The formation of the beast we now call Exodus began in Richmond CA in 1979, and although many started their journey as fans a few years down the line, there is no debating that the early 80’s was a time for major growth in the world of Thrash Metal, especially in the Bay Area of California.
Day in the Dirt was perhaps the ultimate example of the Bay Area thrash metal underground scene in 1984. A plywood stage constructed in a Berkeley, California park where Slayer, Suicidal Tendencies and Exodus played to a frenzied crowd of headbangers. It was also evident from this show, and others like it, why Exodus was so influential on the Bay Area scene and thrash metal in general. With the eventual release of their first album Bonded By Blood, the band would take their music and their live show to new heights of insanity in the years that followed.
Take a trip back to that incredible time in thrash metal history with the recently unearthed live recording of No Love (Live At Day In The Dirt 1984), and listen to the raw power of the original Bonded By Blood lineup of the band that started it all… Exodus
Gary Holt comments, “Day In The Dirt was almost like the Bay Area thrash metal Woodstock, our own underground version on the legendary Day On The Green shows we all attended so many times. What happened that day at Aquatic Park in Berkeley has gone down in Bay Area lore as an epic day for the underground Thrash scene. The brainchild of the late great Wes Robinson, we were fortunate to have been a key part of such a great show. It was Rick Hunolt’s second Exodus show as well I believe!.”
Listen below.
One Response
This was awesome, Dana! Thanks for posting this article! I love Exodus! Bonded by Blood is one of my favorite thrash debut albums. Paul Baloff is my favorite singer for Exodus, and I think Gary Holt is one of the best “undiscovered” guitar players out there. It’s unfortunate their debut album was delayed a year and not released until 1985. If it would have been released in 1984, would Exodus have had more success as a metal band since their album would have been released closer to the beginning of the thrash era?????