List of Exodus members

Exodus is an American thrash metal band from Richmond, California. Formed in 1979, the group originally included lead vocalist Keith Stewart, guitarists Kirk Hammett and Tim Agnello, and drummer Tom Hunting, who later added guitarist Mikey B, who left after six months.[1] Stewart left later, with Hunting handling lead vocal duties for a short period.[1][2] Agnello also left shortly after, leaving the band to continue as a trio.[3][4] Melson was replaced by Jeff Andrews around the same time.[1] Gary Holt joined as Agnello's replacement in 1981.[5] In 1982, the band added vocalist Paul Baloff, who performed on its first three-track demo the same year.[6] The following April, Hammett left Exodus to join Metallica, with Rick Hunolt quickly brought in to replace him.[7] Andrews later left to form death metal band Possessed, and was replaced by Rob McKillop.[7]

Two lineups of Exodus performing in 2012 (top) and 2016 (bottom).

With a settled lineup of Hunting, Holt, Baloff, Hunolt, and McKillop, Exodus released its debut studio album Bonded by Blood in 1985.[7] Following the touring cycle for the album, Baloff was fired from Exodus due to "personal and musical differences," having contributed to the writing of two tracks for the band's second album.[6][8] He was replaced by former Legacy singer Steve "Zetro" Souza.[9] After the release of Pleasures of the Flesh and Fabulous Disaster, Hunting left Exodus in 1989 and was replaced by John Tempesta.[2] Impact Is Imminent was released in 1990, and the following year McKillop was replaced by Mike Butler, who performed on the 1992 release Force of Habit.[10] Due to increased tensions between the singer and other members, the band fired Souza after touring throughout 1993,[11] shortly before disbanding.[10]

Holt and Hunolt reunited Exodus in 1997. Hunting and Baloff rejoined also, and Jack Gibson was added as their new bassist, completing a short tour which spawned the live album Another Lesson in Violence.[10][12] The band returned again in September 2001,[13] before Baloff died on February 4, 2002 after suffering a stroke.[6] Just two days later, it was announced that Exodus would continue its scheduled tour with returning vocalist Souza.[14] The band released its first studio album in twelve years in February 2004, Tempo of the Damned, before Souza left again in September.[15] After Exhumed frontman Matt Harvey initially filled in on vocals,[16] Skinlab singer Steev Esquivel took over for tour dates in October and November,[17][18] before Rob Dukes was brought in as Souza's official replacement in January 2005.[19]

Further lineup changes took place in 2005 – first Hunting was replaced by Paul Bostaph in May,[20] then Hunolt left in June,[21] with Heathen guitarist Lee Altus taking his place in August.[22] Shovel Headed Kill Machine was released in October, which was Bostaph's only recording with the band as Hunting returned in March 2007.[23] In 2012, Hunolt returned as a touring guitarist in place of Holt, who had begun touring with Slayer in place of Jeff Hanneman.[24] Holt later joined Slayer as an official member, with Heathen's Kragen Lum joining Exodus for tour dates in 2013.[25] In June 2014, Dukes was dismissed from Exodus and replaced by the returning Souza.[26]

Members

Current

Image	Name	Years Active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Gary Holt	1981–1993 1997–1998 2001–present	guitars backing vocals	all Exodus releases
	Jack Gibson	1997–1998 2001–present	bass backing vocals	all Exodus releases from Another Lesson in Violence (1997) onwards
	Lee Altus	2005–present	guitars	all Exodus releases from Shovel Headed Kill Machine (2005) onwards, except Double Live Dynamo! (2008)
	Tom Hunting	1979–1989 1997–1998 2001–2005 2007–present	drums lead vocals (1979–1982)	Bonded by Blood (1985) Pleasures of the Flesh (1987) Fabulous Disaster (1989) Good Friendly Violent Fun (1991) Another Lesson in Violence (1997) Tempo of the Damned (2004) Live at the DNA 2004 (2005) all Exodus releases from The Atrocity Exhibition... Exhibit A (2007) onwards
	Steve "Zetro" Souza	1986–1993 2002–2004 2014–present	lead vocals	all Exodus releases from Pleasures of the Flesh (1987) to Force of Habit (1992) Tempo of the Damned (2004) Live at the DNA 2004 (2005) Blood In, Blood Out (2014)

Former

Image	Name	Years Active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Kirk Hammett	1979–1983	lead guitar	1982 Demo (1982) Blood In, Blood Out (2014) – guest guitar solo on one track
	Tim Agnello	1979–1981	guitar	none
	Keith Stewart	1979-1980	lead vocals
	Carlton Melson	1979-1981	bass
	Jeff Andrews	1981–1983	bass	1982 Demo (1982)
	Paul Baloff	1982–1986 1997–1998 2001–2002 (until his death)	lead vocals	1982 Demo (1982) Bonded by Blood (1985) Another Lesson in Violence (1997) Double Live Dynamo! (2008)
	Mike Maung	1983	guitar	none
	Evan McCaskey
	Rob McKillop	1983–1991	bass	all Exodus releases from Rehearsal '83 (1983) to Good Friendly Violent Fun (1991) Double Live Dynamo! (2007)
	Rick Hunolt	1983–1993 1997–1998 2001–2005	guitar	all Exodus releases from Bonded by Blood (1985) to Live at the DNA 2004 (2005) Double Live Dynamo! (2008)
	John Tempesta	1989–1993	drums	Impact Is Imminent (1990) Force of Habit (1992)
	Mike Butler	1991–1993	bass	Force of Habit (1992)
	Rob Dukes	2005–2014	lead vocals	all Exodus releases from Shovel Headed Kill Machine (2005) to Exhibit B: The Human Condition (2010), except Double Live Dynamo! (2008)
	Paul Bostaph	2005–2007	drums	Shovel Headed Kill Machine (2005)

