From prolific metal guitarist and songwriter for Exodus (and formerly Slayer) Gary Holt comes
an entertaining and deeply personal memoir of Holt's "destruction-laden" life along with a
firsthand account of the genesis of the Thrash Metal scene from its origins in the Bay Area to
its world domination Since exploding out of the Bay Area heavy metal scene in the 1980s
thrash metal has made its way to every corner of the globe conquering worldwide charts with
every passing year. As the guitarist and primary songwriter of Exodus and as an originator of
the subgenre and one of its fiercest proponents Gary Holt watched as his peers-Metallica
Megadeth Slayer Anthrax-soared to superstardom. As his fellow artists amassed millions of
fans and record sales Exodus' albums received critical recognition and inspired generations of
listeners but struggled to reach the same heights of success as the band was plagued by years
of bad management bad luck and bad decision-making. In A FABULOUS DISASTER Holt shares a
deeply personal account of what it was like to "live fast play fast and crash hard" as thrash
metal dominated the globe. Holt's "destruction-laden farce" follows our narrator through the
highest of highs and lowest of lows as he and his bandmates juggle major label contracts
MTV-sponsored tours and festivals growing addictions to alcohol and meth and the loss of key
founding members. In the throes of addiction Holt's own fall from grace is swift one year
he's playing on the MTV Headbanger's Ball Tour with Anthrax and Helloween and the next he's
struggling to find minimum wage jobs as he battles drugs divorce and the dissolution of his
creative prospects. Ultimately after the tragic death of one of his closest friends and former
bandmates-Holt decides that enough is enough and realizes the only one who can save him is
himself. Newly sober and determined to resurrect his career he commits himself to Exodus
pushing the band to new heights. He then joins Slayer one of metal's biggest bands and plays
massive venues around the world including Madison Square Garden. After Slayer's unexpected
retirement Holt devotes his attention full-time to Exodus once again recording and playing
with more passion than ever before. An "unadulterated odyssey through decades of insanity "
punctuated by Holt's unique insight and knack for storytelling A FABULOUS DISASTER is a thrill
ride from start to finish. His story proves that redemption-even from the pits of rock 'n' roll
excess-is always possible.
