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In-person interview with Gary Holt of Exodus

March 31st 2010, The Palladium, Hollywood CA

Julia: It's the last stop on the tour with Megadeth and Testament today. What are your thoughts about how the tour went overall?
Gary: It was awesome. It sold out virtually every night. I'm a little tired, but it seemed like it flew by. Every night's been killer and everybody's been having a great time. I'm kind of sad to see it end, but at the same time I'm ready to go home for a little bit.

Julia: Is it just as rewarding for you to be in an opening slot on the tour as it is to headline?
Gary: Sure, sure. You know if you headline you have more control with what goes on with the show. But as an opener you kind of set the standard. You go out there and have a really great show, and everyone else always has to step it up. And they've done a really great job on this tour of getting [the whole crowd] in the building before we go on at like 99% of the gigs, so it's been completely full. It's none of that half full opener type audience. It's an event tour anyways, so people want to get in on time, rather than your typical opener where people lollygag around in the parking lot drinking.

Julia: People are getting blasted with "Bonded by Blood" as the first song as opposed to some no-name band's material, which is pretty cool.
Gary: Exactly!

Julia: Exodus has a really great ability to get a crowd going, but inevitably you're going to have a lame crowd here and there. Does it still make you feel uncomfortable or affect your playing when everyone's just standing around?
Gary: Absolutely. Usually that's not an issue for us, because the crowds are pretty violent. But on this tour we've had the occasional gig where it's been more of an older, retro crowd and they all have bad hips. They don't really do anything. But there have only been a couple shows that have been a little frustrating, and for the most part it's been awesome.

Julia: How do you deal with that kind of crowd while you're on stage?
Gary: You just do what you gotta do and hope to get these old guys moving. They've got one last little bit of life in 'em!

Julia: You guys have always had a no frills kind of attitude while on stage. How do you feel about bands trying to cultivate an image for themselves through clothing or stage antics, or anything else besides the actual music?
Gary: I don't know, to each his own. Everyone does their own thing, but at the end of the day it's the music that's the most important, not what you have hanging in your closet. I think people see through it and see the bands that are out there who have actual musical ability. And they can see those who are hiding behind fuckin' bellbottoms.

Julia: You guys just recorded a new record, "Exhibit B: The Human Condition", which you've said is the best from Exodus since "Bonded by Blood." What's special about this album for you?
Gary: It's crushing, it's heavy, it's epic, it's diverse, it's melodic. It's probably the most well-rounded album we've ever done. Everybody just stepped up their game and it's phenomenal.

Julia: What is the overarching theme to the record?
Gary: The human condition of violence, cruelty, arrogance, ignorance, you know the things that are so much a part of the human race. These are things we seem to excel at more than anything else.

Julia: When you started Exodus in 1980, did you ever envision yourself in the position you are now, 30 years later, pioneering one of the best thrash metal bands of all time?
Gary: I didn't even envision myself being alive 30 years later! We were just kids playing the kind of music we wanted to hear, and now I'm just an older kid still playing the kind of music I want to hear.

Julia: Are there any younger thrash metal bands out there right now that you think are doing a good job of keeping thrash alive for the younger generations?
Gary: Sure. Warbringer, Evile, Gamma Bomb, Municipal Waste, Bonded by Blood. There are so many different bands out there right now that are waving the flag of thrash. That's fantastic.

Julia: Would you say there's a thrash revival right now?
Gary: People have been telling me that for years and now is the first time I've ever really seen it. It seems like it's really in vogue again, so it's good for us and it's good for everyone.

Julia: What's on the agenda for you in the next few months and during the summer?
Gary: We're gonna go home from this and rehearse for awhile, then Lee goes to Europe with Heathen for about a month. He'll come back and we'll rehearse some more right up until the album release. Then we're off to do a couple shows I can't comment on yet. And then Europe for a bunch of festivals, followed by some stuff in the States. We're stayin' busy.