robbed by wild boars in a Barcelona park
news
"They were taking my bag to the woods with my mobile phone in it. They’ve destroyed everything" The post Shakira...
0 Comments
Recent Posts
- Australia’s hardcore dynamos Speed have one plan: “Just go hard as hell”
- Watch: KELLY CLARKSON Covers METALLICA’s ‘Sad But True’
- What Your Favorite Musicians and Other Celebrities Wore to 2024 Met Gala
- ALEX LIFESON And GEDDY LEE Have Been Playing RUSH Songs Again: ‘We Sound Like A Really Bad Tribute Band’
- RICKEY MEDLOCKE Opens Up About Lifelong Battle With Pulmonary Fibrosis: ‘Doctors Said I Wouldn’t Live To See 14 Years Of Age’