A Fabulous Disaster

From the Garage to Madison Square Garden, the Hard Way

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A Fabulous Disaster

By: Gary Holt, Adem Tepedelen, Kirk Hammett - introduction

Narrated by: Nicholas Tecosky, Gary Holt, Kirk Hammett

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About this listen

From prolific metal guitarist and songwriter for Exodus (and formerly Slayer) Gary Holt comes a deeply personal memoir of his "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.

As the guitarist and primary songwriter of Exodus and one of the originators of heavy metal, 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 decisions.

A Fabulous Disaster 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. Ultimately, after the tragic death of one of his closest friends and former bandmates—Holt decides to save himself. Newly sober and determined to resurrect his career, he commits himself to Exodus, pushing the band to new heights.

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.

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Critic reviews

“One of the first people I met in San Francisco, and my oldest friend in metal, we truly are blood brothers. I’ve always thought Gary was one of the best guitarists of the five bands: the Big 4 and Exodus. Actually, I was surprised he could spell! Love ya, Gary.”—Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, author of Mustaine and Rust in Peace

“A Fabulous Disaster is a harrowing, compelling and, hilarious read. Like Breaking Bad with riffs!"—Scott Ian of Anthrax, author of I’m the Man and Access All Areas

“What an amazing read. Gary has seen his share of the good, the bad, and the ugly in this business. And he’s one of the sweetest cats you’re ever gonna meet. Much Respect. Read on!”—Rex Brown of Pantera, author of Official Truth, 101 Proof

“Always savage, always inspiring, it was a great read. Couldn’t get off the shitter. Please send help.”—Jason Momoa, actor

“An epic tale of regrets, perseverance, and gratitude framed by a true love of the craft. A Fabulous Disaster is thrash metal’s Get in The Van, as told by one of the genre’s most beloved and respected pioneers. Holding nothing back, Gary candidly delivers his unique perspective of finding redemption through riffs.”—Frank Iero of My Chemical Romance

“An incredible book from a real Bay Area legend. I was hooked from the first paragraph. Gary’s one of the most authentic dudes out there. His book definitely proves that.”—Lars Frederiksen of Rancid

“I’m completely absorbed in this book right now—it’s impossible to put down. It’s not just the life story of one of thrash metal’s greatest icons, it’s also a detailed account of the birth and evolution of the entire genre. Gary Holt’s raw energy and insane talent have kept thrash alive and kicking for decades, cementing his status as a true pioneer. The guy’s an absolute legend, but what makes him stand out even more is how humble and genuine he is. I’m lucky to call him a friend.”—Adam Nergal Darski of Behemoth, author of Confessions Of A Heretic

"Gary is one of the most fiery and wickedly recognizable guitarists of thrash metal, and he was one of the first musicians to welcome me into the Bay Area when we debuted Megadeth there in 1984. He's a thrash metal OG—he's lived it, he helped build it, and his name is firmly on the door of our genre. This book is not for the faint of heart, as it tells it like it was, warts and all of a young man who learned the ropes of our business from the ground up and became a true superstar."—David Ellefson, co-founder of Megadeth and author of My Life with Deth

Most relevant

This is a priceless insight into the history of thrash metal, taken from the very beginning. Well written, well read, and I found myself pausing it periodically to revisit various Exodus albums along the way. Mr Holt, you made your mark; there will never be any question about that.