THE BEAST

In a surprising revelation, Slayer and Exodus guitarist Gary Holt has expressed his admiration for pop music, naming Taylor Swift as one of his favorite artists. During a recent appearance on the "Scandalous Podcast," Holt opened up about his eclectic musical tastes, much to the astonishment of many metal fans.

"I love Taylor Swift," Holt said, as transcribed by Ultimate Guitar. "Why all the hate? She’s an extraordinarily hard worker. She’s super fking nice to everybody, and people hate her. She’s just the biggest pop star on Earth, and more power to her. I like the songs. I love pop. I listen to pop mostly in the car, you know, I don’t listen to metal [while driving]. I just recently started exploring my Sirius subscription [laughs]. Okay, you know, there’s some heavy st on here, but I’d rather listen to George Michael myself.”

Holt praised Swift's independent songwriting, contrasting her with other pop icons like Beyoncé. "Beyoncé will put out a song and there’s 30 f**king people on it. How can 30 people write a song, all gathered together? It’s like, you’re not a song, right? Beyoncé… some of these other people require massive teams. It’s just like a factory of songwriting," Holt explained. "Who even knows who did what anymore, when there are like 20 names on it… I don’t know, but yeah, I got no hate for Taylor."

Holt also commended Swift's generosity, referencing her well-publicized $100,000 tip to her truck drivers. "She’s a good person on top of anything else, not that I know her, but hey, she tipped off the truck drivers 100 grand… Beyoncé, what are you tipping your drivers? Probably nothing. I don’t know. Maybe she’s super generous. I think Beyonce is the most overrated talent on Earth. I think she’s marginally talented."

Holt's appreciation for pop music extends beyond Swift. He admitted, "I’m not a Swiftie, but when ‘Trouble’ comes on the radio, I don’t change it. It’s alright. I like it. I like pop music. Always have, though, even back in the Bonded by Blood era. I’d be out on tour with Venom, and I’d be drunk at the bar, singing every word to Madonna’s ‘Angel’. And Cronos was shaking his head, like, ‘What’s wrong with this guy?’ But I’ve always liked pop music."

Holt's candid confession offers a glimpse into the diverse musical tastes of one of metal's most renowned guitarists, demonstrating that even the hardest of rockers can have a soft spot for pop.

In related news, Slayer is set to headline three prominent festivals—Riot Fest, Louder Than Life, and Aftershock Festival—marking their first live appearances since concluding their last world tour in November 2019. The band's lineup for these shows will feature Tom Araya (bass, vocals), Kerry King (guitar), Gary Holt (guitar), and Paul Bostaph (drums).

For fans of Gary Holt and Slayer, this blend of musical influences only adds to the anticipation of their upcoming performances. Whether it's thrash metal or pop hits, Holt's passion for music in all its forms continues to resonate.