Gary Holt recently shared some candid thoughts on the 1980s thrash-glam rivalry that marked his early years in Exodus, revealing how the band’s thrash community secretly admired the glam scene they outwardly despised. Speaking with Ultimate Guitar, Holt recalled how the animosity between thrash and glam reached extreme levels, especially during the Paul Baloff era.

“When we were in Exodus during the [Paul] Baloff days, if anyone showed up wearing a ‘Ratt’ shirt, we’d pull out the pocket knife and cut strips off their shirt,” Holt laughed. “If you look at old photos of Baloff, you’ll see these little pieces of fabric, like three inches long, tied around his wrist. Those were pieces of ‘poser’ shirts!”

Despite the open disdain, Holt revealed that the thrash community couldn’t help but secretly appreciate the musical talent within the glam genre. “But at the same time, us guitar players were secretly coveting every Warren DeMartini riff, like, he was the sickest, greatest guitar player on Earth with the best tone ever—him and Robbin [Crosby]. We were sitting there actively listening to him, and George Lynch,” he admitted.

As much as there was mutual admiration, the rivalry between thrash and glam remained intense. “But at the same time, the segregation between the two genres—it was like we were mutual enemies,” Holt continued. “We needed one another; we both seemed to die out together at the end of the ‘80s. Mutual beneficial enemies, y’know?”

In other news, Exodus is gearing up to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their iconic debut album, Bonded by Blood. Holt teased fans with the promise of a significant celebration, revealing the special timing of the anniversary. “The 40th anniversary of the album actually falls on [Paul Baloff’s] birthday, so we’re planning something big,” he shared during an October chat with Loudwire Nights, though he kept the specifics of the event under wraps.