Gary Holt sets the record straight on Zetro Souza and Exodus.

Blabbermouth.net has reported that EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt says that the band's former singer, Steve "Zetro" Souza, will never be asked to rejoin the group despite the fact that Zetro has gone "on a public relations blitz to get his job back."

In a June 3 interview with DJ JC Green of Metal Messiah Radio's "Heavy Metal Thunder", Zetro was asked if there is any chance that he will ever return to front EXODUS. "I would love to be there again," he replied. "It would be great for all the fans to be able hear me sing my songs again."

He continued, "[The current members of EXODUS and I have] talked over the past few years. They do have a singer; his name is Rob [Dukes]. Everybody knows that that's their singer for right now and until that decision is made otherwise, I completely understand and that's why I go along with [my new band] HATRIOT, for one. But how great would that be to see Zetro up there again singing those famous songs like 'The Toxic Waltz' and 'Cajun Hell' and all the good ones?"

He added, "I'm looking forward to it, too. I'm sure it will happen one day. One of these days it will happen. All you EXODUS fans will have to see. I hear you everywhere I go: 'Zetro, we want you back in the band.' [But] it's not my decision. If it was up to me, you know what I would do. So I just want you guys to know it probably will happen some day. Just keep your fingers crossed. Go to [EXODUS'] web site, [and] tell Gary Holt; he's the man you have to convince."

Responding to Zetro's comments after they were posted onBLABBERMOUTH.NET, Holt wrote, "This dude is on a public relations BLITZ to get his job back!

"Just because I don't hold a grudge [against him] DOES NOT mean he's ever gonna get his job back.

"What TOTAL disrespect he showed to me, Rob, and this band. I guess he figures he'll take it to the streets to build up some kind of hype. He believes what he wants to believe, I guess, that the entire world is waiting for his glorious return.

"He came to my birthday party and I figured he'd hit me up, but he's saving it for interviews. I'd feel bad if I were in his band, knowing all he wants to do is bail on them.

"Funny, the band is doing better than ever and we so desperately need him, it seems! LOL! . . . It's really quite sad, like a dude begging for his woman back even though she's long since moved on. Like 'I'll get her back, you just watch, she may be getting nailed by someone else, but she really belongs to me, she just doesn't realize it yet!'

"Move on, man, move on. [You] had your chance, [you] didn't want to work at it, now it's not waiting for you anymore."

In another message, Holt added, "I think [Zetro's] band [HATRIOT] is cool and they are a bunch of motivated youngsters with a lot of drive.

"I have nothing against Zetro; really I don't. I consider him a friend, but the lobbying through the press for people to convince me to give him his job back just got under my skin, because Rob is NOT a place card holder in EXODUS, he's our singer.

"Zetro's place in EXODUS history is solid, he made some great records with us, and had a good run with the band. But this is now, not then, and we do not plan on throwing away what we have to go back in time."

Zetro left EXODUS in September 2004 on the eve of the band's South American headlining tour over what was described as long-standing business and personal differences. Holt subsequently issued a statement calling Souza "human crap" for pulling out the trek "only about twenty-four hours before were ready to leave." He added, "Yes, he did a killer job on the new album [2004's 'Tempo Of The Damned'], but mainly because we did not allow him to fuck everything up with his stupid Bon Scott impersonations anymore. We made him sing more like [previous vocalistPaul] Baloff. I tried to make it work. More than you can imagine. But he was (is) the most miserable pile of crap to be around."

Jeff Hanneman is not ready to rejoin Slayer

As we previously reported, Jeff Hanneman will not be touring with Slayer through the summer of 2011. A spokesperson for SLAYER has informed fan site Slayerized.com that it is not very likely that founding guitarist Jeff Hanneman will join the band for the upcoming South American tour which kicks off next week (June 2) in Santiago, Chile. A replacement guitarist hasn't been officially named, but it is believed to once again be Gary Holt of EXODUS.

