See SLAYER, EXODUS, TESTAMENT members cover LYNYRD SKYNYRD's "Freebird" | Revolver

See SLAYER, EXODUS, TESTAMENT members cover LYNYRD SKYNYRD's "Freebird"

During a VIP soundcheck
Tom Araya Gary Holt live split 1600x900

"Play 'Freebird'!" is one of the most common slogans hecklers throw at musicians during live shows. Usually, a request to play Lynyrd Skynyrd's nine-minute epic is met with a half-hearted chuckle by the band onstage, but a few years back, members of SlayerExodus and Testament actually did play "Freebird" — part of it, at least.

During a soundcheck sometime in the 2010s, Slayer singer-bassist Tom Araya, Slayer drummer Paul Bostah, Exodus/Slayer guitarist Gary Holt and Testament shredder Alex Skolnick kicked into an impromptu cover of "Freebird," with Araya on the mic while the other guys held down their respective posts. 

On March 7th, Holt shared fan-filmed video of the cover on Instagram, honoring the late Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington, who died a few days earlier at age 71. 

"In honor of Gary Rossington and in his memory," Holt wrote, "Here's a video of Tom Araya, myself, Paul Bostaph and Alex Skolnick doing our best at the all-time epic 'Freebird.' After watching it, I could only smile. What a great day that was."

Watch it below via Instagram.