Touring

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Notes
	Perry Strickland	1989 (substitute)	drums	Strickland performed with Exodus following Hunting's departure in 1989, and prior to Tempesta's joining.
	Gannon Hall	1993 (substitute)		Hall and Kontos both filled in following the departure of Tempesta at the end of the band's 1993 tour.
	Chris Kontos
	Matt Harvey	2004 (substitute)	lead vocals	Harvey substituted for Souza in September 2004, prior to his official departure from the band.[16]
	Steev Esquivel	2004		Esquivel performed with Exodus for tour dates in late 2004, following Souza's departure in September.[17][18]
	Rick Hunolt	2012–2013 (substitute)	guitars	Hunolt substituted for Holt, who had temporarily replaced Jeff Hanneman in Slayer, during 2012 and 2013.[24]
	Kragen Lum	2013 (substitute) 2015–2019 (substitute)	guitar backing vocals	Lum has performed with Exodus for tour dates in 2013 and from 2015 to 2019, as Holt continued touring with Slayer.[25]

Timeline

Lineups

Period	Members	Releases
1979–1980	Keith Stewart – vocals Kirk Hammett – lead guitar Tim Agnello – rhythm guitar Carlton Melson – bass Tom Hunting – drums	none
1980	Tom Hunting – drums, vocals Kirk Hammett – lead guitar Tim Agnello – rhythm guitar Carlton Melson – bass
1980–1981	Tom Hunting – drums, vocals Kirk Hammett – guitar Carlton Melson – bass
1981	Tom Hunting – drums, vocals Kirk Hammett – guitar Jeff Andrews – bass
1981–1982	Tom Hunting – drums, lead vocals Kirk Hammett – guitar Gary Holt – guitar, backing vocals Jeff Andrews – bass
1982–1983	Paul Baloff – lead vocals Kirk Hammett – guitar Gary Holt – guitar, backing vocals Jeff Andrews – bass Tom Hunting – drums	Untitled 1982 demo (1982) Die by His Hand (1983)
1983	Paul Baloff – lead vocals Gary Holt – guitar, backing vocals Mike Maung – guitar Jeff Andrews – bass Tom Hunting – drums	none
1983	Paul Baloff – lead vocals Gary Holt – guitar, backing vocals Evan McCaskey – guitar Jeff Andrews – bass Tom Hunting – drums
1983–1986	Paul Baloff – lead vocals Gary Holt – guitar, backing vocals Rick Hunolt – guitar Rob McKillop – bass Tom Hunting – drums	Rehearsal '83 (1983) Bonded by Blood (1985) Double Live Dynamo! (2008)
1986–1989	Steve Souza – lead vocals Gary Holt – guitar, backing vocals Rick Hunolt – guitar Rob McKillop – bass Tom Hunting – drums	Pleasures of the Flesh (1987) Fabulous Disaster (1989)
1989	Steve Souza – lead vocals Gary Holt – guitar, backing vocals Rick Hunolt – guitar Rob McKillop – bass Perry Strickland – drums (touring)	none
1989–1991	Steve Souza – lead vocals Gary Holt – guitar, backing vocals Rick Hunolt – guitar Rob McKillop – bass John Tempesta – drums	Impact Is Imminent (1990) Good Friendly Violent Fun (1991)
1991–1993	Steve Souza – lead vocals Gary Holt – guitar, backing vocals Rick Hunolt – guitar Mike Butler – bass John Tempesta – drums	Force of Habit (1992)
1993	Steve Souza – lead vocals Gary Holt – guitar, backing vocals Rick Hunolt – guitar Mike Butler – bass Gannon Hall – drums (touring)	none
1993	Steve Souza – lead vocals Gary Holt – guitar, backing vocals Rick Hunolt – guitar Mike Butler – bass Chris Kontos – drums (touring)
Band inactive 1993–1997
1997–1998	Paul Baloff – lead vocals Gary Holt – guitar, backing vocals Rick Hunolt – guitar Jack Gibson – bass, backing vocals Tom Hunting – drums	Another Lesson in Violence (1997) Double Live Dynamo! (2008)
Band inactive 1998–2001
September 2001 – February 2002	Paul Baloff – lead vocals Gary Holt – guitar, backing vocals Rick Hunolt – guitar Jack Gibson – bass, backing vocals Tom Hunting – drums	none
February 2002 – September 2004	Steve Souza – lead vocals Gary Holt – guitar, backing vocals Rick Hunolt – guitar Jack Gibson – bass, backing vocals Tom Hunting – drums	Tempo of the Damned (2004) Live at the DNA 2004 (2005)
September – October 2004	Matt Harvey – lead vocals (touring) Gary Holt – guitar, backing vocals Rick Hunolt – guitar Jack Gibson – bass, backing vocals Tom Hunting – drums	none
October – November 2004	Steev Esquivel – lead vocals (touring) Gary Holt – guitar, backing vocals Rick Hunolt – guitar Jack Gibson – bass, backing vocals Tom Hunting – drums
January – May 2005	Rob Dukes – lead vocals Gary Holt – guitar, backing vocals Rick Hunolt – guitar Jack Gibson – bass, backing vocals Tom Hunting – drums
May – June 2005	Rob Dukes – lead vocals Gary Holt – guitar, backing vocals Rick Hunolt – guitar Jack Gibson – bass, backing vocals Paul Bostaph – drums
August 2005 – March 2007	Rob Dukes – lead vocals Gary Holt – guitar, backing vocals Lee Altus – guitar Jack Gibson – bass, backing vocals Paul Bostaph – drums	Shovel Headed Kill Machine (2005)
March 2007 – June 2014	Rob Dukes – lead vocals Gary Holt – guitar, backing vocals Lee Altus – guitar Jack Gibson – bass, backing vocals Tom Hunting – drums	The Atrocity Exhibition... Exhibit A (2007) Let There Be Blood (2008) Exhibit B: The Human Condition (2010) Shovel Headed Tour Machine (2010)
June 2014 – present	Steve Souza – lead vocals Gary Holt – guitar, backing vocals Lee Altus – guitar Jack Gibson – bass, backing vocals Tom Hunting – drums	Blood In, Blood Out (2014)

