Holt ready to write for Slayer

Exodus guitarist Gary Holt says he’s ready to write material from Slayer whenever Kerry King wants him to.

Holt has been pulling double duties since the late Jeff Hanneman was sidelined by illness in 2011. And although he’s recorded some solos for Slayer’s 11th album – out this year – he didn’t contribute any songs.

King said in 2013 that asking him to write would be like “throwing somebody to the wolves.”

Now Holt tells Fuse: “Kerry wrote the whole album. I just play guitar. In the future, if we get to another album and Kerry asks me to contribute, I’ve got no shortage of riffs.”

He describes life on the road with Slayer as “easy,” adding: “In Exodus I do most of the heavy lifting. In Slayer, I just show up, have a couple of drinks, play the set then relax.

“It’s refreshing not to do all the other stuff – I don’t have to do the press and all that. I show up, go straight into my dressing room, play the show, get off and relax.”

And the only real problem he has is finding the time to play with Slayer, run Exodus and fulfil his family role.

“It’s hard,” he admits. “There are times when Exodus has to get someone to fill in for me. I can’t do it 12 months straight. I have a wife and children at home.

“I have to try and balance the three, family and two bands. It can be problematic – but there are worse problems to have.”

Slayer frontman Tom Araya last week admitted he still found it “odd and strange” to be working without Hanneman, who died in 2013. Exodus launched 10th album Blood In, Blood Out in October and Holt last month described the two bands’ approaches to recording as “night and day.”

Freelance Online News Contributor

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.