EXODUS has canceled its previously announced summer 2023 European tour so that the guitarist Gary Holt can “take care of his family” after his brother was recently hospitalized in Italy.
Charles Holt was on a solo holiday in Rome when he suffered a broken femur after being hit by a taxi from behind. Shortly after, Gary launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to help the family deal with the financial hardship of getting Charles back home.
Earlier today, EXODUS leader Steve “Zetro” Souza released the following statement via social media: “To all our friends and fans in Europe… With very very heavy hearts, our next European race which starts next week unfortunately will have to be cancelled.
“As many of you already know, last week our brother Gary Holt had an unfortunate incident that happened to his brother in Italy, which resulted with Gary and his wife having to fly out of the blue to take care of the situation. As some of you may or may not have read, the situation has taken its toll on our beloved brother.
“We are a family-oriented group, and family will always come first with EXODUS. We hope you all understand the circumstances, at this time, Gary has to take care of his family. That’s not what we wanted, because we were all looking forward to coming and playing for all of you huge European fans who have supported this band for the past 40 years. Don’t worry Europe, EXODUS Will be back! Thank you all for your understanding, we love and appreciate each and every one of you.”
Garywho flew to Rome to be with his brother, added: “Even though it hurts, we have canceled our European tour. My sanity is in tatters as I work to get the only other living Holt relative house. Hoping to fly tomorrow, approved for United but the connection will be at the discretion of the partner airlines. I just really need a reset and get back on my feet.
“I’m sorry, I played with broken ribs and everything. But I have to put my brother and myself first. Thank you. It’s time to channel this into music”.
Holt joined EXODUS in 1981, shortly after the band’s formation, and has been the band’s primary songwriter ever since. Holt played on each EXODUS album, and is considered very influential in the world of thrash metal.
Holt began to fill for KILLER guitarist jeff hanneman during concerts in 2011, and became the group’s full-time co-guitarist from 2013, while remaining a member of EXODUS. Holt played on KILLERthe last album of, “Unrepentant”released in 2015.
EXODUSthe last album of, “Persona non grata”was released in November 2021 via Nuclear Explosion 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 Snape. For the third time in the history of the group, they return to the Swedish artist By Olofsson to create the album cover.
“Persona non grata” was the sequel to 2014 “Blood in Blood”which was the San Francisco Bay Area thrashers’ first release since the lead singer left the band for nine years, Rob Dukesand the return of Steve “Zetro” Souzawho previously led EXODUS from 1986 to 1993 and from 2002 to 2004.
Two months ago, Hachette Books announced that it had acquired Garyfuture memoirs. “A Fabulous Disaster: From the Garage to Madison Square Garden, the Hard Way” is described in a press release as “a boundless memoir of the preeminent thrasher’s life in metal, from his humble (but not quiet) beginnings in the San Francisco Bay Area to his current resurgence in popularity. world, while he lived big, played fast and crushed hard, written in collaboration with Adem Tepedelen.”