Thrash metal legend Gary Holt is making headlines after demanding payment for his unexpected role in one of metal’s most iconic tracks, “Creeping Death.”
In a recent interview with the Heavy Stories podcast, Holt revealed that while he was never officially credited, he believes part of the song’s famous middle section traces back to his own work. His comments, though playful, have sparked fresh conversations about songwriting credits and the early days of thrash metal.
“I should get paid for that,” Holt said with a laugh. “I’ll send my bank info. It’ll be a fat cheque.”
Gary Holt of Exodus performs at Canada Life Place on February 28, 2026 in London, Ontario.Photo by Jeremychanphotography/Getty Images
Gary Holt’s Hidden Link to ‘Creeping Death’
The story goes back to the early 1980s, when Holt and Kirk Hammett were both members of the band Exodus. During that time, the group recorded a demo called “Die By His Hand.”
According to Holt, Hammett created the riff, while he contributed the lyrics. Soon after, Hammett left Exodus to join Metallica, stepping in after Dave Mustaine was let go.
Not long after, Metallica released “Creeping Death” on their 1984 album Ride the Lightning and that’s where things get interesting.
Holt says the famous chant in the song’s middle section was inspired by his original lyric.
“It’s Kirk’s riff, it’s my lyrics,” Holt explained. “The song was ‘dying by his hand,’ and they changed it to ‘die by my hand.’”
Despite the similarity, Holt made it clear he doesn’t actually own any part of the song. “Those were Kirk’s riffs, and he was more than welcome to them,” he added. “I had zero ownership of any of that.”
Holt’s playful tone didn’t hide his point, though. He’s never been credited for the contribution and he knows it.
“I’ve never been credited, so yeah, that’ll tell you how I feel,” he said, laughing again.
For longtime fans, the story adds a new layer to “Creeping Death,” one of Metallica’s most loved songs. It also shines a light on how songs can evolve as band members move and ideas travel.
Today, Holt remains a major force in metal music. As the longtime guitarist of Exodus, he helped shape the sound of thrash alongside bands like Metallica and others from the same era.
Even now, at 61, Holt is still touring, recording and connecting with a new generation of fans. He recently shared that younger audiences are showing up to shows in big numbers, proving that thrash metal is far from fading.
“I’m a super happy guy,” Holt said in another interview with Metal Talk. “Music is a way to get things off your chest.”
Related: How and When to Get Metallica Tickets for Their Las Vegas Sphere Residency
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