Hanneman stepped onstage with SLAYER at the April 23 "Big Four" concert in Indio, California, marking the first time he has played with the band since last October. In January, Hanneman contracted necrotizing fasciitis, likely caused by a spider bite, and has been undergoing surgeries, skin grafts and intense rehab since. Hanneman surprised the crowd of 50,000 when he walked out onto the stage, unannounced, and played the two-song encore,"South Of Heaven" and "Angel Of Death".

Holt (EXODUS) has been the primary guest guitarist with SLAYER since the band started its 2011 touring schedule in February, and will continue in that capacity until Hanneman has completely recovered.

No word as to whether Hanneman will be ready for this fall's Big Four Tour date at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, NY.

More details revealed about Slayer and Rob Zombie US tour

VDOB can exclusively reveal that the upcoming Slayer and Rob Zombie US tour will feature both bands rotating closing the show during the tour in a true coheadlining fashion.

We can also reveal that openng band Exodus's guitarist Gary Holt will pull double duty by filling in for guitarist Jeff Hanneman durng Slayer's set. Apparently Hanneman has not recovered quickly enough to rejoin the band on tour.

Rob Zombie discusses drummer switch.

In an interview with The Pulse of Radio Rob Zombie talked about the difference between outgoing drummer Joey Jordison (Slipknot/The Murder Dolls) and the incoming Ginger Fish (ex-Marilyn Manson). Here is an except of the chat:

"It's hard to describe how they're different," he said. "I mean, you know,Joey's a very, like, more of a power drummer I would say, you know, just a more bombastic sort of drummer, and Ginger's more of a, kind of like a groove-style drummer. It's kind of funny 'cause as with anything, either style seems to work really well with our music, so it's good."

Ginger first played with Zombie this winter when Jordison had to leave for a Murderdolls tour of Europe. Fish officially quit Marilyn Manson this march in the middle of recording that groups next album. The first extensive touring Fish will do with his new band will be on this summers' tour of the US and Canada with Zombie and Slayer co-headlining. Exodus will be the opening act. You can read the VDOB story about that tour here.  

Cannibal Corpse guitarist to follow Gary Holt as next Slayer fill-in guitarist.

Cannibal Corpse guitarist Pat O’Brien will follow Gary Holt as the fill in guitarist for Jeff Hanneman beginning April 6^th in Croatia. Holt has played with the band since late February, but with his responsibilities with Exodus heating up again he'll need to step away. Hanneman is still recovering from his emergency surgery in January for flesh eating bacteria that damaged his right arm. There is no time table yet for his return to the band and no word if O’Brien will be on stage with Slayer on April 23^rd in Indio CA for the very first (so far) American Big 4 of Thrash Metal concert.  

Rob Zombie, Slayer and Exodus US tour dates for summer of 2011

SLAYER AND ROB ZOMBIE TO BRING HELL ON EARTH TO NORTH AMERICA
The Two Metal Icons Will Together for the First Time in More than a Decade

LOS ANGELES, CA - MONDAY, March 28, 2011 -- Get ready for hell on earth, because for the first time since they tour together on Ozzfest 1999, Rob Zombie and Slayer are teaming up to hit the road, bringing a glorious purgatory to fans in 12 North American cities. The co-headline trek kicks off Wednesday, July 20 at the Sovereign Center in Reading, PA. Tickets go on sale this Friday, April 1 at 10:00AM local time. Tickets for all shows are available at the venues' box office, and via the online outlets as listed below.

"We haven't toured with Zombie since Ozzfest 1999, so you can expect no less than 'hell on earth,'" said Slayer's Kerry King. "Total sonic annihilation and a visual bludgeoning. Bring your own body bag..."

"Total destruction on stage and off is what this combination promises," states Zombie, "Seriously, how much more Hell could you ask for? The answer is none more Hell."

Both Zombie and Slayer will present their full headline sets at every show, and both bands will close shows over the course of the tour. San Francisco's thrash-metal band Exodus has been confirmed to open all shows.

Slayer has been performing its classic 1990 Seasons In the Abyss album in its entirety over the past several months, but will instead draw from its entire 30-year catalogue for this tour's setlist.

