Exodus formed in San Francisco in 1981 out of a love of British heavy-metal bands such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Venom. Vocalist Paul Baloff, guitarists Gary Holt and Kirk Hammett, bassist Geoff Andrews, and drummer Tom Hunting soon made a name for themselves, eventually playing with other new bands such as Slayer and Metallica. In 1982, Exodus recorded their first demo tape, with Whipping Queen and Death and Domination, which soon gained momentum in the metal underground. In 1983, they replaced Hammett with Rick Hunolt and later Geoff Andrews with Rob McKillop, playing more and more shows before getting noticed by Torrid Records, who recorded their debut album, Bonded by Blood. which had a major effect on thrash metal.The band replaced Baloff with Steve Souza and recorded the followup Pleasures of the Flesh. Most felt Exodus had never sounded better than with this new vocalist, and Exodus many many tours across the US and Europe. With this success behind them, they were signed by Capitol Records and get louder, faster, and stronger. ~ John Book
