It was announced yesterday that guitarist Gary Holt would once again be filling in for Jeff Hanneman during Slayer’s upcoming tour commitments. While it’s great that Slayer can utilize Holt’s services again, it leaves Exodus without their founding guitarist for their upcoming European dates and Scion Rock Fest performance. Fortunately for them and the fans, though, former Exodus guitarist Rick Hunolt will help fill in for their upcoming commitments.

Hunolt appeared on every album of Exodus’ from 1985 to 2004, and was considered as one half of the Exodus “H-Team” (the other half being Holt). Shortly after the release of their 2004 reunion album Tempo Of The Damned , Hunolt left to spend more time with his family. Hunolt had the following to say about rejoining Exodus for their upcoming shows:

“I’m ecstatic, I’m nervous, I’m psyched… all the emotions wrapped up into one!  It’s been years and I’ve been practicing hard.  I CAN’T WAIT!  I’m gonna rip it up!!!”

Hunolt last joined Exodus onstage during the Bonded By Baloff: A Decade Of Remembrance benefit show last February (which also saw Metallica’s Kirk Hammett make a surprise appearance). Before that, Hunolt played with the band during Holt’s wedding reception back in September of 2011. Video of that performance, along with Exodus’ confirmed dates thus far, can be seen after the jump. 

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRNbBE3fGds[/youtube]

6/2  Scion Rock Fest – Tampa, FL

6/7  Sweden Rock Festival – Sweden

6/8  TBA – Athens, Greece

6/9  TBA – Thessaloniki, Greece

6/11  Target Club – Italy

6  TBA – Italy

6/13  Nostovna – Nova Gorica, Italy

6/16  Hellfest – France

6/17  Rock Star – Bilbao, Spain

6/18  Hard Club – Porto, Portugal

6/19  Sala Ramdall – Madrid, Spain

6/20  Salamandra – Barcelona, Spain

6/21  La Secret Place Festival – France

6/22  Ninkasi Kao – Lyon, France

6/23  Graspop Festival – Belgium

6/29  Tuska Festival – Finland

6/30  Rock’n’Bol – Italy

7/5  Extremefest – Germany

7/6  Extremefest – Switzerland

7/7  Extremefest – Austria

7/8  UFO Festival – Croatia

7/9  Terezije B.B. – Bosnia and Herzegovina

7/11  Jukebox – Bucharest, Romania

7/13  Masters of Rock Festival – Czech Republic

7/14  Bang Your Head – Germany

7/18  Hegyalja Festival – Tokaj, Hungary

7/20  Zwarte Cross Festival – The Netherlands

7/21  Queens of Metal – Germany

[picture taken by Raymond Ahner, via Facebook]