Former Exodus frontman Steve “Zetro” Souza is set to embark on a solo tour of Latin America in August and September 2025, marking a new chapter following his recent split from the legendary thrash metal band. According to Argentine concert promoter FH Entertainment Argentina, the tour, operating under the banner ZETRODUS, will commemorate the 20th anniversary of Exodus‘s pivotal 2004 album, Tempo Of The Damned.
Beyond the Exodus classic, Souza plans to perform songs spanning his career, including material from his time in Legacy (the precursor to Testament), his band Hatriot, and covers from the Bon Scott era of AC/DC. Further details regarding the tour dates and venues are expected to be released tomorrow on Monday, April 28th.
This solo venture comes just three months after Exodus announced Souza‘s departure and the return of his predecessor (and successor), Rob Dukes. Souza, who first joined Exodus in 1986 and had multiple stints with the band (1986-1993, 2002-2004, 2014-2024), addressed the split on his “Zetro’s Toxic Vault” YouTube series.
Clarifying the nature of his exit, Souza stated he “did not quit” Exodus but “was let go.” He elaborated, drawing agreement with guitarist Gary Holt‘s assessment: “I have to agree with his analogy. Being in a band is like a marriage — it truly is — and the marriage was over. And it was. Now, I was never gonna quit, meaning maybe I guess I would never leave the marriage, for whatever reason. But I truly think that it was probably the right thing for me especially, and I hope it’s the right thing for them as well.”
Despite the change, Souza expressed contentment, noting friends and family were concerned, but he assured them, “I was fine. I was, like, ‘I’m great.’ I’m really, really happy and more content… I knew in December — I knew before anybody knew, before it was announced. And I was cool with it.”
The vocalist attributed the split, in part, to the rigors of extensive touring at this stage in his life. “My life has changed a lot,” Souza explained. “What I liked when I was younger in my twenties and my thirties are not necessarily what I’m into anymore… you know how hard it is to go away from the love of my life at this point, at 61 years old for five weeks, six weeks at a time? It wasn’t easy for me…”
He admitted that the demanding tour schedule had taken its toll, citing missed family milestones and personal hardships. “I think in the back of my mind I think I was kind of already done with the rigorous life of touring, ’cause it’s very demanding,” Souza said. He recalled missing being by his mother’s bedside when she passed away in 2016 due to tour commitments, adding, “I wanna see my wife every day. I wanna sleep in my bed every day… I’ve missed too much over the years, and it’s just kind of where I’ve been mentally — especially the last few years I’ve been thinking about that.” He further disliked the “waiting to wait” aspect of travel, airport logistics, and the discomfort of tour bus bunks.
Souza was clear that this departure is final, stating emphatically when asked about future reunions: “Will I ever grace the stage with them? No, definitely not. I think it’s been done… This was the third time that I had joined the band, so I think it would be a bit redundant… I have no desire to do that ever again.”
Exodus guitarist Gary Holt corroborated the idea that differing views on touring intensity played a role. While praising the music made with Souza, Holt stated, “At 60 years old, this job gets f**king hard. And if you don’t like to travel, and no longer like to be out on the road and and you want to cut the touring way back and all that, we can no longer make a living at this. We literally would have to go get day jobs… One guy wasn’t enjoying it anymore.” Holt affirmed the band’s need to maintain a certain level of touring activity while they still physically can.
In their official January statement announcing the change, Exodus thanked Souza “for his years fronting the band” and wished him the best, while expressing excitement for Dukes‘ return.
Souza encouraged fans to continue supporting Exodus with Dukes, acknowledging different fan allegiances: “Now maybe for the last part of the band they get to enjoy Rob and Rob‘s era of the band… Gary Holt doesn’t know how to write a sh*tty riff. Okay? So you Exodus fans know what you’re gonna get from that.”
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