As the insightful musician Lemmy famously stated, ‘There’s plenty of time for sleeping when you’re dead.’ This sentiment resonates deeply with Gary Holt, who joined Loudwire Nights on Thursday, May 15, to discuss his current endeavors. These include celebrating the 40th anniversary of Exodus' groundbreaking album, Bonded by Blood, along with the release of his new memoir, A Fabulous Disaster, and various other exciting projects.

To experience the full conversation, check out the player located toward the end of this article.

Holt expressed his commitment to his craft, stating, “While I’m able to actually physically be able to still do it at this level, I’m going to keep doing it,” during his chat with host Chuck Armstrong. He highlighted the importance of seizing the moment: “Why slow down now and then find myself really wishing I could work harder later? I mean, maybe someday I can think about retiring. I can’t now, you know? But I don’t want to lie at the same time, you know, I’m having fun.”

Much to the delight of his fans, Holt opened up about the joy of writing his memoir. He shared that there were so many amusing anecdotes that he faced the tough choice of leaving numerous hilarious stories out of the book. “There’s a lot of really, really funny stuff, things that if they were relegated to a chapter, it would literally be a two-page chapter,” he explained.

“But it would be the funniest two pages you ever fucking read. I mean, sleep deprivation makes for some really funny stuff … When we were truly spun out — it was a dark, horrible time — but I’m not going to lie, there are times when you haven’t slept for three days when shit is funny. Your brain is working and everything’s a comedy skit because you’re fucking insane, you’re out of your mind. Lunacy at its finest,” he added, painting a vivid picture of the chaotic yet humorous experiences.

Gary Holt Prepares for Ozzy Osbourne’s Final Performance

During his appearance on Loudwire Nights, Holt took a moment to celebrate the enduring legacy of Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath. This occasion holds particular significance for him, as he anticipates joining Slayer onstage in Birmingham for the Back to the Beginning concert scheduled for July 5. “It means everything,” Holt remarked, reflecting on the impact of being part of Ozzy and Sabbath’s final shows.

“We would be nowhere without Black Sabbath. One of the heaviest, early influences of mine. I’m a kid who grew up on hard rock, before we even called it metal, and there was Sabbath at the upper echelon of how heavy hard rock can be,” he reminisced about his formative years in music.

READ MORE: John Corabi: Recording In Muscle Shoals, Cracking Jokes With Ozzy

Holt shared a recent conversation with a close friend about the Back to the Beginning event, emphasizing their gratitude for being part of such a monumental moment in music history. “Kirk Hammett and I were talking about how fortunate we are to be part of this,” he said, highlighting the camaraderie among musicians.

In a sentimental touch, he mentioned that he owns a pair of Sabbath Master of Reality Converse sneakers that he has preserved for a special occasion, stating, “I have a pair of Sabbath Master of Reality Converses that I’ve never worn that are getting worn at that show.”

Dive into Gary Holt’s Insights on Loudwire Nights

• Understanding why Exodus is currently recording two albums simultaneously: “We went in and we had a lot of material. We don’t ever stop writing when we’re in the studio. We leave the drums up and some of the best songs happen a month into the recording process.”
• Clarification on why fans shouldn’t expect updates regarding Slayer: “You get nothing out of me. Part of the beauty of my years in Slayer was I had one job and that was just to go out and shred and rock and show up. In Exodus, I have to wear a thousand different hats, and with Slayer, I wear none. I just plead the fifth to everything.”
• Insights into why Exodus was influenced by bands like Mercyful Fate and Venom in their early days: “Satan!”

Access the Complete Interview in the Podcast Player Below

Gary Holt joined Loudwire Nights on Thursday, May 15; the show is replayed online here, and you can tune in live every weeknight at 7 PM ET or on the Loudwire app. Additionally, you can check if the show is available on your local radio station and listen to interviews on-demand.