THE BEAST

Think being in a legendary metal band means you’re living like royalty? Think again.

In a brutally honest and refreshingly raw new interview with Germany's Metal.de, EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt stripped away the rockstar mythos and laid bare the financial struggles and sacrifices behind one of thrash metal’s most enduring acts. Spoiler alert: it’s not all sold-out arenas and private jets — it's packing shirts in your closet and praying arthritis doesn’t end your career.

“People think, ‘Oh, you're a rich rock star.’ No. I sell shirts outta my fucking closet.”

That’s not an exaggeration. Holt — who helped pioneer the Bay Area thrash sound alongside METALLICA, SLAYER, and MEGADETH — openly admitted that EXODUS makes most of their money not from album sales or even ticket revenue, but from merchandise sales. In fact, the band refers to themselves half-jokingly as “traveling t-shirt salesmen.” And it’s not just Holt saying this — bassist Jack Gibson echoed the sentiment in a separate interview, calling himself “a traveling tchotchke seller.”

🎸 The Bonded By Blood Legacy — And the Weight It Carries

Holt still holds 1985’s iconic debut “Bonded By Blood” as the pinnacle of EXODUS’s discography, calling it “blasphemous” to suggest the band ever topped it. That album not only launched EXODUS but inspired countless others — from TESTAMENT to DEATH ANGEL — to follow in their footsteps. And yet, the legacy comes with a price.

“I’m fucking tired,” Holt admitted. “But we're gonna do this as hard as we can until we can't.”

Age, injury, and the changing tides of the music industry are all catching up. With elbow, shoulder, and hand problems, Holt is well aware that the end could come sooner than expected. That’s why the band has been stockpiling music for the next album — because tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.

🎤 The End of the Music Business As We Know It?

If there’s one unifying theme in both Holt and Gibson’s interviews, it’s this: the old music industry is dead.

“When I was young, there was a path,” Gibson said. “Now? There’s no music business. The steps don’t exist anymore.”

For young musicians looking for guidance? Gibson has none to give. The game has changed so drastically — with viral trends replacing grassroots growth and AI threatening to take over composition and scoring work — that even seasoned pros like Gibson are at a loss.

“I’m in my fifties. I don’t know how to go viral. I don’t know how things get popular now… It's just total luck.”

🛫 Life on the Road Isn’t Glamorous — It’s Grueling

Even touring — once a reliable income stream — is a logistical and financial nightmare post-pandemic.

“Tour buses cost more. Airfare costs more. Everything costs more,” Holt explained. “We do okay, but that money has to last when you come home and don’t work for two months.”

For many, being in a band like EXODUS might look like a dream. The reality? It's a full-time hustle, constant uncertainty, and a grind that never stops — especially when you're not playing in the stadium leagues.

🤖 A Future Dominated by AI?

Gibson took it one step further, warning of the existential threat that artificial intelligence poses to musicians everywhere.

“Any day now, we're all gonna lose our jobs to these fuckin' robots. Once AI figures out how to actually make music people enjoy, they’re not gonna pay us to do shit.”

His bleak prediction? A handful of human performers might survive, but the rest will be replaced — composers, producers, and session musicians swept away by ones and zeroes.

🤘 Why They Keep Going

So why keep doing it? Despite the physical pain, the dwindling record sales, and the ever-growing financial stress, EXODUS pushes on — not for fame or fortune, but for the passion and the fans. Because when you strip everything else away, that’s what’s left.

“I hate leaving [home], but as soon as I arrive, I have fun,” Holt said. “So we do it as long as we can.”

Moral of the story? If you think being in a legendary thrash band means you're rich and carefree — think again. Gary Holt and EXODUS aren’t headbanging in mansions — they’re headbanging in vans, praying their merch sales cover the bills.

So the next time you go to a metal show, buy the damn shirt. It’s not just a souvenir — it’s keeping the music alive.