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In a recent interview on the Scandalous”<\/em><\/a> <\/strong>podcast, Exodus<\/a><\/strong> guitarist Gary Holt<\/strong> spoke about the much-anticipated festival shows of a reactivated Slayer<\/a><\/strong>. When asked about his favorite aspects of playing Slayer<\/a><\/strong><\/strong>‘s extensive catalog, Holt<\/strong> shared his genuine enthusiasm for the band’s music and his responsibility within it, painting a picture that contrasts with his role in Exodus<\/a><\/strong><\/strong>.<\/p>\n “It’s awesome. The thing I always liked most about playing in Slayer<\/a><\/strong><\/strong> was it allowed me just to be a guitar player. I didn’t have to make decisions,” Holt<\/strong> explained.<\/p>\n “I didn’t have to do anything but just be prepared and go out and shred. I try to play the role of almost like a guitar hero. There’s a lot of solos in the Slayer<\/a><\/strong><\/strong> stuff, a lot of Jeff<\/strong>‘s solos. I do a song, and sometimes there are two or three solos in one song. I just go out and have fun. They always just accepted me to play like me, and I tried to pay homage to Jeff<\/strong> as best I could but at the same time being true to my own self as a guitar player.”<\/p>\n Holt<\/strong> further explained the seamlessness of his integration into Slayer<\/a><\/strong><\/strong>, citing his long-standing friendship with the band members as a significant factor. <\/p>\n “And it always worked. And we’re old friends. For one, we’ve known each other since we were kids, musically speaking, so that made it simple. It made it a seamless integration, filling in for Jeff while he was sick and then after tragedy struck. I always wanted him back. I never wanted it to be a 10-year gig; I always thought it was going to be like a two-tour gig. And then a year became two, became three, and then his tragic passing. I wanted to see Jeff<\/strong> back.”<\/p>\n Holt stepped in for Jeff Hanneman<\/strong> during Slayer<\/a><\/strong><\/strong>‘s live performances in 2011 and officially became a full-time co-guitarist in 2013, all while continuing his role in Exodus<\/a><\/strong><\/strong>. He contributed to Slayer<\/a><\/strong><\/strong>‘s final album, Repentless<\/em>, which was released in 2015.<\/p>\n \n