Never one to play it safe, Zombie will be bringing his legendary stage show out in full force. Audiences can expect an exploding non-stop barrage of sin, sex and Satan guaranteed to rip your face off. This a true rock and roll spectacle at its finest.

Rob Zombie: With more than 15 million albums sold, seven Grammy nominations, the helming of five major motion pictures (including the #1 record-breaking Halloween) and dozens of music videos under his belt, Zombie is truly a force to be reckoned with in today's entertainment landscape. For over 25 years his unique meld of horror and hard rock has influenced his sound as a musician, and more recently, his vision as a director and writer. After the tour, Zombie will be starting production on his sixth feature film, The Lords of Salem, with the producers of the Paranormal Activity franchise.

Slayer: The Chicago Tribune's Greg Kot wrote that the four-time-nominated, two-time Grammy winning Slayer is "one of the great American rock bands of the last 30 years, forget about genre." Indeed, few bands come close to matching the intensity that Slayer brings to its live shows, having been named "Best Live Band" by numerous media outlets including Revolver, SPIN, and Metal Hammer. With songs that mirror the turmoil and aberrations of our society - God's terrifying global genocide, the chaos of our broken political system, chemical warfare, the hideous minds of serial killers, and the way-too-close proximity of world horrors that technology has brought us, Slayer remains crushing and brutal, steadfastly refusing to cater to the Mainstream.

Dates for the Slayer and Rob Zombie tour are as follows:

JULY
20 Sovereign Center, Reading, PA - ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster locations
22 DTE Amphitheatre, Detroit, MI - ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster locations
23 Stage AE, Pittsburgh, PA - ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster locations
24 Heavy T.O. at Downsview Park, Toronto, ON Canada - ticketmaster.ca and all Ticketmaster locations
27 MTS Centre, Winnipeg, MB Canada - ticketmaster.ca and all Ticketmaster locations
29 Credit Union Centre, Saskatoon, SK Canada - ticketmaster.ca and all Ticketmaster locations
30 Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB Canada - ticketmaster.ca and all Ticketmaster locations
31 Rexall Place, Edmonton, AB Canada - ticketmaster.ca and all Ticketmaster locations

AUGUST
2 Save-On-Foods Memorial Center, Victoria, BC Canada - SelectYourTickets.com
3 Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC Canada - ticketmaster.ca and all Ticketmaster locations
5 Rose Quarter Memorial Coliseum, Portland, OR - ComcastTix.com
6 WaMu Theatre, Seattle, WA - ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster locations

Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax tour confirmed for USA in 2011!!!

Metallica and the rest of the Big 4 -Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax - will be touring the USA this summer. Reports are coming from NAMM that various band members were overheard making statements that the tour is happening. Rumors are surfacing of certain cities being candidates to receive the shows however we do not have the information to confirm the cities at this time.

Metallica has stated that the tour would coincide with the 20th anniversary of their self titled album aka ‘The Black Album’. The band has hinted at a huge production that could rival Pink Floyd’s The Wall tour. With that in mind, it only seems natural that the band would turn the tour into a full scale festival, reminiscent of Ozzfest.  If the tour is indeed a festival, other bands would likely be included on a smaller stage. We will take an in depth look at bands that would be a possibility to be added to the Big 4 tour. One thing of note is that since we do not have any dates we cannot be sure if the Big 4 will compete/conflict with dates by other tours/events such as the Wacken Festival. Since Megadeth is likely on Mayhem Festival it seems as if the tour will not take place until mid-August at the earliest. Here are bands we think would be likely added onto the Big 4 tour:

Mastodon
Machine Head
Down
Gojira
The Sword
Fear Factory
Volbeat
Overkill
Exodus
Testament

Perhaps 5 of those bands on the small stages would be enough. Perhaps the older legends like Testament, Overkill or Exodus could open the main stage? Are there any bands you think should be included on this tour?

A newer article with updated information and confirmation can be found by clicking HERE