References

1. David, Leslie (October 2016). "Carlton Melson Interview". Pest Webzine. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
2. Murphy, Tom (March 21, 2013). "Tom Hunting of Exodus on how building a song is like building the best sandwich possible". Westword. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
3. Lane, Melinda Smith. "You Can Call Me AL: A New Song". Christian and Missionary Alliance. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
4. Holt, Gary (Interviewee); Hartmann, Graham (Interviewer) (April 8, 2015). Exodus / Slayer's Gary Holt - Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction?. Loudwire. YouTube. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
5. "Gary Holt Won't Quit Exodus for Slayer Full Time". Guitar Interactive. April 3, 2013. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
6. Wiederhorn, Jon (February 4, 2002). "Thrash Metal Pioneer Paul Baloff Dies Of Stroke". MTV. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
7. Dome, Malcolm (September 1, 2016). "The story behind Exodus' Bonded By Blood". Metal Hammer. TeamRock. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
8. Grow, Kory (February 13, 2013). "Hear Ill Bill's Boom-Bap Tribute to Exodus Singer Paul Baloff". Spin. Billboard. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
9. Zapata, Mark (March 26, 2015). "Interview – Steve "Zetro" Souza of Exodus". Cryptic Rock. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
10. Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Exodus: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
11. Jandreus, Peter (October 30, 2007). "Interview with Exodus's Gary Holt". CriticalMass.se. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
12. Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Another Lesson in Violence - Exodus: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
13. Ling, Dave (April 24, 2014). "Beginner's Guide To Exodus". Classic Rock. TeamRock. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
14. "Exodus To Go Ahead With Live Dates, Zetro Steps Back In". Blabbermouth.net. February 4, 2002. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
15. "Singer Zetro Souza Quits Exodus (Again)". Blabbermouth.net. September 13, 2004. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
16. "Exodus: Zetro Souza Sits Out South American Tour, Exhumed Singer Fills In". Blabbermouth.net. September 12, 2004. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
17. "Skinlab Singer To Front Exodus On Rescheduled South American Tour". Blabbermouth.net. September 17, 2004. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
18. "Updated: Exodus Added To More Dates On Megadeth's U.S. Tour". Blabbermouth.net. October 16, 2004. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
19. "Exodus Announce New Singer". Blabbermouth.net. January 26, 2005. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
20. "Exodus: Drummer Tom Hunting Out, Paul Bostaph Steps In". Blabbermouth.net. May 10, 2005. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
21. "Exodus Part Ways With Guitarist Rick Hunolt". Blabbermouth.net. June 13, 2005. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
22. "It's Official: Heathen Guitarist Lee Altus Joins Exodus". Blabbermouth.net. August 9, 2005. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
23. "Exodus Rejoined By Drummer Tom Hunting". Blabbermouth.net. March 13, 2007. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
24. Hart, Josh (May 1, 2012). "Exodus to Be Joined By Former Guitarist Rick Hunolt on Upcoming Tour Dates". Guitar World. NewBay Media. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
25. "Exodus Taps Heathen Guitarist Kragen Lum For Select European Shows". Blabbermouth.net. July 31, 2013. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
26. "Exodus Parts Ways With Singer Rob Dukes, Welcomes Back Steve 'Zetro' Souza". Blabbermouth.net. June 8, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2017.

External links

• Exodus official website