Gary Holt news and features

“Playing scales up and down is dumb… this isn’t a f**king recital!” We meet the outspoken cartoon shredder who teamed up with Gary Holt, Alex Skolnick and George Lynch for one of this year’s biggest shred guitar albums

By Amit Sharma published 25 October 23

Led by a guitarist who claims to be the Bay Area lovechild of James Hetfield, The Shredderz just put out an all-star thrash metal album like no other. We get the lowdown on how a fictional band recruited some of today’s finest soloists for an orgy of sweep picking and searing shred

NAMM 2023: ESP meets fan demand with James Hetfield Olympic White Vulture and debuts 12 LTD signature guitars, including Gary Holt’s “very pointy” GH-SV

By Matt Parker published 13 April 23

Bill Kelliher, Stephen Carpenter, Nergal, Lars Frederiksen and Javier Reyes all have at least one new guitar on the way from the LTD stable

[L-R] Zakk Wylde, Scott Ian and Gary Holt

Zakk Wylde, Scott Ian and Gary Holt on the furious riffs, high-octane gear and lifer philosophies that shaped their careers – and why everyone cheats with downpicking

By Amit Sharma published 2 February 23

Midway through their Anthrax and Black Label Society co-headlining tour with special guests Exodus, the metal legends share how they developed their distinctive tones and techniques, and why Tony Iommi is the “Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Lennon, McCartney and Burt Bacharach of riffs”

Gary Holt: “I had one job in Slayer and one job only. Go out, play killer, bang your head and play a little bit of a guitar hero role. I wear a lot more hats in Exodus”

By Jon Wiederhorn published 12 August 22

Gary Holt on life after Slayer, making a triumphant return with Exodus on the ferocious Persona Non Grata, and why you'll reap the rewards if you record song ideas as you go

Gary Holt: “Making this album, we were under no time constraints. It was a perfect breeding ground for creativity”

By Greg Prato published 5 November 21

Holt talks why if there was a “Big Five” of thrash metal, the final spot would belong to Exodus, and the making of the band's 11th album, Persona Non Grata, during the pandemic

My Chemical Romance’s Frank Iero gave Gary Holt a signed Ampeg Dan Armstrong electric guitar

By Richard Bienstock published 27 January 21

The Exodus/Slayer guitarist has called My Chem’s The Black Parade album “a masterpiece”

Is Gary Holt’s medieval woodcut ESP the most satanic guitar ever?

By Richard Bienstock published 28 February 20

Collaboration with Hutchinson Guitar Concepts features a Baphomet, 666 inlay and a “levitating cat”

KHDK Electronics Unveils Gary Holt Paranormal Parametric EQ Overdrive

By Richard Bienstock published 5 March 19

Limited-edition pedal is a staple of the Slayer and Exodus guitarist’s live rigs.

Watch Former Machine Head Guitarist Phil Demmel Play "Raining Blood" and More in First Show with Slayer

By Richard Bienstock published 4 December 18

Demmel is filling in for Holt on the band’s European run of dates.

Listen to Slayer and Exodus Guitarist Gary Holt Play His Favorite Riffs

By Richard Bienstock published 5 September 18

Holt also discusses his guitar heroes and the first song he learned on the instrument.

Slayer Announce European Leg of Farewell Tour

By Guitar World Staff published 11 May 18

Slayer Announce 'Repentless' Collector's Vinyl Box Set

By Guitar World Staff published 29 March 18

Watch Slayer Discuss Their Formation in New Mini-Doc

By Guitar World Staff published 23 February 18

Kerry King Talks New Slayer Album and Adjusting to Life Without Jeff Hanneman

By Dan Epstein published 3 June 15

NAMM 2015: ESP Guitars Unveils New ESP/LTD Signature Models

By Guitar World Staff published 2 January 15

Exodus Discuss Making of New Album, 'Blood In, Blood Out,' Part 1: Guitarist Gary Holt — Exclusive Video

By Damian Fanelli published 11 September 14

Interview: Exodus Guitarist Gary Holt Talks Gear and Touring with Slayer

By Andrew Bansal published 17 March 14

Exodus Nearly Replace Megadeth at Big Four Show at Yankee Stadium

By Josh Hart published 22 September 11

Exodus Guitar Gary Holt: Joining Slayer was "All About Reconnecting with Kirk"

By Josh Hart published 23 August 11

Interview: Exodus Guitarist Gary Holt

By Josh Hart published 14 August 11